RYAN LEAF NAMED USA SPORTS' LEAD ANALYST FOR INAUGURAL SEASON OF PAC-12 FOOTBALL COVERAGE ON USA NETWORK

Leaf, a Washington State Hall of Famer and 1997 Heisman Trophy Finalist, to Serve as Lead Pac-12 Game Analyst on USA Network

USA Sports' 22-Game Schedule Features Home Game from Every Pac-12 School and At Least Six Oregon State Games and Five Boise State & Washington State Games

STAMFORD, Conn. - June 4, 2026 - USA Sports today announced that Ryan Leaf will serve as the lead game analyst for its inaugural season of Pac-12 Conference football coverage on USA Network.

A Washington State Hall of Famer, Leaf led the Cougars to a historic 1997 season that culminated in the school's first 10-win season since 1929 and its first Rose Bowl appearance in 67 years. That season, Leaf was named the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year and a 1997 Heisman Trophy finalist after setting conference and school single-season records for touchdown passes, passing yards, and total offense. Leaf, the No. 2 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, finished his collegiate career as the Pac-10's single-season record holder for passing yards and touchdown passes, as well as Washington State's career touchdown passes leader.

Leaf co-hosts The Opening Drive with Solomon Wilcots on SiriusXM NFL Radio and calls NFL and college football games for Westwood One Sports. He has served as a college football analyst for The CW, ESPN and the Pac-12 Network. Drawing from his own personal journey, he is a motivational speaker and mentor offering guidance on navigating difficult relationships, especially in high-pressure environments.

"I am incredibly humbled and grateful for the opportunity to lead USA Sports' inaugural season of Pac-12 coverage," said Leaf. "USA Sports has made a big investment in myself and in the Pac-12 and wants to be the authentic home for the conference with the biggest games week-in and week-out. I have witnessed Commissioner Gould's leadership first-hand over the past two years and I'm excited to help showcase the bold, new era of the Pac-12 to a national audience on USA Network starting this September."

"We're incredibly excited to have Ryan join the USA Sports team in our first season of Pac-12 coverage on USA Network," said Jeff Behnke, Executive Producer and Senior Vice President, Sports Production, USA Sports. "Ryan's extraordinary career at Washington State, paired with his intimate knowledge and passion for the conference, will offer viewers one-of-a-kind insight and elevate our team's coverage across the board."

Leaf, who was an All-State basketball player in high school in Montana, will also call select Pac-12 basketball games on USA Network as an analyst.

USA Network's 22-game slate features multiple appearances by all eight Pac-12 schools with at least one home game for every team, showcasing each unique gameday experience throughout the Pac-12. Oregon State is set to appear on USA Network at least six times (the most by any team), while Boise State, who secured its third-straight conference championship in 2025 and reached the College Football Playoff the year prior, and Washington State will have at least five games on the network. USA Network will also present every game between those three teams, including Washington State-Oregon State in Week 7 (Oct. 17), Boise State-Washington State in Week 8 (Oct. 24), and Oregon State-Boise State in Week 11 (Nov. 14).

Anchoring the USA Network schedule are consistent kickoff times of 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT and 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. ET, which will be in place for 17 of 22 games this season. In the final week of the regular season on Sat., Nov. 28, USA Sports will present two games of the Pac-12's home-and-home flex matchups, including the first pick of the week, with the league to set those events no later than six days prior following the conclusion of the previous week. With the week's top pick and the Pac-12 explicitly retaining the right to adjust matchups based on the best interest of the league, including College Football Playoff considerations, USA Network is set to be the home for crucial late-season action.

Click here for more details on USA Sports' 2026 Pac-12 football schedule. Additional details about USA Sports' coverage and broadcast team will be at a later date.

Below is the full 2026 Pac-12 Conference on USA Network football schedule:

WEEK DATE TIME (PT) AWAY HOME
1 Sept. 5 3 p.m. Wyoming Colorado State
1 Sept. 5 6:30 p.m. Portland State San Diego State
2 Sept. 12 3 p.m. Memphis Boise State
3 Sept. 19 9 a.m. North Texas Texas State
3 Sept. 19 12:30 p.m. Duquesne Washington State
3 Sept. 19 8 p.m. Montana Oregon State
4 Sept. 26 3 p.m. Incarnate Word Texas State
5 Oct. 3 3 p.m. Oregon State Colorado State
5 Oct. 3 6:30 p.m. Fresno State Washington State
6 Oct. 10 3 p.m. San Diego State Oregon State
7 Oct. 17 3 p.m. Washington State Oregon State
8 Oct. 24 3 p.m. Boise State Washington State
9 Oct. 31 12:30 p.m. Colorado State Utah State
9 Oct. 31 4 or 8 p.m. Oregon State Fresno State
10 Nov. 7 3 p.m. Boise State Colorado State
10 Nov. 7 6:30 p.m. Fresno State Utah State
11 Nov. 14 3 p.m. Oregon State Boise State
11 Nov. 14 6:30 p.m. Utah State San Diego State
12 Nov. 21 3 p.m. Washington State Texas State
12 Nov. 21 6:30 p.m. San Diego State Boise State
13 Nov. 28 3 p.m. TBD TBD
13 Nov. 28 6:30 p.m. TBD TBD

In November, USA Sports and the Pac-12 Conference announced a five-year partnership beginning in 2026-27, featuring regular season action for football, men's basketball and women's basketball, plus the league's men's basketball tournament live on USA Network. Pac-12 Enterprises, the broadcast production arm of the conference, will produce all 80-plus football, men's basketball and women's basketball games on USA Network in partnership with USA Sports.

The new Pac-12 will officially launch beginning with the 2026-27 season and will feature Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Texas State, Utah State and Washington State.

About USA Sports

USA Sports is home to premier sporting events airing on USA Network, Golf Channel, and CNBC across the calendar year, including NASCAR, PGA TOUR, Premier League, WWE, WNBA, Pac-12 Football and Basketball, USGA, R&A, LPGA Tour, PGA of America, Atlantic 10 Basketball, DP World Tour, Augusta National, League One Volleyball (LOVB), and more. Golf Channel - the first-ever single-sport cable network which was founded in 1995 - delivers comprehensive live golf tournament, studio and shoulder programming and is the television home of the sport and industry in the United States. USA Sports is a division of VERSANT (Nasdaq: VSNT), an industry-changing media and entertainment business with a powerful portfolio of iconic and innovative brands, including USA Network, CNBC, MS NOW, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel, along with digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, and GolfPass.

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