​SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – JANUARY 02: Braden Huff #34 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs protects the rebound from Houran Dan #6 of the Seattle University Redhawks during the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center on January 02, 2026 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Myk Crawford/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Pac-12 is back! Sort of. Maybe. Not really. In name, the Pac-12 is back, which is cool. Would it be cooler if the conference featured at least some of the prestige programs that defined the league in its past life? Sure, but beggars and choosers and all that. Maybe we should all just be happy that the nine teams below are going to provide us with some Pac-12 after dark magic throughout this winter. 1. Gonzaga Bulldogs2025–26 Record: 31–4 (16–2)2025-26 Conference Finish: T-1st in WCCAfter years and years of rumors and speculation, Gonzaga has finally made the jump out of the West Coast Conference and into a power league … or at least to something that closely resembles a power league. The Zags will start their run in the new Pac-12 as the clear preseason conference favorites. Hall of Fame head coach Mark Few returns star forward Braden Huff, who missed most of the second half of last season after suffering a dislocated kneecap in his left knee. Huff will join forces with Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop to form what should be one of the best frontcourts in the country. 2. Utah State Aggies2025–26 Record: 29-7 (15-5) 2025-26 Conference Finish: 1st in Mountain West If there is a legitimate challenger to Gonzaga in this conference, Utah State feels like the safest bet. Head coach Jerrod Calhoun bolted for Cincinnati after two successful campaigns in Logan, leaving the job for Ben Jacobson, who takes over after a two-decade run at Northern Iowa. Jacobson has the opportunity to hit the ground running thanks to the return of 2025-26 Mountain West Player of the Year Mason Falslev (16.0 ppg), as well as Mountain West 6th Man of the Year Karson Templin (8.8 ppg). Jacobson also brought big man Will Hornseth (11.1 ppg/4.6 rpg) with him from UNI, and landed coveted transfer portal point guard AJ Bates (12.1 ppg/5.9 apg) from Louisiana Tech. 3. San Diego State Aztecs2025–26 Record: 22-11 (14-6) 2025-26 Conference Finish: 2nd in Mountain West There are serious questions about where SDSU’s offense is going to com from after an offseason that saw Miles Byrd (Providence), Magoon Gwath (DePaul) and BJ Davis (Creighton) all bolt for the Big East. Still, Brian Dutcher hasn’t had a team finish outside the top 21 in adjusted defensive efficiency since 2018-19, so the bet on San Diego State to still be among Gonzaga’s top challengers in the Pac-12 feels like a safe one. Returning guard Elzie Harrington (8.0 ppg) will be asked to take a massive step up in his sophomore season, while incoming transfers Jeremiah Cherry (Sacramento State) and Isaiah Sy (Oregon State) should provide solid veteran experience. Highly-touted Rice transfer Nick Anderson sufferin