Members

Texas Tech gave us a big win last week with a win over previously unbeaten Iowa State. They're up 13-0 early right now against Colorado, another ranked opponent. Texas Tech looking good helps the Cougs because of course they have a win over Tech. Washington will play Penn State tonight, a Huskies win would also help make Washington State look better to the playoff committee. What else needs to happen for the dream to come true? Obviously they need to keep winning, but what else should we watch for?

The conference needs to keep the Pac-12 name because of its recognition/marketing value.

But what about the Pac-12 logo. Should the new Pac-12 have a unique logo to launch the rebuilt conference on July 1, 2026?

https://x.com/johncanzanobft/status/1854947555475701879?s=46&t=qwoy3jQLjUVMaVlrvz-rVg

• I love that Sacramento State’s president is making no small plans and generating buzz. Maybe the school eventually gets in position for a promotion to a bigger conference. Keep in mind, conferences think in terms of revenue upside, brand, media market size, academics, etc. So ask yourself: Does Sacramento State add value to the Pac-12 right now? No knock on the school, but it’s a ‘no’ for me.

*Edit-I agree that the "no penalty" in the headline is a bad idea. It should just be a Lesser/Limited/more doable fee than currently exists.

Discussion-

Our goal is to build a conference that is clearly above the other G5 conferences. As it sits I think we are heads and shoulders above the SBC, C-USA, MAC, the new MWC, but we are similiar to the AAC.

The AAC and PAC should be the front runners most years to getting the autobid as a top 5 conference winner. Only way SBC, C-USA, MAC or the new MWC will have a chance is if the have a team run the table and all AAC & PAC schools have multiple losses.

Seeing that the AAC is our biggest rival in this space, raiding their conference both strengthens ours and weakens theirs. By merging the 2 existing PAC schools with the top teams that have been added from the MWC and the top AAC schools, we can build that conference.

So whats holding Memphis, Tulane, S Florida, & UTSA back from joining us? IMO there are 2 things.

1. Money

Both from exit fees to be paid and the need for a strong media deal to pay the extra travel costs.

2. FOMO & the fear of being unable to ever join a P4 if a school ends up getting an invite.

IMO we are doing the right thing with hiring Octogon for the media deal and trying to eleminate/reduce the poaching fees to the MWC. This helps in addressing the money issues.

I think the next step is we make it feasable in our conference member agreements to join a P4 if invited. Extend this to all current and future PAC members.

We should raid the AAC and build a damn near automatic p5 quality conference.

Thoughts?

Octagon only got the account 16 days ago. Its highly likely that Octagon has not even pitched to anyone yet. It will take awhile just to put together the basic pitch deck and then tailor it to specific suitors. The rumors that the Pac-12 is already fielding offers, with firm dollars attached seem a bit far fetched.

What is the current state of the ACC? I stopped paying attention when the ACC stopped being a potential partner and I thought the ACC's future was likely settled. The number one thing that would hold back AAC teams from joining the Pac-12 is a potential ACC invite. Apparently the new unequal payout scheme to keep FSU and Clemson failed, so we are back to looking at the February ESPN deal potential implosion again? If thats the case, Memphis, Tulane, and USF would have to be crazy to join before March 2025

The Pac-12 isnt going to add anyone until they find out how much their media partner(s) value potential members. The only addition I think might happen prior is Saint Mary's, and I have no idea how likely that is. If at all. Saint Mary's is desperate not to be left behind and the Mountain West offered them a spot along with GCU. They didnt take it, so a guess on my part is they still think a better conference still might invite them.

https://x.com/tbm_jy/status/1853837871301759121?s=46&t=qwoy3jQLjUVMaVlrvz-rVg

ESPN and Fox in discussions for $8-10M? A couple sources are reporting this, not the most credible, but thought I would share:

https://youtu.be/IdTgUSiZZDk?si=-w-vikl7cTc0Lz1V

https://www.youtube.com/live/6Eqk9bCoicY?si=46yBb938BUwsGjfk

Gonzaga defeated #8 Baylor 101-63 ‼️

Washington State defeated Portland State 100-92

Oregon State defeated Utah Tech 80-57

Colorado State defeated North Dakota 82-56

EDIT: The Pac-12 is 11-0 as of November 8!

ignore the quality

https://x.com/NewLookPac12/status/1853483800644227440

Basically, there is a lot of growth in this area, and Octagon's Senior VP wrote an op-ed on the growth of women's basketball and strategies to grow further.

https://www.sportico.com/leagues/college-sports/2024/womens-college-basketball-tv-future-march-madness-1234772417/

Might there be a reason or connection to what the PAC-12 is thinking? If they split football and basketball deals, maybe WBB will be a growth part of that deal?

This is my personal power ranking for current, future, and RUMORED PAC 12 members. Remember, if they were rumored, I’ve included them.

1. #12 Boise State
2. #20 Washington State
3. Tulane
4. Colorado State
5. Memphis
6. UNT
7. UCONN
8. Fresno State
9. Oregon State
10. SDSU
11. USF
12. UTSA
13. Texas State
14. Utah State

Interesting to note that if Colorado State wins out, they presumably will play Boise State in the MWC.

Poll Results

AP News

Cal & Stanford would be great too, but I think they’re off the table.

This would be a really fun conference and I hope everything gets worked out for this to become the Pac 12. Fun games every single week. Plus the basketball side of things would be awesome as well. Conference games between Memphis, Gonzaga, SDSU, etc. would be awesome.

1: Boise State 7-1(3-0)

2: Oregon State 4-4(2-0)

3: Memphis 7-2(1-0)

4: Tulane 7-2(1-0)

5: Washington State 7-1(2-1)

6: Colorado State 6-3(0-1)

7: Fresno State 5-4(0-1)

8: Utah State 2-6(0-1)

9: USF 4-4(0-2)

10: San Diego State 3-5(0-3)

Let's say the Pac-12 currently looked like this (before it imploded, this was almost certainly going to be the 12 team lineup for 2025):

Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State, California, Stanford, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, San Diego State, SMU

Where would the Pac-12 rank amongst the P5 conferences?

https://x.com/rossdellenger/status/1852714620395335901?s=46&t=qwoy3jQLjUVMaVlrvz-rVg

Boise, Oregon State, San Diego, and Wazzu can get close to the bottom teams (if the average will be $14, BYU, Houston, Wake, etc will probably be under $10) but can CSU, Fresno, and Utah State? Will we see a clear separation within the league as costs ramp up?