Strike 3: No one has any idea how long the refurbished Pac-12 conference will be around, but the Colorado State Rams will nevertheless be proud members for the duration.

With charter members Oregon State and Washington State operating the levers of power, the Pac-12 is being reborn in 2026, about the same time as several of the biggest college media rights deals are due for renewal. That means more changes, more realignment is possible, and more uncertainty about the state of college sports. Buckle up.

The new conference will look a lot like the conference the Rams are leaving, along with Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State. There will be more additions to come (no Wyoming or Air Force, sadly) plus powerhouse Gonzaga for basketball only. Educated guesses have Texas State joining as the eighth football member, making the Pac-12 eligible for the college football playoff (as things stand at the moment) in 2026. So the level of competition for CSU will take a big leap upward.

So will the chance to earn more notoriety and a shot at the College Football Playoff field.

After a strong showing during March Madness, it’s pretty clear that the CSU men’s basketball program is up for the enhanced challenge. Time will tell if the football team can follow suit.

There was a time in the MW when the path to the playoff – like the one Boise State traveled last season – was a bit less daunting than the path that contenders in the “power” conferences had to travel. Now, instead of two or three big challenges each season, Pac-12 teams will face a half dozen or more, depending on their non-conference slates. And teams like the Rams will have to win several of their marquee matchups in order to earn a shot at football’s big dance.

That’s on the field, for the short term. The long term is much less obvious.

Moving forward, there are only going to be two true “power” conferences – the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conference. The Big 12 and the Atlantic Coast Conference will remain Power Four in name only, but they’ll enjoy some perks while also remaining vigilant as the Big Two continue the process of professionalizing college football.

So CSU, despite moving up in appearance, will remain in a precarious position.

But that’s okay. Better to be on the fringe (and collecting a nicer payday) than to not be in the picture at all. There’s no question the move is a net positive for the school.

Most reports say the Pac-12 new media rights deal will pay each member school around $10 million per year. That’s a significant upgrade from the $3.5 million CSU is currently earning from the Mountain West. It will allow the athletic department to establish better financial footing for that uncertain future.

Where will this show up on campus? They’ve already built terrific new facilities, but there are still bills due on those. Getting those debts paid will be a priority. Will they bring back sports like wrestling and baseball? That’s highly unlikely. Non-revenue generating men’s sports are actually in even more danger of landing on the chopping block now that schools who want to compete in the big time will have more scholarships to fund and will also need to commit more than $20 million to a revenue sharing pot that will be split up among athletes.

Again, there’s no question that the move to the Pac-12 is a good one for CSU. But the new financial landscape of college sports will still leave a lot of schools in similar situations wondering and wanting.