Way Too Early 2026-27 Pac-12 Rankings
1. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Net Change: Neutral to better. Strong retooling after a premature Round of 32 exit.
Biggest Additions:
Massamba Diop (Arizona State transfer, 13.6 PPG, elite rim protector with 2.1 BPG)
Xaivian Lee (Florida transfer, 11.6 PPG, primary ball handler averaging 4.2 APG)
Isiah Harwell (Houston transfer, former 5-star recruit, elite athleticism looking to bounce back from a rough freshman season)
Biggest Losses:
Grahan Ike (Graduation)
Mario Saint-Supery (Left to play professionally in Spain)
Emmanuel Innocenti (Transferred to Arizona State)
Gonzaga looks to have a return to form after a disappointing 2025-26 season which culminated in a Round of 32 exit against Texas. They are entering the year generally considered a top 10 team in the country, on the back of a very strong transfer and recruiting class. Likely to continue to be the cream of the crop of the PAC 12.
2. Utah State Aggies
Net Change: Neutral to better. Looking to build off of a Round of 32 appearance.
Biggest Additions:
Will Hornseth (Northern Iowa transfer, 11.1 PPG, skilled scorer around the basket)
Connor Turnbull (Evansville transfer, 11.5 PPG, elite defender, 2024-25 MVC Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 2.0 BPG last season)
Dallin Hall (Virginia transfer, 5.9 PPG, pass first point guard with 4.4 APG)
Biggest Losses:
Adlan Elamin (Transferred to Cincinnati)
Elijah Perryman (Transferred to Cincinnati)
Jordy Barnes (Transferred to Utah Valley)
Utah State lost some players with high potential, but replaced them with much more proven talent. This will be a very well rounded team with few glaring weaknesses. Turnbull will be an interesting addition and could end up having a huge impact for the Aggies on the defensive side of the ball. A return to the NCAA Tournament should be in the cards for them.
3. San Diego State Aztecs
Net Change: Neutral to worse. Promising additions, but key losses and offseason injuries could cause struggles.
Biggest Additions:
Jeremiah Cherry (Sacramento State transfer, 15.5 PPG, strong interior scorer and glass cleaner with 8.2 RPG)
Chance Gladden (Boston transfer, 14.4 PPG, can run the offense through him averaging 4.5 APG)
Isaiah Sy (Oregon State transfer, 10.0 PPG, strong outside scorer shooting 34.5% from three on 5.5 attempts per game.
Biggest Losses:
Reese Dixon-Waters (Graduation)
Miles Byrd (Transferred to Providence)
BJ Davis (Transferred to Creighton)
San Diego State is heading into the season already shorthanded, with Nick Anderson suffering a season ending knee injury. There continue to be some obvious concerns on offense, and with the team losing some length, the defense could be affected too. They had some very interesting additions over the offseason that have the potential to aid in these offensive woes. Despite all of this, the Aztecs are still looking to be one of the top teams in the PAC-12.
4. Colorado State Rams
Net Change: Neutral to slightly better. Looking to make a deeper run in the NIT or sneak into the NCAA tournament.
Biggest Additions:
Amondo Miller Jr. (Lubbock Christian transfer, 21.0 PPG, D-II All-American, elite scorer)
Justin Menard (Marist transfer, 12.9 PPG, All-MAAC, 36.3% from three on 5.1 attempts per game)
Biggest Losses:
Brandon Rechsteiner (Transferred to Kansas State)
Augustinas Kiudulas (Transferred to Western Michigan)
Colorado State was able to retain the vast majority of their core that led them to the second round in the NIT tournament last season. Adding some unproven Division-II talent in Amondo Miller Jr. is a very buy-low opportunity for someone who was one of the top talents in Division-II last season. Their defense likely will continue to struggle, but could see a slight uptick compared to last season.
5. Oregon State Beavers
Net Change: Neutral to better. Now have an almost completely brand-new roster with a new head coach.
Biggest Additions:
Daniel Freitag (Buffalo transfer, 19.8 PPG, 36.1% three point shooter with 6.3 attempts per game)
Biggest Losses:
Isaiah Sy (Transferred to San Diego State)
Demarco Minor (Transferred to Pitt)
Oregon State is heading into the year with substantial changes to their roster, and a new head coach. While this would be a death sentence for many teams, this looks like it could be the exact change that the program needed. Three of their incoming transfers stand at 7’0” or taller, making it a real possibility that they could have the best interior defense in the conference this season. Not to mention the value that these new additions will bring to the Beavers’ rebounding as well. While it may take some time for all of the new pieces to form the necessary chemistry, if they catch on quick, they could easily be an NIT team this year.
6. Boise State Broncos
Net Change: Worse. Big question marks already with Ty Rodgers slated to miss a significant amount of time due to a lower body injury paired with key losses in the offseason.
Biggest Additions:
Ty Rodgers (Illinois transfer, slated to play a huge role for the Broncos, but suffered a serious injury)
Dovydas Butka (Campbell transfer, 13.9 PPG, talented rebounder with 8.5 RPG)
Damari Wheeler-Thomas (North Dakota transfer, 14.5 PPG, made All-Summit team last season)
Biggest Losses:
Drew Fielder (Transferred to Alabama)
Javan Buchanan (Transferred to West Virginia)
Dylan Andrews (Graduation)
Coming into the season, many saw Ty Rodgers as someone who could be the Boncos’ best player this season. However, after a lower body injury in practice that will cause him to miss substantial time, it is up in the air who will step up as the team’s leader. Along with this, Rodgers was expected to carry a lot of the load on the offensive end. Without him on the floor, Boise State is going to struggle to find scoring elsewhere. While they will likely be able to keep their heads above water without him, they will be far too shorthanded to make any real noise in the PAC 12 this season.
7. Texas State Bobcats
Net Change: Neutral to better. Solid team, unclear if they will be cut out for the PAC 12.
Biggest Additions:
Paul Djobet (Omaha transfer, 17.5 PPG, All-Summit Team member)
Quel’Ron House (Jacksonville State transfer, 15.2 PPG, All-MVC member)
KJ Younger (UNC Greensboro transfer, 15.1 PPG)
Biggest Losses:
Joshua O’Garro (Went on to sign with the London Lions)
Franck Emmou (Transferred to Tarleton State)
Texas State has a handful of key contributors returning along with some very solid additions. However, making the jump to a superior conference like the Bobcats will be this season; going from the Sun Belt to the PAC 12 can be a very daunting task and take a few seasons to adjust to. While this is a group that has a lot of experience together, they will have their work cut out for them.
8. Fresno State Bulldogs
Net Change: Worse. Lost a fair amount of young talent to the transfer portal.
Biggest Additions:
Ross Candelino (Lipscomb transfer, 11.2 PPG, great facilitator averaging 5.2 APG)
Marko Vuckovic (Formerly played professionally in Serbia, 13.0 PPG, already has professional experience nad competed on Serbia’s FIBA U20 team)
Biggest Losses:
DeShawn Gory (Transferred to Oregon State)
Wilson Jacques (Transferred to DePaul)
The trend continued again of Fresno State developing some promising young talent before that young talent left in the transfer portal. While the Bulldogs were able to find some solid players in the portal, they are unproven at a PAC 12 level. They likely will finish near the bottom of the conference this season, but who knows who they will be able to develop this season.
9. Washington State Cougars
Net Change: Worse. Lost a considerable amount of talent in the portal and did not bring much in.
Biggest Additions:
Fraser Roxburgh (Manhattan transfer, 11.0 PPG, great rebounder for his size, pulling in 5.8 RPG)
Biggest Losses:
Ace Glass (Transferred to Vanderbilt)
ND Okafor (Transferred to Mississippi State)
Rihards Vavers (Transferred to Memphis)
Washington State lost a handful of their difference-makers to big-name programs in the transfer portal. In return, they struggled immensely to come anywhere close to replacing this lost talent. They will be a far different team from the one they were last season and likely will be the worst team in the PAC 12 this season.
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