The Pac-12 Conference as we’ve known it is long gone, but a rebuilt league is beginning to take permanent shape. On June 23, the Pac-12 announced its long-awaited media rights deal, helping to solidify the league’s future and opening the door for further expansion.
Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould confirmed that the conference will partner with CBS and CBS Sports starting in 2026 and running through the 2030-31 sports season. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but securing a long-term media package positions the conference to extend formal invitations to potential expansion candidates.
CBS will be the main carrier of the league, broadcasting both football and men's basketball championship games on CBS. 3 or more football and men's basketball games will also be broadcast on CBS each season, with more games airing on CBSSports. This is the first media rights deal for the conference, but will likely not be the last as the Pac-12 hopes to increase their exposure to as many broadcasting partners as possible.
The agreement comes not long after all eight members of the new-look Pac-12 signed their Grant of Rights and membership agreements.
All eight members of the new Pac-12 have signed their Grant of Rights and membership agreements, a conference spokesperson tells @YahooSports.It is a signal that the league is finalizing a new media rights package that is expected in the coming days.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) June 9, 2025Beginning July 1, 2026, the final two remaining schools from the old Pac-12 — Washington State and Oregon State — will be joined by five Mountain West Conference programs: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State, along with Gonzaga from the West Coast Conference.
With a media rights deal now in place, invitations to expansion targets carry greater value, with the league’s future more firmly established.
As it stands, the Pac-12 has eight full-time members committed for the 2026 season, but with Gonzaga not sponsoring a football program, the league needs at least one more football-playing member to meet the FBS minimum.
Texas State, from the Sun Belt Conference, has frequently surfaced as the front-runner in expansion speculation, though no official confirmation has been made.
For the 2025 season, the Pac-12 will operate under a one-year media deal with The CW, CBS, and ESPN.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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