PAC12 Scenario = Expansion

[Water Pony]

PAC-12 Writer, Jon Wilner, article and Q&A (including a question from our own SoCal_Pony)

Timing of PAC-12 Media Deal is Mid-January to Mid-February with expansion following a month or two later.

https://tucson.com/sports/pac-12-hotlin ... dae2e.html

[BleedingRed+Blue]

Fingers are crossed.

[ponyboy]

Are you still optimistic about SMU to the Pac-12? — @SoCal_Pony

A: The Hotline believes expansion is more likely than not for the Pac-12.

If one school is added, San Diego State has a slight edge over the Mustangs, in our opinion.

If two schools are added, SMU stands an excellent chance of receiving an invitation.

In areas that matter to university presidents, the Mustangs make more sense than many options in the Mountain West.

[SoCal_Pony]

FWIW, Jon Wilber is one of the most respected journalist covering the PAC

He has great inside sources, is very measured / thoughtful in his responses and not known as someone to make controversial statements just to get ‘clicks’

Call me optimistic

[Water Pony]

FWIW, Jon Wilber is one of the most respected journalist covering the PAC

He has great inside sources, is very measured / thoughtful in his responses and not known as someone to make controversial statements just to get ‘clicks’

Call me optimistic

I share your optimism, SoCal_Pony.

My optimism is based on our slow, but obvious progress we have made in our value of our brand, the strength of our Dallas location, improved performance on the field, and major investments in all our athletic facilities. And we are getting better recruits and transfers.

While I am impatient, I feel this is our time to make the jump to the P5 and John Wilner appears to agree.

Mercury News:

Jon Wilner has been covering college sports for decades and is an AP top-25 football and basketball voter as well as a Heisman Trophy voter. He was named Beat Writer of the Year in 2013 by the Football Writers Association of America for his coverage of the Pac-12, won first place for feature writing in 2016 in the Associated Press Sports Editors writing contest and is a five-time APSE honoree.

[Nedward]

Jon Wilner is not Mac Engel over at the Startle Gram.

He's highly respected throughout the industry and has the skins on the wall to prove it. I would listen to what he has to say. I personally have no insight. I know nothing.

[Pony81]

How awesome would PAC12 road games be…..SD,SF, Seattle, SLC, ….Tucson and PHX in November….

[Pony81]

How awesome would PAC12 road games be…..SD,SF, Seattle, SLC, ….Tucson and PHX in November….

[SoCal_Pony]

Jon Wilner is not Mac Engel over at the Startle Gram.

He's highly respected throughout the industry and has the skins on the wall to prove it. I would listen to what he has to say. I personally have no insight. I know nothing.

Baloney, you know plenty Nedward.

You know how to differentiate between good & bad journalism, something far too few today appear capable of doing.

[Water Pony]

John Wilner: SMU value in PAC-12 Expansion

https://sports360az.com/2023/01/hotline ... -and-more/

[SMUstang]

If SMU gets an invitation from the Pac 12, will they likely also consider inviting Houston at the same time, to gain a foothold on the two largest cities in Texas? With great basketball as well, for more inventory and a larger western footprint?

[Water Pony]

If SMU gets an invitation from the Pac 12, will they likely also consider inviting Houston at the same time, to gain a foothold on the two largest cities in Texas? With great basketball as well, for more inventory and a larger western footprint?

Houston would be ideal Texas partner, but that ship has sailed with their acceptance of a Big XII invitation. If PAC-12 adds two schools only, they will invite San Diego State and SMU. Gonzaga has been mentioned recently to strengthen BB.

The question is how many will PAC-12 want to add at this time. If 4, you could make a case for Tulane and another MW school, e.g. Boise State and Fresno State. BTW, I saw BigXII might add a Pacific Time Zone school, Fresno State.

Step one, PAC-12 needs to finalize Media Deal, such as Amazon Prime, who would influence which schools and markets add value to the deal. Time will tell.

[smuaustin1971]

I read the whole article by Jon Wilner. He certainly sounds like a very thoughtful and credible guy...

[ponyboy]

Link doesn’t work for me, but found the article in the Seattle paper.

[SMUstang]

If SMU gets an invitation from the Pac 12, will they likely also consider inviting Houston at the same time, to gain a foothold on the two largest cities in Texas? With great basketball as well, for more inventory and a larger western footprint?

Houston would be ideal Texas partner, but that ship has sailed with their acceptance of a Big XII invitation. If PAC-12 adds two schools only, they will invite San Diego State and SMU. Gonzaga has been mentioned recently to strengthen BB.

The question is how many will PAC-12 want to add at this time. If 4, you could make a case for Tulane and another MW school, e.g. Boise State and Fresno State. BTW, I saw BigXII might add a Pacific Time Zone school, Fresno State.

Step one, PAC-12 needs to finalize Media Deal, such as Amazon Prime, who would influence which schools and markets add value to the deal. Time will tell.

Don't be too sure, if the PAC-12 media deal exceeds the Big 12, they could jump. But only if the PAC adds 4 to keep up with the Big XII, the ACC, the AAC, and the Sunbelt.