By SuperWest Sports Staff
The latest round of major realignment over the past couple of years was as crazy as it was unexpected.
But as the history of conference realignment shows, it wasn’t the first time schools in the West played a wild game of musical chairs.
Since 2000, at least 30 schools have changed conferences, become independents, or reclassified their divisional status at least once. Some have done so on several occasions.
However, the shuffling goes back much further than that.
Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of the most significant conference changes and reclassifications since 1902.
2024
In a turnaround that surprised many, the two-member Pac-12 announced plans to add five Mountain West schools—Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and Utah State—beginning on July 1, 2026.
Gonzaga was also added as a non-football member.
The Mountain West, meanwhile, added UTEP as a full member and Northern Illinois as a football-only member. UC Davis and Grand Canyon were added as non-football members.
Hawai’i, which previously competed only in MW football, became a full member, adding basketball.
2023
This year is still fresh in everyone’s memory, with eight more teams joining USC and UCLA in announcing they would be leaving the Pac-12 for the ACC, Big 12, or Big Ten.
Colorado broke away first, landing in the Big 12. Soon after, Oregon and Washington accepted an invitation from the Big Ten, prompting Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah to follow the Buffaloes to the Big 12.
Less than a month later, Cal and Stanford were accepted as new members of the ACC.
2022
In 2022, USC and UCLA jolted their fellow Pac-12 Conference members with the stunning news that they would join the Big Ten, beginning in 2024.
2018
Idaho left the Sun Belt and dropped out of the FBS to join the Big Sky, while New Mexico State left the Sun Belt to become an Independent.
2014
In 2014, Idaho and New Mexico State left the ranks of the Independents to join the Sun Belt.
2013
The WAC broke apart in 2013, with Idaho and New Mexico State becoming Independents, and San Jose State and Utah State joining the Mountain West.
2012
Fresno State, Hawai’i and Nevada leave the WAC to join the Mountain West in what would be the last season for the WAC as a standalone football conference.
2011
The Pac-10 became the Pac-12, adding Colorado from the Big 12 and Utah from the Mountain West.
BYU left the Mountain West to become an Independent, while Boise State exited the WAC to join the Mountain West.
2005
New Mexico State and Utah State leave the Sun Belt Conference in 2005, joining the WAC.
2003
Utah State leaves the ranks of Independent schools to join the Sun Belt.
2001
The Big West stops sponsoring football in 2001, precipitating several departures.
Boise State, Idaho, and New Mexico State leaves the Big West to join the WAC. Utah State leaves the conference to become an Independent.
2000
In 2000, the Big West announces it will no longer sponsor football. Nevada reacts pre-emptively, leaving the Big West for the WAC.
1999
The Mountain West launches its inaugural season in 1999, bringing together eight teams from the WAC: Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, UNLV, New Mexico, San Diego State, Utah, and Wyoming.
1996
The Big 12 launches its inaugural season in 1996, formed from all 8 Big Eight schools and four Southwestern Conference schools. Colorado is the only team from the West among them.
Other conference changes that year include UNLV and San Jose State becoming members of the WAC.
Two teams from the West—Boise State and Idaho—join the ranks of FBS.
1992
Fresno State leaves the Big West to join the WAC, and Nevada becomes an FBS team in moving up to the Big West.
1984
New Mexico leaves the Missouri Valley Conference to join the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference.
1982
UNLV transitions from an Independent to membership in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference.
1980
Independent Air Force joins the WAC.
1979
Hawai’i walks away from its Independent status to join the WAC.
1978
The Pac-8 becomes the Pac-10 in 1978 with the addition of Arizona and Arizona State, which join the conference from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
San Diego State joins the WAC after a stint as an Independent. Utah State gives up its Independent status to join the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference.
1976
San Diego State leaves the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference to become an Independent.
1975
Independent Idaho leaves Division I-A.
1972
New Mexico State trades its Independent status for membership in the Missouri Valley Conference.
1971
Independent Hawai’i reclassifies athletically as a Division I-A school.
1969
Fresno State and San Diego State, both Pacific Coast Athletic Conference members, move up to Division I-A. Formerly Independent San Jose State joins the PCAC.
1968
Formerly Independent Colorado State joins the WAC.
1964
Independent Oregon and Oregon State join the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU).
1963
Independent Montana declassifies from Division I-A.
1962
The sweeping changes of 1962 saw Independent Arizona join the WAC, along with Border Conference member Arizona State, and Skyline Conference members BYU, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
Colorado State, Montana, New Mexico, and Utah State leave the Skyline Conference to become Independents, and formerly Independent Washington State joins the AAWU.
1961
Arizona of the Border Conference becomes an independent.
1959
In 1959, California, Idaho, USC, Stanford, UCLA, and Washington leave the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) to form the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU).
Former PCC members Oregon, Oregon State, and Washington State part ways, becoming Independents.
1957
Air Force moves to Division I-A.
1951
Independent Montana joins the Skyline Conference, as does former Border Conference member New Mexico. Independent Nevada steps away from the ranks of Division I-A.
1950
Independent San Jose State reclassifies as a Division I-A school, and Pacific Coast Conference member Montana becomes an Independent.
1948
Colorado leaves the Mountain States Conference to join the Big Seven Conference. The Mountain States Conference is renamed the Skyline Conference. Montana State leaves Division I-A, becoming an Independent.
1946
Seven schools reclassify as Division I-A teams: Arizona, Arizona State, and New Mexico State of the Border Conference; Independents Montana State and Nevada; plus BYU and Wyoming of the Mountain States.
1945
Colorado State of the Mountain States and Idaho, Oregon, Oregon State, and Washington State of the PCC join Division I-A. Independent Idaho leaves Division I-A.
1944
Independent Idaho State and New Mexico of the Border Conference, Utah State of the Mountain States Conference, and Washington of the PCC join the ranks of Division I-A.
1943
Arizona, Arizona State, New Mexico, and New Mexico State of the Border Conference, along with BYU, Colorado State, Utah State, and Wyoming of the Mountain States Conference leave Division I-A.
Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, and Washington State of the Pacific Coast Conference also leave Division I-A.
1938
BYU, Colorado, Colorado State, Utah, Utah State, and Wyoming leave the Rocky Mountain Conference for the Mountain States Conference.
1931
T]he Border Conference is formed with Arizona, Arizona State, New Mexico, and New Mexico State playing in its inaugural season.
1928
UCLA of the Pacific Coast Conference joins Division I-A.
1924
Independent Montana joins the Pacific Coast Conference.
1923
Independent Montana and Montana State of the Rocky Mountain Conference join Division I-A.
1922
Independent Idaho joins the Pacific Coast Conference. USC of the PCC and BYU of the Rocky Mountain Conference join Division I-A.
1921
Independent Idaho moves to Division I-A.
1919
Utah, Utah State and Wyoming of the Rocky Mountain Conference, along with Washington State of the Pacific Coast Conference, join Division I-A.
1918
Stanford of the Pacific Coast Conference joins Division I-A.
Independent Idaho, along with Utah, Utah State and Wyoming of the Rocky Mountain Conference, join Washington State of the Pacific Coast Conference in leaving Division I-A.
1917
Independent Idaho and Montana join Division I-A along with Washington State of the Pacific Coast Conference.
1916
The Pacific Coast Conference, consisting of original members Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, and Washington, plays its inaugural season.
1914
Independent Utah State joins the Rocky Mountain Conference and moves to Division I-A.
1913
Independent Utah State leaves Division I-A.
1912
Independent Utah State joins Division I-A.
1910
Independent Colorado and Wyoming join the Rocky Mountain Conference. Independent Colorado State and Utah of the Rocky Mountain Conference join Division I-A.
1909
Independent Wyoming joins Division I-A, and Independent Utah leaves Division I-A.
1906
Independent Colorado State and Wyoming leave Division I-A.
1905
Independent Utah and Wyoming join Division I-A.
1902
Independent Colorado and Colorado State join Division I-A.
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