Pac-12 Expansion: Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, Colorado State Targeted

Pac-12 Targets Four Mountain West Schools

Expansion Plans Heating Up

The Pac-12 Conference is reportedly targeting four Mountain West schools for expansion: Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, and Colorado State. According to sources speaking to The Athletic, the conference is looking to add these schools to bolster its presence in the Western United States and increase its overall competitiveness. If the expansion goes through, it would bring the Pac-12 to 12 teams, a number that has been floated as a possibility for the conference for several years. The addition of these four schools would give the Pac-12 a strong footprint in the Mountain West region, which is currently home to just one Power Five conference team, the University of Utah.

Benefits and Challenges

The addition of Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, and Colorado State would bring several benefits to the Pac-12. These schools all have strong athletic programs, particularly in football, and would add depth to the conference's already competitive lineup. They also have large and passionate fan bases, which would help to boost attendance and revenue for the Pac-12. However, there are also some challenges to the Pac-12's expansion plans. The addition of these four schools would mean that the conference would have to split into divisions, which could lead to scheduling challenges and a decrease in the quality of competition. Additionally, the Pac-12 would need to negotiate media rights deals for the new schools, which could be a complex and time-consuming process.

Next Steps

The Pac-12 is expected to make a decision on expansion in the coming months. The conference is currently in the process of gathering information from the four target schools and evaluating the potential benefits and challenges of adding them. If the expansion is approved, the new schools could join the Pac-12 as early as 2024.

Conclusion

The Pac-12's expansion plans are still in the early stages, but the addition of Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, and Colorado State would be a significant development for the conference. These schools would add depth, competitiveness, and fan support to the Pac-12, but there are also some challenges that the conference would need to overcome.