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After a brief-yet-incredibly-welcome break, the forces of conference realignment began churning again this week.
Late Wednesday night, news broke that the Pac-12, with Oregon State and Washington State as its only existing members, would be bringing in Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State and Fresno State from the Mountain West, moves that were officially confirmed the following morning.
A merger of some sort had long been expected between the Pac-12s remnants and the Mountain West, the only other FBS conference with a membership rooted in the country’s western-most time zones. But after the two leagues failed to extend their football scheduling agreement beyond this season, the Pac-12 suddenly became a predator after spending the previous two years getting picked apart.
OPINION: Pac-12 adding Mountain West schools sets new standard of pointlessness in college sports
It’s a near-certainty the Pac-12, now up to six schools, won’t be staying pat, especially since the NCAA requires that a conference has at least eight members to qualify as an FBS league. Yahoo Sports reported that the Pac-12 bringing in the four Mountain West schools is the “first phase in a multi-phase expansion endeavor,” signaling that this conference shuffling is only just beginning.
Where might the Pac-12 turn as it continues its search to fortify its ranks? Here are eight potential additions that could make sense for the reconfiguring league:
Pac-12 Conference expansion candidates
Memphis
There’s perhaps no school not already in one of the Power Four conferences that’s as desirable as or due for a step up more than the Tigers.
They have a storied basketball program that regularly plays in front of large home crowds in a basketball-mad city. Their football program has won at least 10 games in four of the past nine full seasons and is…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/pac-12-expansion-candidates-schools-193127343.html
Author : USA TODAY Sports
Publish date : 2024-09-12 19:31:27
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