Best of the rest: Pac-12 returns, Mountain West shifts, new leagues, college hoops Cinderellas to know

Conference realignment has hit the mid-major ranks in a major way this year. The most consequential move of them all is a big-band revival that's got a whole new vibe: The Pac-12 is back and it swiped basically half of the Mountain West on its path to resurrection. The new union out west involves (alphabetically): Boise State , Colorado State , Fresno State , Gonzaga , Oregon State , San Diego State , Texas State, Utah State and Washington State . Yes: nine state schools and Gonzaga.