Accepting the disparity as fact, there is an argument to stay at 10 rather than divvy up the financial pie with more mouths to feed.īut San Diego State's inclusion could bump up the Pac-12's television payout. The Pac-12 won't come close to reaping the same financial benefits as the nation's two premiere football conferences. Last August, the Big Ten signed a seven-year deal that will reportedly pay the conference between $7 billion and $8 billion running through the 2029-30 athletic calendar. And don't be surprised if the Big Ten looks west down the line to offset the brutal travel schedules facing UCLA and USC.įor sure, no program not on par with the likes of Ohio State and Alabama can garner enough money from television contracts to offset the Pac-12 losing the two defectors. We haven't decided if we're going shopping there yet or not."īy George, that's a funny line, but the Pac-12's situation might not be a laughing matter if Yormark can entice legitimate interest. At the subsequent Pac-12 football media, commissioner George Kliavkoff quipped: "I appreciate that. His declaration - or threat, if you prefer - ignited a war of words with his Pac-12 counterpart. First-year commissioner Brett Yormark, who also may want basketball power Gonzaga, said last summer his conference is "open for business, prompting many to speculate it may poach multiple Pac-12 programs. The Big 12, which is officially adding four programs this summer, could deal the Pac-12 a serious blow through expansion. All the variables that define athletic success - primarily money and recruiting - demand the Pac-12's reach in the nation's most populous state extend beyond the Stanford campus, which is 35 miles south of San Francisco. San Diego State will never match the interest the Los Angeles schools get, but a smaller piece is better than conceding the entire plate to the Big Ten. Various reports indicate the Big 12, which has already negotiated television deals, could offer a bigger payout than the Pac-12 ultimately nets. In the end, as it always does, money has the loudest voice. The conference could lure San Diego State or go after Pac-12 big dogs Oregon and Washington plus the four corner schools (Arizona, Arizona State, Utah and Colorado). Although not on par with the powerful USC and UCLA brands, expanding south seems like a no-brainer on multiple levels.Īnd now with Texas and Oklahoma set to join the Southeastern Conference also midway through 2024, the Big 12 can focus on expanding west into the Pacific time zone. San Diego State, obviously, provides the Pac-12 a path back into the coveted Southern California market. Two hours away from the nation's second biggest market sits some of the most expensive property in the world. The fact is, losing the stronghold in Los Angeles and southward creates a gaping hole.īut like in real estate, when it comes to expansion, you know what they say: location, location, location. Last summer's stunning announcement that USC and UCLA would bolt for the riches of the Big Ten in the summer of 2024 will leave the Pac-12 with only 10 teams, which might be a sustainable number and yet still problematic. Long the overlooked football program, San Diego State fits the bill as the most attractive available candidate. SALT LAKE CITY - With the new configurations of the Pac-12 and Big 12 set to begin before the 2024 football season, both conferences could engage in an expansion tussle.įor slightly different reasons, the two conferences are each interested in having a presence in the lucrative and fruitful Southern California area.
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