The Pac-12 is back, and it did not schedule itself an easy landing. The rebuilt league opens its 2026 season with all eight football members in action across three days, and most of them walk straight into the fire: five road trips into some of the loudest stadiums in the country, a Sunday night rivalry game on NBC, and a Border War that might be the most competitive matchup of the entire opening weekend. This is a conference with something to prove, and Week 1 is the proving ground. Every game is live on RallyFuel. Tap your pick, earn +20 RallyFuel points per vote, and back the league that refused to disappear.
The Flag Bearer: Boise State Invades Autzen
Oregon vs Boise State: Saturday, 3:30 PM ET on CBS. The Broncos carry the Pac-12 banner into Autzen Stadium for a nationally televised showdown with the Ducks. Boise State has built its entire identity on moments like this: blue turf swagger, a chip on the shoulder, and a history of ruining bigger programs’ Saturdays. Oregon at Autzen is one of the toughest environments in the sport, but nobody who watched the Fiesta Bowl era counts Boise out on a big stage. If the new Pac-12 wants a statement win in its first weekend, this is where it happens.
Sunday Night Special: The Apple Cup
Washington vs Washington State: Sunday, 4:00 PM ET on NBC. The Apple Cup gets the opening weekend all to itself. Washington State heads to Husky Stadium for the 118th edition of one of college football’s fiercest rivalries, now a cross conference grudge match with even more edge than before. The Huskies have home field, but rivalry games have a long memory and no respect for expectations. Want to size up the rivals before you pick? Compare the schools head to head on RallyFuel. Wazzu closes out the Pac-12’s opening weekend in front of the whole country.
Road Warriors
The rest of the league’s veterans hit the road against Power 4 and rising FBS competition.
USC vs Fresno State: Friday, 9:00 PM ET on FOX. The Bulldogs open Pac-12 life against USC under the lights at the Coliseum. Fresno State has never feared a trip to Los Angeles, and a Friday night stage on FOX is exactly the kind of spotlight a program joining a rebuilt league dreams about.
Houston vs Oregon State: Saturday, 12:00 PM ET on ESPN. The Beavers, one of the two programs that kept the Pac-12 alive, take the early window in Houston against a Big 12 opponent. An upset here would echo far beyond Texas.
Texas vs Texas State: Saturday, 3:30 PM ET on ESPN. Welcome to the Pac-12, Bobcats. Texas State‘s first game as a member of the conference is a trip to Austin to face the Longhorns in front of 100,000 fans. It is a brutal welcome and a massive opportunity all at once.
The Border War Comes to the Pac-12
Colorado State vs Wyoming: Saturday, 6:00 PM ET on USA Network. The most evenly matched game of the weekend belongs to one of the oldest rivalries in the West. The Rams host the Cowboys at Canvas Stadium in the Border War, a series that dates back to 1899 and now doubles as a Pac-12 versus Mountain West showdown. CSU gets home field, which in this rivalry means absolutely nothing. If you only have time for one true toss up this weekend, make it this one.
Home Openers in Logan and San Diego
Utah State vs Idaho State: Saturday, 7:00 PM ET on CBS Sports Network. The Aggies raise the curtain on their Pac-12 era at Maverik Stadium against a Big Sky opponent in Idaho State, a chance to start fast in front of the home fans in Logan.
San Diego State vs Portland State: Saturday, 9:30 PM ET on USA Network. The Aztecs close out Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium, hosting the Vikings in the late window as the conference’s West Coast anchor.
Make Your Picks
A CBS showcase at Autzen, the Apple Cup on Sunday night, a Friday trip to the Coliseum, and a Border War toss up. The new Pac-12’s opening weekend is live right now. Tap into any matchup above, cast your vote for +20 RallyFuel points, drop a comment for your squad, and turn your fandom into direct support for the athletes bringing this conference back to life.
Get your predictions in before kickoff.
