Pac-12 aiming to add four schools as WSU and OSU rebuild the conference

What's happening?

The Pac-12 Conference is reportedly in talks to add four new schools to the conference, according to multiple reports. The schools being considered are San Diego State University, Fresno State University, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Boise State University.

The move would come as the Pac-12 looks to rebuild its conference after losing two of its founding members, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the University of Southern California (USC), to the Big Ten Conference.

Why is this happening?

There are several reasons why the Pac-12 is looking to add new schools.

• To replace UCLA and USC: The loss of UCLA and USC will leave the Pac-12 with just 10 schools, which is below the minimum number of schools required for a Power Five conference.
• To expand the conference's reach: The addition of San Diego State, Fresno State, UNLV, and Boise State would give the Pac-12 a stronger presence in the western United States. These schools are all located in major metropolitan areas with large populations, which would help the Pac-12 to expand its reach and increase its television revenue.
• To improve the conference's competitive balance: The Pac-12 has been dominated by the same few teams in recent years. The addition of San Diego State, Fresno State, UNLV, and Boise State would help to improve the conference's competitive balance and make it more exciting for fans.

What are the next steps?

The Pac-12 is expected to vote on whether to add the four new schools at its next meeting, which is scheduled for June 22.

If the Pac-12 votes to add the four schools, they would likely join the conference in 2024.

What does this mean for WSU and OSU?

The addition of four new schools to the Pac-12 would have a significant impact on Washington State University (WSU) and Oregon State University (OSU).

WSU and OSU would be the only two schools in the Pac-12 without a major metropolitan area nearby. This would put them at a competitive disadvantage in terms of recruiting and revenue generation.

The addition of four new schools would also make it more difficult for WSU and OSU to win the Pac-12 championship. The conference would be much more top-heavy, and it would be harder for the Cougars and Beavers to compete with the likes of USC, UCLA, and Oregon.

Conclusion

The Pac-12's decision to add four new schools is a major development for the conference. It will have a significant impact on the Pac-12's future, as well as on the future of WSU and OSU.

It is still too early to say what the long-term impact of this decision will be. However, it is clear that the Pac-12 is taking steps to rebuild the conference and to ensure its future success.