{"id":3141,"date":"2026-07-02T07:37:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T07:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=3141"},"modified":"2026-07-02T07:37:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T07:37:43","slug":"utah-state-celebrates-its-new-era-of-pac-12-membership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=3141","title":{"rendered":"Utah State celebrates its new era of Pac-12 membership"},"content":{"rendered":"

The feeling of excitement is clear from Logan.<\/p>

July 1 has been a date circled on the calendars of many Utah State fans, administrators and coaches, as it marked the official start of the new Pac-12 Conference.<\/p>

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It\u2019s a moment that\u2019s been nearly two years in the making, after the Aggies accepted an offer to join the conference in 2024.<\/p>

The new Pac-12 is largely made up of previous Mountain West members, including Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State. They join new members Texas State and Gonzaga, and current members Oregon State and Washington State.<\/p>

Something that Utah State administrators and coaches are excited about is the continued regional aspect of the Pac-12, especially after some conferences have given up the tradition of regional conferences in realignment.<\/p>

\u201cI think we have a huge advantage, especially in football season and those evening windows,\u201d said Utah State president Brad L. Mortensen. \u201cPac-12 at night was a thing, and we think it can be a thing again, because we\u2019re going to be the only conference that really can fill in that evening time slot on TV broadcasts, and all of our games are going to be on linear TV across the league.<\/p>

\u201cI also think that as we are moving forward, we have this regional aspect, but there are some new rivalries there too.\u201d<\/p>

Of course, it\u2019s also undeniable that the landscape of college sports is changing. NIL has forced schools to adapt their recruiting structure and resources. <\/p>

In the grand scheme of college athletics, the Aggies certainly don\u2019t expect to be a powerhouse in terms of financial resources. However, the feeling among the administrators is that they believe they can stay competitive in that regard, especially with the name recognition of the Pac-12. <\/p>

The hope is that the Pac-12\u2019s name recognition will help if it can rebrand itself as the premier non-Power Four conference. <\/p>

\u201cIt does (help) from a branding standpoint,\u201d said Aggies athletic director Cameron Walker. \u201cI think it does from a perception standpoint. I think it does from a viewership standpoint. <\/p>

\u201cThe hope is we come out as a school and as a league and are competitive right from the start. You want those debates early on of, \u2018Who\u2019s the next best non-P4 league in this space?\u2019 The quicker we can generate and be a part of that conversation, then you start getting talk about making that next step, and that\u2019s the goal.<\/p>

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\u201cI don\u2019t think anybody\u2019s satisfied with where the Pac-12 is right now, and that\u2019s what makes it an exciting league. I think all the ADs are like-minded in that. I know the commissioner is, and it\u2019s like, \u2018This is where we\u2019re at now.\u2019 It\u2019s a great place, don\u2019t get me wrong, but nobody\u2019s quite satisfied with that. I think that helps as we\u2019re able to build. Everybody wants to do it first, and this will be a first for Utah State to be able to go win Pac-12 championships.\u201d<\/p>

There\u2019s certainly an argument to be made that men\u2019s basketball benefited the most from the move from the Mountain West to the Pac-12. New Utah State head coach Ben Jacobson was not shy in sharing that the move to the Pac-12 was a strong selling point in getting him to Logan. <\/p>

He agreed with Walker\u2019s sentiment that the Pac-12 is fighting for a top-5 spot in terms of basketball conferences. <\/p>

\u201cThat was not only an important factor in making the decision to change jobs and be our head coach here at Utah State, the excitement surrounding the Pac-12 and the opportunities that come with it,\u201d Jacobson said. \u201cBut then also you\u2019ve got the Power Four that hasn\u2019t changed. But the new Pac-12, are we able to slide in? The Big East would be fifth. So, are we able to slide into that conversation, and are we able to get level with the Big East?\u201d<\/p>

The hopes are high in year one of the Pac-12 with Mountain West Player of the Year Mason Falslev and Sixth Man of the Year Karson Templin returning to the Aggies. <\/p>

\u201cIn terms of the Pac-12, just excited about it,\u201d Jacobson said. \u201cWhat a great opportunity for all of us. One of the things I\u2019m excited about is it forces us, in a positive way, to find our best. We always feel like we\u2019re doing everything we can as a coach or as a player to improve and get better and get ready for a season when you\u2019ve got this opportunity, this challenge in front of you, one that\u2019s this exciting.\u201d<\/p>

Meanwhile, Utah State has much more to prove on the football field. The Aggies are looking to improve on last year\u2019s flawed but encouraging season. <\/p>

Head coach Bronco Mendenhall said that the Pac-12 could provide similar parity to the Mountain West, and he hopes to capitalize. <\/p>

\u201cI think the league is full of parity, just like I thought last year,\u201d Mendenhall said. \u201cI think we\u2019re in every game right to the end with a great chance to win. I don\u2019t think anyone\u2019s significantly better. So, I like our chances. I like our culture. I like our execution. I like our toughness, and I like our talent. So, I wouldn\u2019t rule us out, and for anyone who would say, \u2018Man, the league is tiered as such,\u2019 They\u2019re missing the point. I think it\u2019s almost dead even.\u201d<\/p>

With new leadership at the helm and a new conference in tow, there\u2019s good reason to be excited about the future of Utah State athletics.<\/p>

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