Pac-12 Delays 2026 Football Schedule Pending College Playoff Changes

College sports never really sit still, do they? The Pac-12 Conference is holding off on releasing its 2026 football schedule, waiting to see if the College Football Playoff (CFP) format shifts yet again.

This pause comes as the league faces a shrinking roster—just eight football members for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, Reno’s about to get busy, with the Pole Vault Summit landing in town and the Cosmic Baseball Takeover Tour adding a third date thanks to surging demand.

Pac-12 Delays 2026 Football Schedule Release

The Pac-12 is basically in limbo on its 2026 football schedule. John Canzano reports that the league is holding off until there’s word on possible College Football Playoff changes.

With only eight football members next season, the Pac-12 is staring down some real scheduling headaches. The old model—eight league games, four non-conference—just doesn’t fit anymore.

Scheduling Dilemmas and Potential Solutions

So, what’s on the table? Canzano says the Pac-12 is mulling two main fixes:

• Home-and-Home Series: Basically, teams would play one other school twice—once at home, once away.
• Flex Model: Four home teams get set, but the road matchups stay TBD until later in the season. The idea? Build in flexibility for better matchups and maybe lock in that Group of 6 College Football Playoff spot.

There’s talk that the Pac-12 will add a ninth football school by 2027, just to sidestep this mess in the future. Any official changes to the College Football Playoff format are supposed to drop by next Friday.

Pole Vault Summit in Reno

Northern Nevada’s getting a treat as some of the world’s best pole vaulters hit the Pole Vault Summit. The action’s set for the Livestock Events Center, running Friday night through Saturday.

Athletes have been working out at the Reno-Tahoe Indoor Track inside the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, getting ready for the big meet.

Star-Studded Lineup

This year’s Pole Vault Summit is stacked with talent. You’ll see:

• Thibault Collett: World No. 7 right now.
• Matt Ludwig: 2021 U.S. Olympian.
• Keaton Daniel: The reigning NCAA champ, fresh off signing with Nike.

Curious about the event? More info is available on the official site here.

Cosmic Baseball Takeover Tour Adds Third Date

The Cosmic Baseball Takeover Tour just keeps picking up steam. A third date was added at Reno’s Greater Nevada Field after the first two sold out.

The new game is Thursday, August 20, joining the already packed house on August 21 and 22.

What is Cosmic Baseball?

This isn’t your average baseball game. Cosmic Baseball debuted in 2024 and instantly hooked fans with its glow-in-the-dark twist—black lights, neon balls, bats, bases, and uniforms lighting up the field.

Many of the players have also played Banana Ball, which filled Reno’s stands last summer. There’s something about these quirky formats that just works.

Media Attention and Ticket Information

Cosmic Baseball’s been everywhere lately—The Today Show, ABC News, Sports Illustrated, MLB Network. If you want in, you can try your luck in the Cosmic Lottery for tickets here.

The Pac-12 is holding off on releasing its 2026 football schedule. That decision highlights just how unpredictable college sports can get these days.

On a lighter note, the Pole Vault Summit and the Cosmic Baseball Takeover Tour are both headed for Northern Nevada. Both events should add some real excitement and maybe even a little innovation to the local sports scene.

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