FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — While living up to its moniker, “after dark,” the Pac-12 unveiled Fresno State’s first football schedule in the revived conference on Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs will start their conference slate on the road on Oct. 3 against Washington State. Valley Children’s Stadium will then host its first Pac-12 conference game against Boise State on Oct. 10.
The Pac-12 conference championship is scheduled for Dec. 4 and will be played at the home field of the highest seed after week 12.
The new schedule also offers Pac-12 members a first-of-its-kind “flex game” during Week 13. That’s traditionally known as “rivalry week” for college football.
How the flex game works
If Fresno State were hypothetically in first place with a week to go, instead of playing the game they had scheduled for week 13, the conference would flex in a tougher conference opponent but it would not count toward the conference standings.
Those matchups will not be confirmed until six days prior but we do know that FS will host a flex game in 2026. The Pac-12 projects the Bulldogs to take on San Diego State during week 13.
The intent is to give the best Pac-12 team a chance at earning a bid to the college football playoff by improving its strength of schedule.
The ‘Dogs 2026 season starts at USC on Sept. 5 before its home opener with Sacramento State on Sept. 12.
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