The Pac-12 began as the Pacific Coast Conference in 1915 and has since evolved to become one of five Power Five Conferences in the nation. It changed its name to Pac-8 in 1968, Pac-10 in 1978, and later became Pac-12 in 2011 after adding Utah and Colorado. The conference is known for its ‘Air Raid’ offense and the Heisman trophy winner Marcus Mariota. The Pac-12 is also known for its intense rivalries such as USC-UCLA and Oregon-Washington. The Pac-12, with its long tradition of hosting the Rose Bowl, plays an important role in college football.
The Pac-12 Conference was restructured in 2024, consisting of Oregon State and Washington State after all other members joined conferences such as the Big Ten and Big 12. The Pac-12 was one of college football's top leagues, with USC, UCLA, and Oregon being major programs. Despite reduced membership, the Pac-12 remains committed to maintaining a platform for high-level college football competition and fostering regional rivalries.
Pac-12 Conference Football Rivalries
The Pac-12 consists of two full-member programs as of 2024, Oregon State University and Washington State University. They gave immense preference to their traditional Rose Bowl game. Some of the rivalries in the Pac-12 are:
USC vs. UCLA:
The USC Trojans vs UCLA Bruins game is also called the 'Battle for Los Angeles' and the winner gets the Victory Bell trophy.
Oregon vs. Oregon State
The Oregon Ducks vs Oregon State Beavers game also called the 'Civil War', is one of the oldest rivalries in the nation, focusing on state bragging rights in the Pacific Northwest.
Washington vs. Washington State
The Washington Huskies vs Washington State Cougars game is also called the 'Apple Cup.' It is an in-state annual battle where the winner gets the Apple Cup trophy.
Stanford vs. California
The Stanford Cardinals vs California Golden Bears game is also called the 'Big Game,' featuring the iconic Stanford Axe trophy. The first time they faced each other was in 1892.
Table of Pac-12 Conference Football Rivalries
| Rivalry | Name | Trophy | Began in |
| USC vs. UCLA | Battle for Los Angeles | Victory Bell | 1929 |
| Oregon vs. Oregon State | Civil War | None | 1894 |
| Washington vs. Washington State | Apple Cup | Apple Cup | 1900 |
| Stanford vs. California | Big Game | Stanford Axe | 1892 |
FAQs on Pac-12
A. The Pac-12 is a collegiate athletic conference.
A. Most member schools left for other conferences due to media rights deals.
A. Stanford vs. California ('Big Game') began in 1892.
A. The Pac-12 champion plays in the Rose Bowl against a Big Ten opponent
