The CW Network and the Pac-12 Conference have extended their media rights partnership, securing a deal that will keep the league’s games on the network through the 2030-31 season. The announcement comes ahead of the launch of the “new” Pac-12 in 2026, which will feature nine members following a wave of realignment.
As part of the agreement, The CW will carry 13 regular season football games annually, alongside an expanded slate of basketball coverage. That includes 35 men’s basketball games, 15 women’s games, and both the semifinals and championship of the women’s conference tournament. Pac-12 Enterprises, the league’s in-house production arm, will handle all broadcasts, totaling 66 events per year.
Brad Schwartz, President of The CW Network, said the deal solidifies the network’s strategy of investing heavily in live sports. “The Pac-12 has been a key partner in the success of CW Sports, and we are thrilled to solidify our relationship with the conference for an additional five years,” Schwartz said. “We have experienced firsthand the passion of Oregon State and Washington State football programs and their dedicated fans, and we are eager to introduce an additional seven schools in the new Pac-12 to our nationwide CW Sports audience.”
The new version of the Pac-12 will debut in 2026 with Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Texas State, Utah State, and Washington State. All nine schools participated in approving the extension with The CW.
Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould highlighted the reach and exposure The CW provides. “The Pac-12’s partnership with The CW has been one of mutual growth and transformation,” she said. “From the development of our Pac-12 Enterprises’ broadcast production business to the significant added value and positive impact to our members via true national reach across 100% of U.S. television households, I am excited for the continued growth of both The CW and the Pac-12 in the years ahead.”
The CW first partnered with the conference for the 2024 football season and quickly found success in the college space. This year’s slate included the three most-watched college football games in network history, headlined by Washington State’s matchup with Oregon State in Corvallis. That game will reprise this November to close out the 2025 regular season.
The deal underscores The CW’s rapid transformation into a sports-heavy network. Beyond the Pac-12, it has added rights to NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, which rebrands as the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2025, along with WWE NXT, ACC football and basketball, AVP beach volleyball, PBR Team Series, and the PBA beginning in 2026. According to Nielsen, The CW has grown primetime ratings for five straight quarters and currently ranks eighth among broadcast networks.
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