Washington State and Oregon State, who were left behind within the league's realignment, are moving forward with their plan to rebuild their 109-year-old conference.
The Pac-12 made step one official on Thursday, announcing the addition of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State for the 2026-27 competition yr.
But there are only six schools.
To comply with NCAA rules, the conference should have not less than eight by the summer of 2026.
Of course, the number could transcend eight. But any number above the minimum would potentially undermine the worth of the medium, as it could create additional pieces of the revenue pie.
Additionally, Washington State and Oregon State need to keep space open in case one among the colleges that dropped out of the Pac-12 changes course in the longer term and needs to return to a West Coast-based conference. (Stanford and Cal are at the highest of the list of candidates due to uncertain nature of the ACC.)
So where should the Pac-12 search for the seventh and eighth schools, assuming it doesn't get the Cardinal and Bears in time for the 2026 football season?
The hotline has some suggestions:
1.Memphis. The Tigers would easily clear the competitive bar in men's football and basketball and produce with them the nation's 51st media market. They would also provide access to the Central Time Zone, expanding the variety of kickoff windows for the Pac-12. But Memphis, a member of the American Athletic Conference, has its sights set on the Big 12 or ACC and might be not feasible for that reason.
2.UTSA. The Roadrunners make sense in some ways. They would offer the Pac-12 the media market of San Antonio (No. 31), a football-loving state, kickoff options within the Central Time Zone and the resource-rich University of Texas system. But it might be difficult to pry them away from the Americans, who’ve a super-strong commissioner in Tim Pernetti.
3.UNLV. Of the eight Mountain West schools prone to being left behind, UNLV has the most effective likelihood of creating the Pac-12. Its football program is on the rise, men's basketball has an extended history and the Las Vegas media market is No. 40. Plus, Sin City and the encircling area have change into a hotbed for football recruits, with strong Bishop Gorman High School because the centerpiece. Plus, the Rebels would accept an invite without hesitation.
4. Tulane. The Green Wave bring a top-notch academic status, the New Orleans market (No. 50) and an improved football program, plus access to the talent-rich region. But Tulane alone doesn't make sense for the Pac-12. It only works if it's paired with one other school within the Central Time Zone. So the Pac-12 has to do away with two of the Americans, which won't be easy.
fifth Air Force. The Falcons could be a simple alternative if Colorado State weren’t within the newly formed conference. Does it need two schools from the identical region? Colorado Springs is its own media market, while Fort Collins is taken into account a part of the Denver market. But the military academies have good exposure with the tv networks and good academic reputations. Would it’s easier for the Pac-12 to persuade Cal and Stanford to return to a conference that counts the Falcons as members?
6. New Mexico. We think UNLV is by far the most effective option among the many remaining Mountain West schools. The Lobos are probably at the highest of the second tier of candidates (ahead of San Jose State, for instance). The basketball product is as much as par and the media market in Albuquerque is ranked forty eighth. But football is very important and New Mexico's program is nearly as drab because it gets with three winning seasons within the last 20 years.
image credit : www.mercurynews.com