As you no doubt have heard by now, the Big Ten(ish) has undertaken the possibility of expanding to 12 teams. Or possibly 14 or 16 according to some of the rumors.
There’s also been talk for some time that the Pac-10 would follow suit. In fact, the rumors are starting to heat up regarding the Left Coast conference a day after commissioner Larry Scott told the San Jose Mercury News that “we’re looking at [expansion] very seriously“.
Scott also added that “[i]f we were ever going to look at expansion, this would be the logical time [because negotiations for a new TV deal will begin next year].”
With that as a backdrop, KTVX in Salt Lake City is reporting that the latest rumor du jour has Utah bolting the Mountain West for the Pac-10. To give the conference an even 12 teams, and a lucrative title game, Colorado could be leaving the Big 12 as well.
As noted in the report, this is all speculation at this time, but talk that also makes sense.
What’s that? You don’t care, you want more speculation? OK, we can do that.
The Utah station also reports that, if Colorado were to leave the Big 12, BYU would be a possibility to fill that slot. All of these moves would create a couple of holes to fill in the MWC, and the easy speculation would have Boise State moving from the WAC to fill one spot.
(If I’m in charge of the Pac-10, Boise State would be at the top of my expansion list. But I’m not — yet — so we’ll carry on…)
Of course, that would raise the question of whether the Broncos would want to join a conference that would be losing two of its signature programs. Without Utah and BYU, wouldn’t the MWC simply become the WAC plus TCU?
Anyway, we are likely getting ahead of ourselves as we are probably a ways down the road before any of the above comes to fruition. But it seems more and more likely that the Pac-10 will join their Rose Bowl brethren and add a couple schools.
And a title game to go along with their own TV network.
And a whole helluva lot more money.
All it’ll take is that first domino to tip.
Did you say “utes?”
What doesn’t the Pac 10 take Utah, BYU, Boise State and Colorado?
Big Ten takes Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa State, Pitt and Syracuse.
Big 12 takes TCU, Arkansas and Houston
Yeah, two Utes.
The Big 12 could use Arkansas, but TCU and Houston would add exactly zero to the media market of the conference, making the conference even worse off in that department after the losses of Nebraska, Colorado, and Mizzou. For the same reason, the Big Ten probably doesn’t want Iowa.
The Pac 10 doesn’t want Boise State because although the football program is very solid right now, the rest of the sports are questionable, and the academics are looked down upon by many junior colleges.
I’m a Big 12 fan, and my ideal replacement for Mizzou would be Utah. More than good enough academics, solid all-around athletics program, solid media market, good financial strength…it makes more sense than anyone but Arkansas, despite the geography, and Arkansas is a non-factor because they won’t leave the SEC for less money.
The pac 10 should take Utah, BYU, and Colorado while dropping Washington State. WSU can then go to the MWC.
One thing about the Pac10 they seem to like their pairs: USC-UCLA, OU-OSU, WU-WSU, AU-ASU, Cal-Standord. Going with Utah-Colorado would go away from those types of pairings.
It’s the West Coast, who really cares! Haha, I know that just pisses you Sally’s off!
Or possibly no one leaves the MWC for either the Pac 10 or the Bid 10 and Boise St and Fresno St. both join the MWC.
The Big 10 doesn’t want Iowa? That might be the most assinine comment of the day (congratulations). They only go to bowl games, bring lots of fans with them and have a better academic univeristy than most of the schools mentioned above. Oh and they finally broke their glass ceiling and won a BCS bowl game. I’m sure the Big 10 wanted nothing to do with the 22.5 million they brought in.
I think he meant that the Big Ten doesn’t want Iowa State. Iowa is already a member of the Big Ten and isn’t going anywhere.
IMO Iowa State only joins the Big Ten as part of a package that includes Mizzou and Nebraska.
I’ve been in favor of this for years. Non-qualifying schools need to understand THIS is how you get results, not by trying to get the government to intervene. If you can’t beat them, join them, and if you CAN beat them, definitely join them.
Wrath- Iowa is better than most schools in the PAC 10 in terms of academics? I live in Iowa and you have no clue what you are talking about. Actually if you knew what you were talking about you’d realize both conferences are very similar. The UW is equal to what Iowa provides in nursing, medical schools, hospitals, etc. Washington State is among the leaders in veterinary sciences. The Big Ten has Northwestern which is similar to an Ivy league school for the best university in the conference. The PAC 10 has UCLA, Cal, and Stanford.
What John Taylor doesn’t understand is that the PAC 10 nor the Big Ten are going to bring in non-academic universities for the sake of dollars. Boise State won’t be a member of the PAC 10 anytime soon with their low academic standards.
Would be interesting to see how Utah did in a big boy conference.
@Viper21 — average at best.
Boise doesn’t want to be in a AQ they understand where they fit. Go undefeated and beat the big boy in a BSC game.
All this from a Sooner fan it hurts me to say nice things about Boise, but my counselor says I need to move forward.
For those suggesting that Arkansas might leave to join the Big 12…you may want to take a remedial class in math. I can assure you that no college AD or president is leaving the SEC unless it is kicking and screaming. You can talk all you want about it’s football superiority but there is no debate about it’s financial superiority. It enjoys the highest percentage of stadium seats filled and has by far the best TV deal for ALL sports, not just football. That all translates to mega bucks, even for Vanderbilt.
Never take a team with a BLUE field. When they want to play football and not smurfball then Boise can be considered.