Conference realignment struck again with the Pac‑12 announcing on April 1 that it will add South Dakota State and three other programs as affiliate members for wrestling starting in 2026–27.
Joining the league with SDSU will be Air Force, Northern Colorado and North Dakota State, expanding the Pac-12 wrestling membership to nine programs.
All four schools were previously members of the Western Wrestling Conference before the Big 12 welcomed the group. The move to the Pac-12 ends an 11-season run in the Big 12 for the four programs, a stretch that proved especially successful for the Jacks.
During its tenure in the Big 12, SDSU had a dual record of 126-56 and qualified 65 individual wrestlers for the NCAA Championships, including one national champion in Seth Gross, who won at 133 pounds in 2018. SDSU earned five individual Big 12 titles in that time. Gross won at 133 pounds in 2017 and 2018. Nate Rotert also won a title in 2018 at 197 pounds. The Jacks added two more in 2024 with Cade DeVos at 174 pounds and Tanner Sloan at 197.
The move to the Pac-12 includes significant implications for the conference competitively. The expansion pushes the league past the NCAA minimum requirement of six programs for its individual champions to advance automatically to the national tournament. According to SDSU head coach Damion Hahn, the league has been able to keep automatic qualifier (AQ) status for its wrestlers despite having four teams through a waiver from the NCAA that required the conference to show evidence of attempting to expand membership.
Former SDSU All-American and current Midco Sports color analyst for Jackrabbit home matches, Nate Rotert, weighed in on the move, responding to fans who were skeptical of the transition.
“If you pay attention to the national tournament at all, winning your conference means something to the seeding committee,” Rotert commented.
“Not to mention the behind-the-scenes cost to the university to be a part of the Big 12 conference. The return on investment does not match the cost up front. As well as wrestling a home tournament for Oklahoma State in Tulsa every season. The Pac 12 has a rotating host-site system,” Rotert added.
Damion Hahn echoed that argument.
“In the Big 12, they would have the conference championship in Tulsa every year,” Hahn said. “If you are going to have it in Tulsa, you might as well have it in Stillwater, Oklahoma.”
Now that SDSU is in the Pac-12, Hahn explained that SDSU will have the ability to host because the Pac-12 rotates its championship site.
Going to the Pac-12 also sets up the potential for better seeding for SDSU wrestlers.
“I think this will position our guys come the national tournament,” Hahn shared.
SDSU Athletic Director Justin Sell agreed.
“Being able to win a conference tournament generally helps with seeding and better opportunities to advance in the NCAAs,” Sell said.
“Winning a conference championship plays heavily into seeding for the national tournament,” Hahn said.
Hahn also thinks it is a very good thing for college wrestling and also the region.
“This is a great step for wrestling because we have another strong conference and it is in the Midwest to West. Wrestling was struggling in that part of the country, and we have made it stronger,” Hahn said.
Sell shares that vision.
“I think we are going to have good wrestling and we are going to have good qualification numbers out of the conference championship, so I think it really strengthens the Pac 12,” Sell said.
Overall, Hahn said there is excitement around the program, too.
“Our guys are excited,” Hahn said. “I think guys are eager and ready to get after it, being in this new conference,” Hahn commented when asked about how the team is feeling about the move.
Justin Sell was asked if the move could lead to other opportunities with the Pac-12.
“I think that applies to all of our sports, and where conference realignment might go nationally, what are the Power Four schools looking to do? So you know just do not know the answer to that,” Sell answered.
Sell did say SDSU has a firm commitment to wrestling at a very high level.
“The only thing we can control is making sure we’re the best version of ourselves, and this opportunity allows us to do that,” Sell said.
Sell added that they are looking forward to the new opportunity.
“We’re looking forward to investing in the experience in the Pac-12. We’re looking forward to working with those schools, and I think from that other things grow naturally,” Sell said.
