Merge?
Hold the B12 expansion
Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech are there.
Arizona, ASU, Colorado, Utah are solid. Plus Oregon and Washington, OSU and WSU. Stanford and Cal.
Cal has been considerening giving up athletics. Let's assume they do not which puts us at 17 teams. Being as we are going PRO-active I see us getting to 20 first. Plus it would ease the loss of Oregon and Washington IF they ever jump. Remember that Stanford also has been mentioned in that jump as a later piece.
Adding SDSU would be a good addition to that in either senerio. IF we it made 18, or if the NW schools jump and leave us at 16.
Get to 20 by adding in Houston and BYU without going all the way east. Covering everything west of the river including Cal and Texas which are the two BIG markets out west.
If we wanted 20 then Houston would be first on the list along with one other school from either Fresno, BYU, or Tulane. This would be about markets. Fresno is Central valley Cal and Tulane wiould be Louisiana/New Orleans market. If adding Houston then Tulane makes more sense.
Now IF the NW schools do jump we could still pick up Fresno and BYU which would not hurt our value, but still add a little. Adding a Boise would be a minimal market increase. BYU has a regional following that fits in the same are as Utah, but somewhat of a national following as well. Tulane is an entirely diffent market and adds much more.
Notice I avoided any thoughts of a Memphis... LOl
If wer go to 20 after losing the NW schools and then we were to lose Stanford and Cal, the there would be Fresno, San Jose to keep the market shares. Boise market is like the WSU market which isn't great but could fit in at that point.
No matter how the senerio shakes out, the top priority is to become competetive in FB as well as the other sports. FB being the big money item. We must find a way to be a regular amoung top 20 teams period. In that last senerio our market would cover Cali, Texas, and expend from Louisiana all the way to the coast and the NW. The footprint is solid. The competition would include very little in the terms of BCS history, but we could demand a spot at the table as the third or fourth major conference. Fourth at least. Winning would then still be the key!
Most recently we would boost:
TCU who made an appearance in the NC game.
Tulane and Utah who finished top 10.
K State, and Oregon State that finished top 20.
Fresno who was top 25.
In the Power Index we would boost:
8. Utah
12. Kansas state
13. TCU
19. Oregon state
25. Tulane
26. Baylor
28. Texas Tech
38. Oklahoma State
41. Iowa State
As we can all see the PAC minus the SoCal schools and the NW schools would really not offer much, but then the B12 schools without the westward expansion would be hardpressed to survive. They did jump at the Cincinnati and Central Florida markets so kudos to them for making an effort while the PAC shit themselves yet again.
Keeping WVa, BYU, Houston, Cincinnati, and C Florida would mean we would be at 2 teams IF the NW schools stay.
Losing them we could add Tulane or SDSU and be at 20. Losing Stanford and Cal we could add SDSU and Tulane
Personally losing the estern schools and the bay are schools is a push either way. I believe that SDSU and Fresno is equal to the bay or better. Tulane and Houston are better than the C Florida Cincinnati additions and WVa just does not do anything for me. It is about footprint not some elastic that stretchs from sea to sea.
Just an opinion. Love to see other insight and thoughts.
I heard the pac12 will need to expand first before they can sign a tv deal. Which makes sense. You want investors to see the complete product instead of having to make second guesses. Personally I'm excitied for adding these two teams. SDSU/UA may replace the UA/UCLA basketball rivalry when UCLA splits for the big10. And with SMU that could potentially help UA get a foothold in Texas recruiting too.
Lets join the Big East.
Lots of ground turning under right now.
First thing first.
I believe from what I hear that both Arizona schools to Big 12 announcement coming this year.
SDSU and SMU may not be PAC if PAC cannot get them solid numbers. PAC cannot sign a deal until expansion is announced.
Just not looking good for the PAC on a big stage.
I am hearing Oregon and Washington to leave as well, but not to the B10. Ah but yes that is correct.
That means the four corners schools to the B12 bringing them to 16 teams.
Now the PAC would become the new version of the MWC if they survive at all.
Looks like things may eventually get to 20 team super conferences with B10 and SEC being the big dogs and the ACC and B12 being the tier two but very relevant conferences.
I could see some Cali schools being added in that case like SDSU and or Fresno.
Stanford is out there as well. I think when Cal can no longer bring in the money they will drop some of the bigger sports or maybe the whole athletic program.
All speculation on future stuff with the other schools, but we will be moving on.
There would be a lot of potential for lawsuits because four new schools are joining the Big 12 upon UT/OU's departures.
West Virginia would obviously return to the ACC but it'll be interesting to see what happens to BYU, OSU and Wazzu.
It's inevitable that the Pac-12 and Big-12 merge. I'm selfishly ready to see Arizona in the Midwest on a regular basis. It'll also be nice to NOT kick off at 11pm Eastern every week...