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Pac-12 Returns as Nine-Team League on July 1 While Mountain West and WCC Lose Programs in Realignment
Conference realignment changes across college basketball take effect July 1, 2026. The Pac-12 resumes with nine teams while the Mountain West, WCC, ASUN and other leagues adjust membership.
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Conference realignment changes across college basketball take effect July 1, 2026. The Pac-12 returns as a nine-team league after two years without the conference. Five former Mountain West members join the Pac-12 along with Texas State from the Sun Belt and Gonzaga from the WCC.
Oregon State and Washington State remain from the prior Pac-12 structure. San Diego State, Utah State, Colorado State, Fresno State and Boise State complete the new roster. CBS Sports reported that six of the nine Pac-12 teams rank inside the top 100 in barttorvik.com projections for 2026-27, with Gonzaga projected at No.
6 nationally. The Mountain West adds Hawaii and UC Davis from the Big West plus UTEP from Conference USA. The WCC adds Denver from the Summit League. The former WAC becomes the United Athletic Conference and absorbs several former ASUN members, reducing that league from 12 to eight teams.
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference shortens its name to the Metro Conference. West Florida begins its transition from Division II to Division I and joins the ASUN. The program won Division II national titles in 2018 and 2026 but remains ineligible for the NCAA Tournament until 2030.
CBS Sports Bracketology projected Jacksonville to win the ASUN automatic bid for the 2027 NCAA Tournament, which would mark the school's first appearance since 1986. Additional moves scheduled for 2027-28 include UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego joining the WCC from the Big West and Fairfield leaving the Metro Conference for the CAA.
