Features
Among the Trees
By Katherine Cusumano, MFA ’24
Sports
Welcome to the New Pac-12Meet the schools joining Oregon State in a new era of athletics.
By Kip Carlson & Cora Lassen, MFA ’26
Illustration by John S. Dykes
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As the Pac-12 returns to full-scale competition this fall, Oregon State finds itself as the conference’s only remaining charter member and settling into an entirely new “State” of affairs. Oregon State and Washington State, the only holdovers from the Pac-12’s previous era, are now joined by a slew of additional “states” — Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Colorado State, Utah State and Texas State — plus Gonzaga, the conference’s sole private university. Thirteen affiliate members will also compete for Pac-12 championships in select sports. From blue turf and river jumps to live mascots and basketball campouts, Oregon State’s new conference colleagues bring plenty of personality to the Pac-12’s next chapter. Here’s a guide to who’s who:
Select a school on the map to learn more
Fresno State
San Diego State
Gonzaga
Washington State
Boise State
Utah State
Colorado State
Texas State
Meet the New Pac-12
California State University, Fresno
Fresno, California
Enrollment: 24,300
Mascot: TimeOut (costumed), Victor E. Bulldog IV (live)
Worth Knowing
Fresno State fans are known as the “Red Wave,” a nickname that’s even inspired a locally brewed game-day lager.
Notable Bulldogs
NFL wide receiver Davante Adams · Olympian, four-time All-American and Oregon State head softball coach Laura Berg · former NFL quarterback Derek Carr · founder of eponymous ceramics brand Rae Dunn · MLB right fielder Aaron Judge · journalist and author Daniel Silva
Sports
Men’s:
Baseball, basketball, cross country,
football, golf, track & field.
Women’s:
Basketball, cross country, equestrian,
golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving,
tennis, track & field, volleyball, water polo.
San Diego State University
San Diego, California
Enrollment: 41,200
Mascot: No mascot
Worth Knowing
The Aztecs’ student section, “The Show,” is credited with introducing big head cutouts to college basketball.
Notable Aztecs
College head coach and former NFL running back Marshall Faulk · NBA player Kawhi Leonard · actor Kathy Najimy · co-founder and former CEO of Costco Jim Sinegal · actor, director and former NFL linebacker Carl Weathers · actor Raquel Welch
Sports
Men’s:
Baseball, basketball, football,
golf, soccer, tennis.
Women’s:
Basketball, cross country, golf,
lacrosse, soccer, softball,
swimming & diving, tennis,
track & field, volleyball, water polo.
Gonzaga University
Spokane, Washington
Enrollment: 7,400
Mascot: Spike the Bulldog
Worth Knowing
The “Kennel Club” is one of college basketball’s best-known student sections, with students camping out for prime seats at big games.
Notable Zags
Singer and entertainer Bing Crosby · former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tom Foley · MLB pitcher Marco Gonzales · former NBA player John Stockton
Game-Day Note
Gonzaga men’s basketball has sold out every home game since the 2001-02 season.
Sports
Men’s:
Baseball, basketball, cross country,
golf, rowing, soccer, tennis,
track & field.
Women’s:
Basketball, cross country, golf,
rowing, soccer, tennis,
track & field, volleyball.
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington
Enrollment: 25,500
Mascot: Butch T. Cougar
Worth Knowing
Washington State is home to one of the few dedicated research nuclear reactors in the U.S. (OSU has one, too!)
Notable Cougs
NFL Hall of Famer Mel Hein · creator of The Far Side Gary Larson · psychologist and counterculture icon Timothy Leary · broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow · NBA player Klay Thompson
Most Famous Dropout
Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft
Sports
Men’s:
Baseball, basketball, cross country,
football, golf, track.
Women’s:
Basketball, cross country, golf,
rowing, soccer, swimming,
tennis, track, volleyball.
Boise State University
Boise, Idaho
Enrollment: 28,500
Mascot: Buster Bronco
Worth Knowing
Its famous blue football field, installed in 1986, sported college athletics’ first nontraditional turf color.
Notable Broncos
Idaho’s first Latino judge, Sergio Gutierrez · pianist Anna Kijanowska · NFL running back Ashton Jeanty · NFL coach Kellen Moore
Sports
Men’s:
Basketball, cross country, football,
golf, tennis, track & field.
Women’s:
Basketball, beach volleyball,
cross country, golf, gymnastics,
soccer, softball, tennis,
track & field, volleyball.
Utah State University
Logan, Utah
Enrollment: 28,900
Mascot: Big Blue
Worth Knowing
Nationally recognized for its Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State created the first university-developed satellite ever put into space. It was deployed in 1985.
Notable Aggies
Crumbl Cookies founder Sawyer Hemsley · NFL quarterback Jordan Love · actor and NFL defensive tackle Merlin Olsen · U.S. Senator Harry Reid · poet May Swenson · NFL linebacker Bobby Wagner
Sports
Men’s:
Basketball, cross country, football,
golf, tennis, track & field.
Women’s:
Basketball, cross country, gymnastics,
soccer, softball, tennis,
track & field, volleyball.
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado
Enrollment: 34,200
Mascot: CAM the Ram
Worth Knowing
Colorado State is home to the largest animal cancer center in the world.
Notable Rams
Father of American bouldering John Gill · WNBA head coach and point guard Becky Hammon · author Rebecca Skloot · Olympic gold medal swimmer Amy Van Dyken
Game-Day Note
Keep your eyes peeled for live mascot CAM the Ram. CAM is an acronym for Colorado A&M, the university’s historic name.
Sports
Men’s:
Basketball, cross country, football,
golf, track & field.
Women’s:
Basketball, cross country, golf,
track & field, soccer, softball,
swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball.
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas
Enrollment: 44,600
Mascot: Boko the Bobcat
Worth Knowing
After commencement, many graduates celebrate by jumping into the San Marcos River in their caps and gowns.
Notable Bobcats
Olympic gold medal high jumper Charles Austin · actor Powers Boothe · TV and film director Thomas Carter · MLB first baseman Paul Goldschmidt · former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson · country music singer George Strait
Sports
Men’s:
Baseball, basketball, cross country,
football, golf, track & field.
Women’s:
Basketball, cross country, golf,
soccer, softball, tennis,
track & field, volleyball.
Pac-12 Affiliate Members
Baseball
Dallas Baptist
Men’s Soccer
California Baptist, Cal Poly, UC Riverside; UC San Diego (2026 only)
Women’s Gymnastics
Southern Utah
Wrestling
Air Force, Cal Poly, Cal State Bakersfield, Little Rock, Northern Colorado, Northern Illinois, North Dakota State, South Dakota State
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