Colorado & Utah now official members of expanded Pac-12

By Kevin Kelley -

The Colorado Buffaloes and Utah Utes are now officially members of the newly expanded Pac-12. For football, the conference now consists of two divisions with the winners facing off in a championship game.

Colorado has been a member of the Big 12 Conference since 1996. Prior to that, they competed in the Big Eight Conference before it expanded and renamed to the Big 12.

The Buffaloes won the Big 12 championship in 2001 and finished the season 10-3. As members of the Big Eight Conference in 1990, Colorado went 11-1-1 and won the AP national championship.

Utah heads to the Pac-12 after 12 seasons in the Mountain West Conference. The Utes won the MWC title in 2003, 2004 and 2008 and won a share of the title in 1999.

Prior to the MWC, Utah was a member of the WAC from 1962 through 1998. They were co-champions in 1964 and 1995.

Colorado and Utah were both placed in the South Division of the newly expanded Pac-12. Their rivalry will be renewed on Friday, November 25 when the Utes host the Buffaloes in their final regular-season game of 2011. The two schools have met 57 times since 1903 with Colorado holding the lead in the series 30-24-3.

Colorado opens the 2011 season on Saturday, September 3 at Hawaii (10:15 p.m. ET; ESPN2). Utah opens at home on Thursday, September 1 against Montana State (8:00 p.m. ET).

Football Schedules