Kirby Lee/Getty Images
The Pac-12's quest to proceed its existence has already included poaching Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State from the Mountain West Conference. Now, it reportedly has its sights set on the American Athletic Conference, too.
According to Chris Vannini of The Athletic, the Pac-12 has recognized Memphis and Tulane as its “top targets,” although he added that UTSA, North Texas, South Florida and Texas State are the “central-eastern options the Pac-12 is looking into.”
Five of the faculties talked about above are within the AAC, with Texas State the lone outsider from the Sun Belt.
There can also be the chance that the Pac-12 might additional poach the Mountain West:
Dennis Dodd @dennisdoddcbs
Multiple sources have informed CBS Sports the eight remaining <a href=”https://twitter.com/MountainWest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@MountainWest</a> faculties stay in play for the <a href=”https://twitter.com/pac12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@pac12</a>. They haven't been eradicated from consideration. The query is why they weren't introduced on Thursday.
Paolo Uggetti @PaoloUggetti
Oregon State AD Scott Barnes is chatting with media forward of OSU-Oregon. He was requested if different applications had come ahead during the last 48 hours with curiosity to hitch the brand new PAC-12<br><br>”Bunches, bunches.” <br><br>Also says they need to maintain the PAC-12 model even when they solely have 8 groups.
Ralph D. Russo @ralphDrussoAP
When may extra members be added? Pac-12 Commish Teresa Gould: <br>”.. we haven't set a soft or a hard timeline at all because for us, it's really about being patient enough to see what opportunities might unfold, but also being aggressive enough to create opportunities on our own.”
As for faculties like UNLV and Air Force, Vannini famous that the pair are “more likely if the conference strikes out on its eastern swing attempts.”
The AAC is predicted to make a push for Air Force to hitch Army and Navy, bringing the three service academies collectively.
Pete Thamel @PeteThamel
Sources: Air Force has emerged as a critical goal to be added to the American Athletic Conference. Air Force had emerged in conversations as a possible AAC add in current months, previous to the Pac-12 taking 4 Mountain West faculties final week. <a href=”https://t.co/yDhK1nBNaA”>pic.twitter.com/yDhK1nBNaA</a>
It stays unclear if UNLV will untether itself from Nevada, a lot as Oregon and Washington did to Oregon State and Washington State—the 2 remaining Pac-12 applications—after they departed for the Big Ten alongside USC and UCLA.
Many of the adjustments are centered on soccer, given the profitable media-rights offers that accompany the game. But one of many extra fascinating prospects, in response to Vannini, is that the convention might take into account Gonzaga as a basketball faculty.
As he wrote: “Although Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes told The Athletic on Saturday that football is a requirement for members, other sources briefed on the league's thinking believe that's just for this next step, not ruling out the possibility that the league would try to add a school like Gonzaga to what could be a strong basketball conference.”
Gary Parrish @GaryParrishCBS
Starting a brand new Pac-12 with Gonzaga and San Diego State — applications which have performed in two of the previous 4 nationwide title video games — can be STRONG from a basketball perspective.<br><br>So I endorse this.<br><br>Go get Gonzaga, Pac-12.<br><br>Then goal different faculties with good markets and actual… <a href=”https://t.co/NfvBto4OD2″>https://t.co/NfvBto4OD2</a>
The Pac-12 stays on a set deadline to make sure its existence—it requires eight members by July 1, 2026 to be acknowledged as a convention by the NCAA. But it sounds as although it has recognized loads of potential choices in that effort.
Related posts:
