The Pac 12 has come alive from the dead and has a new life as a conference. The conference added Texas State as a full member. Texas State has to pay out 5 million to the Sun Belt. The addition now brings the Pac-12 to eight football-playing schools. This is the NCAA minimum for bowl tie-ins and College Football Playoff consideration. If Stanford and Cal stayed in the conference some feel that the Pac-12 possibly could’ve kept their Power 5 status.
Photo Cred: Pac 12
Oregon State and Washington State pushed to preserve the Pac-12 brand finally paid off. The conference collapsed during realignment. The Pac-12 saw it’s most marquee programs depart for the ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12. With the Pac-12 brand and name being recognizable, the conference is aiming to reemerge as a top-five football league. Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State are leaving for the Pac-12. Gonzaga will join as a non-football member. They come to the league mainly because of their basketball program. Taking on the best of the Mountain West schools was the easy option.
The additions made geographic sense. Travel cost will be low as the conference continues to build. The five schools have combined to win 11 of the last 12 Mountain West titles. The teams have also been in the league’s championship game over the past decades. Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, Wyoming, and Hawaii, with UTEP and Northern Illinois joining the Mountain West. Many were thinking another team from the Mountain West would jump ship.
Photo Cred: Texas State University
Texas State lacks a historical football profile. But the Pac-12 is now in Texas which is a football country. Pac-12 schools will look to recruit heavily in the state. Under head coach G.J. Kinne. The Bobcats has consecutive eight-win seasons and fan attendance has improved. The school is on the rise! They may bring in other teams but for now the line up is finished. The conference is now stable and depth. Hopefully Pac-12 brand recognition can carry the league into a successful new era.
