It has taken a little extra time due to the unique circumstances surrounding the conference, but the rebuilt Pac-12 has released its full schedule.
And if you are caught off guard by the “flex” label for the last week of the regular season, that is because the Pac-12 is the first conference to implement this wrinkle.
To boil it down, each of the eight member programs will play one another at least once between week five and week 12. Within the flex week, a selected rematch will occur, depending on CFP positioning, previously-visited locations, and other miscellaneous circumstances.
However, that flex game will not impact the conference standings, serving as a non-conference affair.
To add to that, Utah State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and Washington State are guaranteed to host the flex games.
Beyond the regular season, it was determined that the Pac-12 championship game will be hosted by the highest-seeded team, rather than being held at a neutral site.
With the legalese out of the way, which teams were fortunate with tonight’s announcement and which were cursing the league office?
WINNERS
- San Diego State
The Aztecs managed to come away with playing Fresno State and Washington State at home while receiving a bye in the first week of November.
- Washington State
With the same bye as SDSU, the Cougars play both Fresno State and Boise State at home. Going on the road against San Diego State is their only true tough road game – assuming projections somewhat hold.
- Texas State
Despite a backloaded schedule from Halloween onward featuring Boise State, Fresno State, and Washington State, the Bobcats were spared in terms of weekly travel. After their week six bye, Texas State will play two home games, then two away games, followed by another two home games. They are the only Pac-12 program privy to this pair scheduling dynamic.
LOSERS
- Boise State
Spencer Danielson and company will have to travel to both Fresno and Pullman in October, with a bye sprinkled in between. However, a late-season date at home with San Diego State will be followed by a likely difficult rematch during flex week on the road, currently slated against Utah State, but subject to change.
- Fresno State
The Bulldogs may have drawn the shortest of straws, being sentenced to play Washington State (away), Boise State (home), and San Diego State (away) within three consecutive weeks. While they do have a lighter slate to end the year, momentum will be hard to come by in October.
- Colorado State
In his first year in Fort Collins, head coach Jim Mora will not be thrilled with having a bye during the second week of Pac-12 play. After the break, they will play seven straight games, including flex week, which features San Diego State and Boise State at home and back-to-back road trips to Washington State and Fresno State.
- Oregon State
Similar to Fresno, Oregon State was bestowed with the daunting task of playing the top tier of the Pac-12 – SDSU, Wazzu, Fresno State, and Boise State – within a five-game span that is nice enough to feature a bye.
- Utah State
Bronco Mendenhall will have to introduce a new quarterback in 2026, and there will be no time to waste in conference play with Boise State (away) and Washington State (home) right out of the shoot. After a few weeks of reprieve, the Aggies will have to play back-to-back weeks against Fresno State (home) and San Diego State (away).
We will have more at the Mountain West Connection regarding each team’s individual schedule from week zero to the Thanksgiving holiday in the coming days, but let us know what your first impressions are of the Pac-12’s conference schedule and the implementation of a flex week in the comments below!
