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The PAC probably won't go to 16 unless forced to do so. If forced, the blackballs will be flying. SDSU and Fresno will be blackballed by UCLA and Cal. Boise and BYU by Stanford and USC. UNLV and Nevada by everyone. That leaves schools like AFA, SMU, UM, Tulane, Rice (academically on par with Stanford), still in the hunt. Again TV $$$ drives this machine, but the PAC-12 has this academic halo that will be hard to crack. That is the only way SMU gets a bid to a 4 x 16 conference.

PAC12 had the chance at a Cal/Tex Conference but blew it.

Stallion wrote:PAC12 had the chance at a Cal/Tex Conference but blew it.

Did PAc12 blow it or did UT pull the rug out?

I like the idea of us in the same conference as "like kind" universities - strong academic institutions dedicated to excellence in Div1 sports with "national brands". If it's ACC, ok. Schools I foresee would definitely be UVA, UNC, Duke (although I never met anyone from there I liked - easy football win, though), ND, would love to say Stanford and USC (and hate to say Rice and Tulane but maybe). Our TX talent pool is better and we could attract some east coasters looking for a warmer weather destination. (and honestly is there a better town than big D - job opportunities, etc etc).

Us as a package with UH is our best shot. The #5 (Dallas) and #10 (Houston) TV markets as a package deal is pretty powerful. Both markets have many east and west coast transplants, so the TV market is there for the taking for either the ACC or PAC. It's all about your footprint, see Rutgers and the Big 10.

Stallion wrote:PAC will not take Fresno or SDSU but I admit the Big 12 really screwed them and they are left with basically no good options if it was mandated that they go to 16. I'm not one of these guys that think SMU to PAC is likely but SMU might have a shot before Fresno. Nevada would, UNLV would but I seriously doubt Fresno. In fact, I think they'd refuse to budge off 12

I agree. PAC 12 has no enthusiasm for San Diego and Fresno, which they believe are not of their caliber. They could stay indefinitely at 12 or look outside their western footprint. SMU and Rice are academically attractive, but lack the enrollment and fan base (perhaps commitment to competition in the case of Rice.) Perhaps Houston and SMU are options, since UT/TT, OU and OSU are committed to either other.

One possible scenario is both Kansas schools, but they lack the media strength. Forget NM or BYU to PAC 12 as well.

ojaipony wrote:I like the idea of us in the same conference as "like kind" universities - strong academic institutions dedicated to excellence in Div1 sports with "national brands". If it's ACC, ok. Schools I foresee would definitely be UVA, UNC, Duke (although I never met anyone from there I liked - easy football win, though), ND, would love to say Stanford and USC (and hate to say Rice and Tulane but maybe). Our TX talent pool is better and we could attract some east coasters looking for a warmer weather destination. (and honestly is there a better town than big D - job opportunities, etc etc).

The Magnolia League!

Hoe do you figure an academic minded PAC 12 stomachs uh? I don't see them going to rice, so that leaves a problem for us to have a partner to go that way. I like the reconstituted acc better for us - those schools are more southern and a better fit. It would help the conference if 2 of the nc schools bolt, but you would hope NC stays or the collection will be too privatish.

ojaipony wrote:I like the idea of us in the same conference as "like kind" universities - strong academic institutions dedicated to excellence in Div1 sports with "national brands". If it's ACC, ok. Schools I foresee would definitely be UVA, UNC, Duke (although I never met anyone from there I liked - easy football win, though), ND, would love to say Stanford and USC (and hate to say Rice and Tulane but maybe). Our TX talent pool is better and we could attract some east coasters looking for a warmer weather destination. (and honestly is there a better town than big D - job opportunities, etc etc).

you must be smoking the good stuff out in Cali...!!

ponyinNC wrote:

ojaipony wrote:I like the idea of us in the same conference as "like kind" universities - strong academic institutions dedicated to excellence in Div1 sports with "national brands". If it's ACC, ok. Schools I foresee would definitely be UVA, UNC, Duke (although I never met anyone from there I liked - easy football win, though), ND, would love to say Stanford and USC (and hate to say Rice and Tulane but maybe). Our TX talent pool is better and we could attract some east coasters looking for a warmer weather destination. (and honestly is there a better town than big D - job opportunities, etc etc).

you must be smoking the good stuff out in Cali...!!

Hey, I said I liked the idea, I didn't say it would ever happen.

Like I have said before...

It is the NETWORK profits that are driving realignment and expansion. SMU / UH are on the short list for the PAC.

Now whether they feel the need to expand, that is beyond me, or anyone on this board.

PAC is our best shot. The private heavy ACC is unlikely to pick up another unless they must.

The PAC took Arizona and Arizona State (horrific academics / party school) in the late 90s i think.

Adding SMU and Houston wouldnt be that far off. It might be quite the waiting game however and I am afraid we might be waiting at the window forever.

SMUfrat wrote:Like I have said before...

It is the NETWORK profits that are driving realignment and expansion. SMU / UH are on the short list for the PAC.

Now whether they feel the need to expand, that is beyond me, or anyone on this board.

PAC is our best shot. The private heavy ACC is unlikely to pick up another unless they must.

The PAC took Arizona and Arizona State (horrific academics / party school) in the late 90s i think.

Adding SMU and Houston wouldnt be that far off. It might be quite the waiting game however and I am afraid we might be waiting at the window forever.

Arizona and Arizona State were added in 1978

The fact the PAC has no other options doesn't mean SMU and/or UH are under consideration. There is no conceivable scenario in the near future where SMU is going to the PAC. Not worth wasting time

Stallion wrote:There is no conceivable scenario in the near future where SMU is going to the PAC. Not worth wasting time

This is 100% absolutely not true. SMU and UH are the only viable options, so what you are essentially saying is that there is no conceivable scenario where the PAC would want to expand. And that is not true. They want the PAC network on more cable TVs, just like everyone else does. And there is enough of a base of PAC grads in Dallas and Houston to get it picked up by time warner. That is the only reason we are in any of the conversations. Not saying it is "likely", but it is a conceivable scenario.

Stallion wrote:The fact the PAC has no other options doesn't mean SMU and/or UH are under consideration. There is no conceivable scenario in the near future where SMU is going to the PAC. Not worth wasting time

Seriously. The Pac-12 is in no rush to go to 16 schools. Hell, they didn't even have a conference BASKETBALL tournament until a few years ago...things develop slowly out there. They'll do what they want on their own time - it doesn't make sense for them to expand to 16 right now unless Texas and OU come calling with OSU and TT tagging along