{
  "id": 508689,
  "title": "NCAA Reacts: Who will win the Pac-12 and Mountain West?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/ncaa-reacts-who-will-win-the-pac-12-and-mountain-west",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-10T20:51:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SB Nation",
    "slug": "sb-nation",
    "url": "https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/1124543/ncaa-reacts-who-will-win-the-pac-12-and-mountain-west"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Boise, Idaho - December 5: In a surprising move for the 2025 college football season, the Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences made a significant shift by exchanging half of their teams each. This strategic move aimed to bolster both conferences and potentially secure playoff spots for the participating schools. As both conferences now open up, the question arises: Which team will emerge victorious?\n\nIn the Pac-12, Washington State and Oregon State, traditionally considered back-of-the-pack teams in preseason polls, are the frontrunners to claim the championship. However, the most probable winners in this revamped conference come from schools with strong regional followings. Fans from the South and Midwest have their eyes on familiar names that could potentially hoist the new Pac-12 trophy.\n\nThe Mountain West Conference presents a different set of thrilling possibilities. Teams like UNLV and New Mexico are on the cusp of becoming the conference's new powerhouses. North Dakota State, making a bold move to Division I football, is also a team to watch as they aim for conference dominance. Meanwhile, the presence of a team like Hawaii adds an element of unpredictability, as they have the potential to upset any opposing team they face.\n\nAs the season progresses, readers are encouraged to participate in weekly surveys to predict the winners of both conferences. The survey results will be published later in the week, providing readers with a chance to engage with the ongoing football drama and share their opinions on the potential champions of the Pac-12 and Mountain West.",
  "summary": "No two conferences are more closely linked this season than the Pac-12 and the Mountain West. For years the MWC was something of the little brother to the Pac-12. The bigger conference used the smaller one for early season games and regularly pulled in transfers after a player showed as a star in the MWC. […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}