Pac-12 Nears 2026 Football Schedule Finalization, With Key Decisions Still in Play
The new-look Pac-12 is inching closer to locking in its football schedule for the 2026 season, and while there's a sense of urgency, there's also a clear understanding that this is a decision they can’t afford to rush.
Washington State interim athletic director Jon Haarlow spoke recently about where things stand following a series of meetings this past week in San Ramon, California, where Pac-12 athletic directors and university presidents gathered to hash out the early framework for the conference’s next chapter.
“We are still working through some things,” Haarlow said, noting that while progress has been made, a few critical decisions remain on the table. And make no mistake - time is of the essence.
“There’s urgency there, but we have to get it right,” he added.
That balancing act - speed versus precision - is at the heart of what the conference is trying to navigate. With seven conference games on the slate for each team in 2026, the Pac-12 is exploring a variety of scheduling models.
The goal? To find the sweet spot between competitive balance, TV marketability, and financial sustainability.
On the competitive side, the league wants to ensure teams are getting a fair shake - both in terms of who they face and when they face them. That’s especially important in a reshaped conference landscape, where traditional rivalries and travel demands may look a little different.
Then there’s the broadcast angle. With media rights playing a bigger role than ever in college football’s economics, the Pac-12 is weighing which matchups will generate the most interest from TV partners. Prime-time games, marquee rivalries, and late-season showdowns - all of these factor heavily into how the schedule is built.
And finally, there’s the cost. In a conference that’s had to navigate financial challenges over the past few years, every dollar spent on travel or logistics matters.
As Haarlow put it, “All the money we spend is money out of our pocket from a school perspective going forward.” That means the league has to be smart about how it structures travel and scheduling to avoid unnecessary expenses.
Right now, the Pac-12 is still running models and evaluating options. The finish line is in sight, but a few key conversations still need to happen before anything is finalized.
“We’re close,” Haarlow said. “We’re close, but not final there yet. Still conversations to have, but we’re not too far.”
It’s clear the conference is treating this as a foundational moment - one that will help define the Pac-12’s identity as it enters a new era. And while fans are eager to see the schedule drop, the league is making sure it gets this one right - for the teams, the viewers, and the long-term health of the conference.