PAC 10 Expansion: Who To Invite To The Party?

Who to invite to the party?

For the first time since the late 70’s, the Pacific Athletic Conference is thinking about expansion. Why now? Money. See, their TV deals are coming up for renewal, and the networks want a championship game. To have one, the conference needs to have twelve (or more) teams. Of course, there are plenty of reasons to leave well enough alone, but then this would be a really short slideshow.

The question, then, is: Who to invite? Geography is a two-way factor. The PAC wants to minimize the costs of travel, but also wants to expand the number of TV viewers. Competitiveness is a factor. Certainly that means current FBS teams, but some teams that might be considered are already in BCS AQ conferences. Why would they leave? Also, remember that the PAC is not just a football conference. The schools chosen have to be competitive in other sports as well. Academics are a factor, but not as much as some may think. This is an athletic conference first. Being a research institute has nothing to do with it. However, the PAC is one of only three conferences (that I am aware of) that does not allow partial qualifiers, the Big 12 and Mountain West being the others. Thus, if a team from another conference were chosen, then they would have to adopt the stricter rules.

The Local Angle.

Fresno State and San Diego State

Fresno State and San Diego State make sense, geographically. Travel costs would not adversely affect the schools. Of course, in this case there is no expansion of the TV market, which is something the PAC wants. San Diego St. hasn’t been really competitive since Marshall Faulk played for them, but they’re better than the third California choice, San Jose State.

The Natural Rivalry

Utah and BYU

When the PAC expanded in 1978, it added Arizona and Arizona St.—a natural rivalry. It makes sense to expand again using a similar selection method. Geographically, this expands the TV market minimally, but also keeps travel costs down. Competitiveness is terrific. Utah was the first “BCS buster” and one of the most consistent teams in that regard. BYU is the only school to win a National Championship that is not among the BCS teams. It’s that competitiveness that makes this choice superior to Nevada and UNLV, or New Mexico and New Mexico St.

The BCS Busters

Utah and Boise St.

In the twelve years that the BCS has been operating, Utah and Boise St. have been the best at getting to BCS bowls. Their critics argue that they couldn’t do it if they played in a more competitive conference. Well, this would be their opportunity. Geographically, this choice would be similar to the Utah & BYU choice—minimal increase in both TV market and travel expenses—but it lacks any rivalry factor.

The Road Trip

UNLV and Hawaii

This choice is all about the away game. If your fans get to travel to Las Vegas or Honolulu every year (if you’re in the same division), or at least once in a while (if you’re in the other), then the extra travel costs can be forgiven. Adding the Hawaii and Las Vegas TV markets would be good, but if college football fans in those areas followed a BCS conference, it would likely be the PAC anyway.

The TV Market and...

Colorado and...

If the primary goal of the PAC’s expansion is to increase the television market, then Colorado would be an excellent choice. In the early nineties, there was a plan to add Colorado and Texas to the PAC. The advent of the Big 12 squelched that idea, and I don’t see Texas leaving their current set-up. Colorado, on the other hand, has always been sort of the red-headed step child of the Big 12. They are the most likely Big 12 team to opt to go to the PAC. Certainly they bring a high level of competition to the conference. The question then is: Who else?

. . . A Natural Rival.

...Colorado St.

By bringing in Colorado and Colorado St., the PAC would continue its natural rival aspect, plus the increased TV market that Colorado has over Utah.

....Even More TV Market

...Notre Dame

The Irish already play at least two PAC teams a year. They have declined overtures from the Big 10, but the PAC might be a better fit—other than the travel costs. Alas, if Notre Dame ever joins a conference, it is likely the Big East, which it is already in for sports other than football.

...The Texas Market

...Texas Christian

As indicated earlier, Colorado and Texas were considered as potential expansion partners for the PAC in the early nineties. If Texas is out, TCU still provides the PAC with an inroad into the Texas TV market—and in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, no less. They’re competitive too. If the PAC lures away Colorado, or the Big 10 swipes Missouri, TCU would be the Big 12’s first choice for a replacement.

Other Possibilities

Mix and Match

Maybe Utah & Colorado, or TCU & Hawaii, or Fresno St. & Boise St. is the answer. But then again...

Why stop at 12?

Maybe the best solution is to expand to 14. Add Utah and BYU, plus Colorado and TCU. Or they can go with Colorado and Colorado St., plus Boise St. and Utah. The possibilities should be explored.