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Don't ask Pac-12 legacy teams Oregon State or Washington State, as six new teams are taking over the conference. Neither the Beavers nor the Cougars are serious contenders for the reshaped Pac-12.
Instead, the newcomers from the Mountain West Conference and Sun Belt Conference are taking up space at the top. Those contenders are Boise State, which has one College Football Playoff appearance, San Diego State and Texas State.
The Boise State Broncos look to bounce back from a relatively down 2025, where the team still won the Mountain West.
Broncos quarterback Maddux Madsen is an experienced starter, and he has strong running back support in Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines. Wide receiver Ben Ford gives Madsen one familiar go-to guy, but the Broncos may reload with new receiver talent on the roster.
Defensively, the Broncos are dangerous up front with defensive linemen Jayden Virgin-Morgan and Max Stege. As for the secondary, the Broncos have heavy turnover; JeRico Washington Jr. is a big addition.
The San Diego State Aztecs have a strong rushing attack and passing attack, led by quarterback Jayden Denegal. Running back Christian Washington and Lucky Sutton give the Aztecs a two-headed monster for opponents in the backfield.
Defensively, the Aztecs have lots of new players, but veteran defensive linemen Amari Comier and Malachi Finau should anchor that unit.
Making the trek from the Sun Belt, the Texas State Bobcats could compete for a title on the opposite side of the country.
Texas State has a strong offense with quarterback Brad Jackson, and wide receivers Beau Sparks and Chris Dawn Jr. are playmakers. Jackson is a dual-threat quarterback, but the Bobcats will need answers at running back this season.
The Bobcats defense does shut everyone down, but they do have some significant star players. Linebacker DonTerry Russell is a force in the pass rush, and safety Ryan Nolan is quick to take down ball carriers.
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