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USA Network just sealed a massive five-year partnership with the reborn Pac-12 Conference, transforming how college sports fans will watch football and basketball next season. Beginning in 2026-27, 80+ games annually will air on the cable network, marking a historic moment for college athletics broadcasting.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Deal Duration: Five years through the 2030-31 season
- Annual Games: 22 football, 50 men’s basketball, and 5-10 women’s basketball games
- Conference Teams: Nine members including Boise State, Colorado State, and Fresno State
- Launch Date: Partnership begins with 2026-27 football season in September 2026
USA Network Becomes Pac-12’s Premier Platform
USA Network made its bold move into college sports with this landmark agreement announced on November 13, 2025. The Pac-12 Conference, reborn after its historic dissolution, needed multiple broadcast partners to restore national exposure. USA Sports, a newly independent division of Versant (formerly NBCUniversal), stepped up to become the primary destination for conference content. According to Matt Hong, President of USA Sports, weekends will feature football doubleheaders and basketball double and triple-headers throughout the season.
This partnership represents USA Network’s entry into major college football and basketball broadcasting. The network previously focused on niche sports like NASCAR, WWE, and golf. The Pac-12 deal dramatically elevates its sports portfolio and transforms its weekend programming.
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What Games Will Actually Be on USA Network
The five-year agreement guarantees consistent regular season action with specific game counts. USA Network will air 22 football games each season, 50 men’s basketball games, and between 5 to 10 women’s basketball contests. Additionally, the network becomes home to Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament games leading up to the championship game on CBS. Together, these account for 80+ live sporting events broadcast annually.
Pac-12 Enterprises, the conference’s own broadcast production company, will produce all games airing on USA Network. This ensures high-quality production values and gives the Pac-12 creative control over its content presentation.
How This Joins Other Pac-12 Broadcasting Partners
The USA Network deal represents the third major partnership securing the Pac-12’s media landscape. CBS Sports handles marquee matchups and the football championship game. The CW broadcasts additional football and women’s basketball. USA Network fills the gap with consistent mid-week and weekend action. This distributed approach ensures 100% of Pac-12 football reaches U.S. television households either through over-the-air broadcasts or cable and streaming platforms.
| Broadcast Partner | Content Focus | Game Types |
| USA Network | Regular season + tournament | 80+ football and basketball games |
| CBS Sports | Prime matchups | Football and basketball championships |
| The CW | Football and women’s hoops | 15+ women’s basketball games |
“USA Sports is proud to partner with the new Pac-12 and showcase the league to a national audience on USA Network. Our partnership further establishes USA Network as a destination for all sports fans, with weekends packed with Pac-12 football doubleheaders and men’s and women’s basketball double- and triple-headers beginning next fall.”
— Matt Hong, President of USA Sports
The Nine-Team Pac-12 Ready for New Era
The reborn Pac-12 enters its inaugural season with nine member institutions. Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State joined as new members in 2026. Returning members include Gonzaga, Oregon State, Texas State, Utah State, and Washington State. This eclectic mix spans four different time zones and represents challenging competitive balance. Early predictions favor Boise State as a potential contender, with Colorado State and San Diego State also expected to compete immediately.
The 2026 football season officially kicks off on Saturday, September 5, 2026. Every team plays four home conference games, creating a compact eight-team format that reduces travel and maximizes competitive intensity.
Will This Broadcasting Deal Finally Give the Pac-12 Stability in a Fragmented Landscape?
The Pac-12’s broadcasting turmoil began when USC and UCLA departed to the Big Ten in 2024, followed by wholesale conference realignment. That chaos forced the Pac-12 to rebuild from scratch. With three major partners now locked in through 2030-31, the structure provides financial stability and national exposure. Yet questions persist about whether cable television can compete with ESPN’s dominant positioning in college sports viewership. USA Network’s track record with WWE and sports emphasizes entertainment and spectacle. Can that translate to sustained interest in Pac-12 football and basketball? The next five seasons will test whether the new Pac-12 can thrive as a secondary conference or rebuild its way back to championship relevance.
Sources
- Pac-12 Conference – Official partnership announcement and broadcast details for USA Network
- ESPN – Comprehensive media deal analysis and strategic implications
- USA Sports/Versant Media – Statement from Matt Hong and broadcasting infrastructure details
