MARLER: Pac-12 6-Pack is good for college sports

By Chris Marler

Last year the Pac-12 was the odd man out during college conference hunger games expansion. What was often considered the best, most well rounded conference in terms of overall strength for athletics, was gone in the blink of an eye. The “Conference of Champions” fell into the abyss like a rockslide falling into the Pacific on the California Coast.

The conference went from ten teams, to twelve, and then down to two, leaving Oregon State and Washington State as the lone members.

Well, the Beavers and Cougars have company.

The league announced Thursday morning it was adding four new members to the conference in 2026-27: Boise St, San Diego St, Fresno St, and Colorado State. Six state universities in the Pacific Northwest vying for relevance and credibility.

And, it’s good. For them. For us. For the fans. For the athletes. For everyone.

The Pac 12 being alive and relevant is great for college sports. No, there’s no blue bloods or threats to the college football playoff necessarily. But, if the conference can find ways to make it relevant to the fan, I am all for it. We live in a world where Houston, BYU, and Cincinnati play in a conference (with several former Pac 12 members) that will compete for not only a spot in the playoff but a first round bye.

Give me a 6 Pack after dark game between Boise and Wazzu in the snow over that crap any day.