For 108 years, the Pac-12 served as the top West Coast league, consistently sending 4-6 teams to the NCAA Tournament. However, conference realignment destroyed the conference, sending teams to the Big 12, Big Ten, and WCC, respectively. The hiatus only lasted two years, as schools from the WCC, Mountain West, and even the Sun Belt came together to create the new version.
There will be debates as to whether the new Pac-12 will be considered “high major” but Year 1 should prove to be competitive and potentially create multiple at-large bids. On paper, who are the early teams to beat, and which ones still have more work to do to be competitive?
Here’s the way-too-early “new” Pac-12 Basketball rankings.
9. Fresno State Bulldogs
2025-26 record: 13-19 (7-13 Mountain West)
Key losses
- Jake Heidbreder (17 ppg and 2.3 apg)
- DeShawn Gory (13.7 ppg and 6.2 rpg)
- Zoan Collins (11.6 ppg and 4.6 apg)
- Wilson Jacques (8.8 ppg and 8.8 rpg)
Key players
- DJ Stickman (3.5 ppg and 2.5 rpg)
- Ross Candelino (11.2 ppg and 5.2 rpg at Lipscomb)
- Dragos Lungu (13.8 ppg and 5.3 rpg in 5 games at UT-Martin)
- Bradey Henige (4.9 ppg and 5.5 rpg at Cal Baptist)
- KJ Perry (Top-rated JUCO guard prospect)
Coach Vance Walberg doubled his win total from the previous year, bringing Fresno back into competitiveness. But they lost just about everyone and the early roster-building hasn’t been great, with the exception of landing former BYU commit Perry. He’s viewed as an impact JUCO transfer and someone likely to run the offense out of the gate.
The lack of proven guard depth has the Bulldogs at the bottom, but the rebuilding process seems to be going in the right direction. We’ll see if they can add a couple of impact pieces to become a tough out in the Pac-12.
8. Washington State Cougars
2025-26 record: 12-20 (7-11 WCC)
Key losses
- Ace Glass (16.4 ppg and 2.3 apg)
- Rihards Vavers (11.5 ppg and 4.0 rpg)
- ND Okafor (11 ppg and 5.7 rpg)
- Eemeli Yalaho (10.1 ppg and 5.7 rpg)
Key players
- Fraser Roxburgh (11 ppg and 5.8 rpg at Manhattan)
- Sebastian Akins (5.3 ppg and 1.9 apg at Wake Forest)
- Casey Jones (12.6 ppg and 4.4 rpg in 2023-24 at Eastern Washington, left for 2-year mission)
- Ladji Dembele (5.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg in 5 games at UNLV)
- Jamari Phillips (2.7 ppg and 0.9 rpg at Oregon)
In the last year of the old Pac-12, Washington State won 25 total games and made the NCAA Tournament. The program has dipped a bit since, having to replace its entire roster and take on a number of fliers. Guys like Akins, Philips, and Tyler Kropp of Northwestern will all get larger roles, but will any of them break out next year?
If not, Coach David Riley, who has gone 31-35 in the last two years, may not last much longer as the Cougars’ leader. The good news is that he was able to keep Jones, who was a double-digit scorer for Riley in the Big Sky a few years ago, after a two-year Mormon mission. This time, he’s looking to be a focal point of the offense.
7. Texas State Bobcats
2025-26 record: (19-13 (11-7 Sun Belt)
Key losses
- Mark Drone (14.2 ppg and 2.9 apg)
- Makai Willis (6.0 ppg and 3.1 rpg)
- Kyndall Davis (5.9 ppg and 3.9 rpg)
Key players
- DJ Hall (15.6 ppg and 7.7 rpg)
- Kaden Grumbs (8.7 ppg and 3.0 apg)
- Franck Emmou (7.2 ppg and 1.9 rpg)
- Quel’Ron House (15.2 ppg and 3.3 apg at Southern Illinois)
- KJ Younger (15.1 ppg and 4.7 rpg at UNC Greensboro)
One of the more fascinating realignment-related storylines is Texas State’s first year in the Pac-12. We’ve seen the former WCC and Mountain West schools go head-to-head, but the Sun Belt school that hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 1997 looks to make some noise of its own.
The Bobcats have a good roster to work with, led by Hall, a 6’7 forward who led the team in scoring and rebounding as a freshman. House and Younger are two talented guards who should make an impact as well. A lack of real frontcourt size is Texas State's biggest issue, but it should have one of the league's top offenses.
6. Oregon State Beavers
2025-26 record: 17-16 (9-9 WCC)
Key losses
- Isaiah Sy (10 ppg and 4.6 rpg)
- Dez White (9.7 ppg and 2.7 rpg)
- Johan Munch (7.9 ppg and 5.1 rpg)
Key players
- Josiah Lake (13.1 ppg and 4.2 apg)
- Daniel Freitag (19.8 ppg and 3.8 apg at Buffalo)
- Legend Smiley (8.1 ppg and 1.9 rpg at San Francisco)
- Jackson Rasmussen (13.6 ppg and 4.7 rpg at Idaho)
- DeShawn Gory (13.7 ppg and 6.2 rpg at Fresno State)
National champion assistant coach Justin Joyner takes over for the Beavers, and he brings back the team’s best player from last season in Lake, who earned first-team All-WCC honors. He and Freitag, one of the MAC’s top scorers, make a talented backcourt while Smiley, who shot 42% from deep as a freshman, adds to the overall depth.
Gory is a familiar face for the former Mountain West teams, while the center transfer duo of Dennis Evans (Grand Canyon) and Xavion Staton (BYU) gives them a high ceiling, if either of the former top-30 prospects out of high school works out. While there are still questions about whether Oregon State can push past the contending teams in the top half of this list, they clearly have better odds than Washington State.
5. Boise State Broncos
2025-26 record: 20-12 (12-8 Mountain West)
Key losses
- Drew Fielder (14.7 ppg and 5.7 rpg)
- Javan Buchanan (12.6 ppg and 5.0 rpg)
- Dylan Andrews (12.5 ppg and 3.2 apg)
- Andrew Meadow (12.1 ppg and 3.6 rpg)
Key players
- Pearson Carmichael (7.9 ppg and 3.1 rpg)
- Aginaldo Neto (4.3 ppg and 1.9 apg)
- Damari Wheeler-Thomas (14.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg at North Dakota State)
- Dovydas Butka (13.9 ppg and 8.5 rpg at Campbell)
- Jerquarius Stanback (8.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg at Alabama State)
In 13 of 16 seasons as head coach, Leon Rice has led the Broncos to 20+ wins. But after losing each double-digit scorer, there will be questions about whether they’ll be a contender to open their Pac-12 era. They have one of the better frontcourts on paper, with Butka and former SWAC Defensive Player of the Year Stanback joining the 6’7 Carmichael, who is due for a larger role as a junior.
Wheeler-Thomas was an early pickup for Boise State and is the projected lead guard, while former Illinois wing Ty Rodgers gives them a versatile lockdown defender. Boise has the potential to be one of the better defensive units but the offense could have its ups and downs.
4. Colorado State Rams
2025-26 record: 21-13 (11-9 Mountain West)
Key losses
- Brandon Rechsteiner (12 ppg and 2.5 apg)
- Jevin Muniz (9.4 ppg and 4.9 apg)
- Augustinas Kiudulas (5.9 ppg and 2.7 rpg)
Key players
- Kyle Jorgensen (11.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg)
- Carey Booth (10.7 ppg and 5.6 rpg)
- Josh Pascarelli (10.2 ppg and 2.8 rpg)
- Jase Butler (9.3 ppg and 3.1 rpg)
- Rashaan Mbemba (8.1 ppg and 3.7 rpg)
- Justin Menard (12.9 ppg and 3.8 apg at Marist)
Ali Farokhmanesh had a good first year as the Rams' head coach, using a balanced approach (7 players between 8-12 ppg) to win 20+ games. Five of those seven key guys are back, including the frontcourt duo of Booth and Jorgensen. The key newcomer is Menard, a 6’3 guard who earned All-MAAC honors at Marist, shooting 36% from deep.
Colorado State’s slow style allowed them to be efficient, including ranking 11th nationally in three-point percentage at 39%. The size, depth, and experience should be helpful for the Rams, as long as they’re able to replace Muniz at point guard.
3. San Diego State Aztecs
2025-26 record: 22-11 (14-6 Mountain West)
Key losses
- Reese Dixon-Waters (13.1 ppg and 3.6 rpg)
- BJ Davis (10.8 ppg and 3.2 rpg)
- Miles Byrd (10.4 ppg and 4.7 rpg)
- Magoon Gwath (8.9 ppg and 4.3 rpg)
Key players
- Elzie Harrington (8.0 ppg and 2.3 apg)
- Tae Simmons (5.8 ppg and 3.4 rpg)
- Chance Gladden (14.4 ppg and 4.5 apg at Boston U)
- Nick Anderson (15.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg at Rice)
- Jeremiah Cherry (15.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg in 6 games at Sacramento State)
By their standards, last year was an abnormal campaign for the Aztecs. And yet, they were still one game back of the regular-season title. Lots of chances occurred, with Gladden set to run the offense, while Anderson and Cherry are capable scoring options in the frontcourt.
Harrington, a former top-100 prospect, dealt with injuries but showed signs of stardom as a freshman and will be a consensus breakout candidate to watch. If he emerges as the go-to scorer next year, San Diego State can set itself up as the biggest threat to the clear No. 1 team.
2. Utah State Aggies
2025-26 record: 29-7 (15-5 Mountain West)
Key losses
- MJ Collins (17.5 ppg and 2.5 rpg)
- Drake Allen (7.9 ppg and 4.7 apg)
- Kolby King (7.5 ppg and 3.3 rpg)
- Garry Clark (6.9 ppg and 4.3 rpg)
Key players
- Mason Falslev (16 ppg and 3.1 apg)
- Karson Templin (8.8 ppg and 4.2 rpg)
- Will Hornseth (11.1 ppg and 4.6 rpg at Northern Iowa)
- Connor Turnbull (11.5 ppg and 6.1 rpg at Evansville)
- Solomon Callaghan (10.2 ppg and 1.9 rpg at Wright State)
Once again, Utah State has a new head coach, but it has a known winner in Ben Jacobsen, who led Northern Iowa to multiple postseason trips. He was able to keep Falslev, the Mountain West Player of the Year, along with the 6th Man of the Year winner, Templin.
The supporting cast looks good as well, with Hornseth and Turnbull giving them a nice frontcourt tandem. Callaghan is a double-digit scorer and quality defender from Wright State. The collective depth, combined with having one of the three best players in the Pac-12, puts the Aggies in a good spot to contend for an at-large bid.
1. Gonzaga Bulldogs
2025-26 record: 31-4 (16-2 WCC)
Key losses
- Graham Ike (19.9 ppg and 8.0 rpg)
- Tyon Grant-Foster (11.1 ppg and 5.0 rpg)
- Adam Miller (7.3 ppg and 1.6 rpg)
- Jalen Warley (7.1 ppg and 4.8 rpg)
- Emmanuel Innocenti (6.0 ppg and 3.8 rpg)
Key players
- Braden Huff (17.8 ppg and 5.6 rpg)
- Mario Saint-Supery (8.6 ppg and 3.8 apg)
- Davis Fogle (8.6 ppg and 3.1 rpg)
- Massamba Diop (13.6 ppg and 5.8 rpg at Arizona State)
- Isaiah Harwell (3.6 ppg and 2.0 rpg at Houston)
As one of the dominant college basketball programs, regardless of conference, Gonzaga steps into the new Pac-12 Basketball league as the premier team. They bring back one of the best players in the nation in Huff, joined by another key forward in Diop from Arizona State.
It’s not expected to be a cakewalk for the Bulldogs, with everyone else on the roster currently an underclassman. But they’re a talented bunch, with both Saint-Supery and Fogle breakout candidates, while former five-star prospect Harwell is looking for a bigger role after struggling at Houston as a freshman. With the top player, coach (Mark Few), and the highest collective ceiling, Gonzaga will be the preseason team to beat come November.
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