Pac-16 To Add Markets over Teams

The Pac-16 expansion will be more in step with the expansion to 12 teams than the original plan for 16. Instead of Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, the Pac-16 will result in the addition of large markets over rivals. Expect Kansas and New Mexico to be the big winners due to academics and markets.

Kansas not only provides the conference with an exceptional basketball legacy but access to the largest metro in the Kansas/Missouri area and the 31st largest television market. Commissioner Scott added Utah and Colorado largely on their ability to bring the Salt Lake City and Denver markets into the Pac-12 Network. Kansas is also a prestigious academic institution qualifying as an Association of American University member.  

New Mexico may not have the athletic legacy of Kansas, Oklahoma or Texas, but the market is one of the fastest growing in the southwestern region of the country: Albuquerque. The Albuquerque/Santa Fe television market is ranked 49th. In addition, the school was rated by US News and World Report as a "Best Western College."

Neither Kansas or New Mexico are as sexy as the addition of Oklahoma State and Texas Tech; however, with Oklahoma and Texas, the Pac-16 Network would gain access to all of Oklahoma and Texas.  

Now, consider yet another scenario that makes this concept of Pac-16 expansion logical. Perhaps the biggest hang-up with respect to the addition of Texas is the Longhorn Network. Considering the unique media approach Commissioner Scott has already built, imagine a Longhorn Network—renamed as the Texas Network—broadcasting and sharing revenue with all of the state of Texas universities not included in the deal (except Texas A&M).

The Texas Network would not only be part of the Pac 16 regional network landscape but could be home to teams like Baylor, SMU, Texas Tech, Rice, etc., none of which will be picked up when the era of the Mega Conference comes to fruition.

Finally, here's how the four-pod Pac-16 Conference will look:

North: Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State

West: UCLA, USC, Cal, Stanford

East: Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas

South: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Arizona State

The teams will play nine conference games, three divisional games annually plus a rotation of two games from each of the three other divisions. This will guarantee one trip to California each year for every team and nearly the same to Texas. I outlined how the Mega Conferences would lead to conference playoffs in a previous article: "Why (4) 16-Team Mega Conferences Work."

What do you think?