After the dismantling of the Pac-12, some big names, including Oregon, Southern California and Arizona State, left the conference. What was once a historic league with fierce rivalries was reduced to just two teams: Washington State and Oregon State.

WSU and OSU were expected to drop into the Group of 5 Mountain West Conference. But both schools had different ideas, building the new-look Pac-12, team by team, into a conference that can compete at the level of a Power 4 league such as the Big 12.

Boise State, which made the College Football Playoff last season, was one of the first teams to join the new Pac-12. The Broncos entered 2025 ranked in the AP Top 25, averaging 34 points per game, ranking among the top 50 in all of college football. Boise has dominated the Mountain West, winning seven championships. Last season against Oregon, the Broncos nearly pulled off a 37-34 upset behind Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty, controlling the line of scrimmage and proving they belong.

San Diego State is another new Pac-12 member showing it can compete at a power level. SDSU blew out Atlantic Coast Conference member California, 34-0, and defeated Northern Illinois, which beat Notre Dame in 2024. The Aztecs are 5-1 to start 2025, averaging 31 points per game while allowing only 12.6 points per game, a dominant ratio at any level or conference.

Washington State went toe to toe with No. 4 Ole Miss, losing 24-21. WSU demonstrated on a national stage that it can compete with anybody, drawing a massive Cougar fan presence in Oxford, Mississippi. Head coach Jimmy Rogers and quarterback Zevi Eckhaus noted the support from fans.

“If there’s anything positive to take away from today, it’s that Cougs Nation has the best fan base in the country,” Eckhaus said.

Rogers shared Eckhaus’ sentiment.

“All the Coug fans that came out this way were awesome, because you could feel that corner of the stadium alive and electric. We appreciated it,” Rogers said.

While the new Pac-12 may not have all the memories or big names of the old conference, it can hold its own against other leagues. The weakest Power 4 conferences, the ACC and Big 12, average 3.25 and 4.25 wins per team in conference play, respectively. 

The new Pac-12 averages three wins per team. After the 2026 season begins, the term “Power 5” should return; if not, it may only be a “Power 2” with the Big Ten and SEC, because the Pac-12 is competitive with both the Big 12 and ACC.