Pac-12 Aiming to Add Four Schools as WSU and OSU Rebuild the Conference

Introduction

The Pac-12 Conference is reportedly aiming to add four new schools to its fold, with the University of California, San Diego, Fresno State University, San Diego State University, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, all said to be under consideration. The move comes as the conference looks to rebuild after losing two of its founding members, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California, to the Big Ten Conference.

Details of the Expansion

According to reports, the Pac-12 is looking to add the four schools by the 2024-25 academic year. The conference has already sent out letters of invitation to the four schools, and they are expected to accept. The addition of the four schools would bring the Pac-12 to a total of 12 members, the same number it had before UCLA and USC left.

The four schools that are being considered for expansion are all located in the western United States, which would help the Pac-12 to maintain its regional identity. The schools also have strong athletic programs, with UC San Diego and San Diego State both being ranked in the top 25 in the FCS, and Fresno State and UNLV both having made recent appearances in the FBS postseason.

Benefits of Expansion

The addition of the four schools would bring a number of benefits to the Pac-12. It would help to stabilize the conference after the departure of UCLA and USC, and it would also increase the conference's footprint in the western United States. The four schools would also bring in additional revenue for the conference, through increased television revenue and ticket sales.

The expansion would also give the Pac-12 a stronger presence in the College Football Playoff. With the addition of the four schools, the Pac-12 would have nine teams in the FBS, giving it the second-most teams in the country behind the SEC. This would increase the Pac-12's chances of getting a team into the College Football Playoff, which is the ultimate goal for any college football conference.

Conclusion

The Pac-12's expansion plans are still in the early stages, but the conference is reportedly aiming to add four new schools by the 2024-25 academic year. The addition of the four schools would bring a number of benefits to the conference, including increased stability, a larger footprint, and a stronger presence in the College Football Playoff.