Utah To PAC 10: What Does MWC Do Then?

[StallionsModelT]

Large, highly visible and successful member of the conference defects literally days after the MWC adds the best non BCS football program in America not already in their conference. This has to be a huge blow to the conference for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the SLC media market. If the MWC wants to just patch the hole, I see them adding Houston. However, if they want to be aggressive I could see them reaching out to Houston, SMU, and Fresno State. I would think Nevada also has a right to be in that conversation, but I am starting to feel really good about this possible. Most Utah fans feel an invite to the PAC 10 is imminent as it does the PAC 10 no good to stay at 11. Utah has been a potential target for PAC 10 expansion for years and it seems like a natural fit. Hopefully we are positioning ourselves to capitalize on all of this. I think we are.

[East Coast Mustang]

I've always thought MWC was our best case scenario in terms of realignment. Well, provided the SEC doesn't extend us an invite.

But seriously, this would be a dream come true. Would TCU block us though? And what do we offer that Houston doesn't? I'd love for it to happen, but I think it's a longshot at best.

[Hoop Fan]

tend to agree, but the Jim Delaney conference played with 11 for a long time. It was functional. The Pac could stand pat and wait for a long time

[East Coast Mustang]

tend to agree, but the Jim Delaney conference played with 11 for a long time. It was functional. The Pac could stand pat and wait for a long time

Right, but you need 12 to play a conference championship game and reap all the extra cash that comes with it.

[StallionsModelT]

TCU will be a hurdle, but it may not be entirely up to them. Adding only Houston is not going to do anything for the MWC which has its sights set on bigger and better things down the road. Houston offers an entirely new market certainly, but they are going to need to make REAL facilities upgrades and improvements. SMU is financially more viable than Houston, but Houston will still have the advantage on us. We need to angle for the MWC to expand beyond just one team and be proactive.

[Samurai Stang]

We need to angle for the MWC to expand beyond just one team and be proactive.

No single available team can equal Utah. The MWC must continue to push forward with the intention of becoming a BCS conference by wagering that the schools it offers will help the conference to achieve that status. SMU and Houston are two such schools that are also located in large media markets.

[Statler]

It's time for the PAC 10 to do the double switch...

They need to extend an invitation to the Kansas Schools, Mizzou, SMU, TCU. That stabs Texas in the back and get rids of the MWC as a BCS school.

Don't laugh...it gets the PAC 10 back into the State of TX for recruiting.

[East Coast Mustang]

Can we get Sewell Automotive or Hunt Oil to put up the kind of cash FedEx offered for Memphis?

[NickSMU17]

Utah thought they were going to the Pac 10 a month ago...they will jump on the opportunity now...

Texas played a great game and in the end got an easier conference with more money....

[StallionsModelT]

Haha. I don't think the PAC 10 is in any hurry to jump back into the rush to 16 with schools like SMU and Houston. They'll add Utah and call it a day I think.

[ponyscott]

Haha. I don't think the PAC 10 is in any hurry to jump back into the rush to 16 with schools like SMU and Houston. They'll add Utah and call it a day I think.

I agree at this point as the new TV contract will now be much larger for those existing schools and those guys won't want to split the available pot with marginal 'up and comer's. Those 6 six Big 12 schools added would have made a killer Conference and would have been a sick protagonist for all to measure up to.

Nevava is NOT a good play as they don't have a major commitment to athletics ( their facilities are terrible), do not have a good fan following and are in a small TV market.

[The PonyGrad]

The thing about the PAC - 12 is how would the divisions break down?? Who gets stuck i the eastern division with the AZ schools and UC and UU? There would be a strong pushback from the original PAC-8 to go over and therefore a strong push to add four more. But who to add without dilution? You would think that Houston and SMU may not be selected but choices to help bring the Texas market.

[Stallion]

I think they are going to have to split USC/UCLA and each of their most obvious traditional rivalries and then play a mandatory cross-division game against that Rival. Its the only way everybody gets access to LA and even California. Everybody is going to be pissed. They thought they had the PAC8 back. Heck are all the t's crossed and i's dotted on the contract with Colorado because I'm sure the PAC wants to throw Colorado back. That's why Utah may not be a lay-up.

[Dooby]

I think PAC-10 stays at 11 in the near term. If they do add Utah; I think MWC stays at 9 in the near term.

MWC is focused on BCS eligibility. There is not one school (or group of schools) that MWC can add that replaces Utah's value in that regard. Ultimately, they just swapped Utah for Boise and nothing more.

[Longtime]

Pac-10 has always been against having a conference championship game. Even if they went to 16,they were going to lobby for two automatic BCS bids - one for the winner of each division, thus no conference championship game. So no rush to add Utah.

And losing Utah doesn't mean losing the SLC market for the MWC. Ever heard of a school called BYU? Probably has more fans in SLC than Utah.