Despite losing 10 of its 12 schools to reorganization, the Pac-12 appears poised to survive.

Late Wednesday night, there were rumors that the Pac-12 was looking to add a quartet of Mountain West Conference (MWC) schools. And Thursday morning, it was confirmed that Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State and Fresno State will join the Pac-12.

The Pac-12 will have six members beginning in the 2026-27 season, but two members are still needed to reach the eight-school minimum in the FBS. The Pac-12 may consider adding more MWC schools or shifting its focus to the college football landscape.

On3 Sports reported that it would be “a logical step for Cal and Stanford to rejoin the Pac-12” should an opportunity open up.

On3’s Pete Nakos pointed out the legal battles surrounding Florida State and Clemson and the ACC, but the two programs appear no closer to breaking the convoluted ACC Grant-of-Rights Agreement today than they were when the legal proceedings began. If FSU and Clemson are unlikely to leave the conference, neither are Cal and Stanford.

And while it seems like the Pac-12 will survive, it won’t be a Power Conference. There’s still work to be done to maintain FBS status and some semblance of postseason relevance.

The ACC, on the other hand, is one of the four Power conferences and has one of those four automatic berths in the College Football Playoff. The Pac-12 will also have to broker a new television deal.

Cal got off to a 2-0 start to the 2024-25 season, knocking off Auburn in a blowout conference win. And Stanford is 1-1 at the start of the new season.

There could be more redistricting in college athletics, but it doesn’t appear the ACC will be affected by it in the near future — neither Clemson and Florida State, nor Cal and Stanford.