(10-14-2016 05:32 PM)GiveEmTheAxe Wrote:  

(10-14-2016 03:58 PM)jrj84105 Wrote:  Basically, you have to come up with a PAC East that is as attractive to Utah, AZ, ASU, and Colorado as the current PAC South with UCLA and USC. And for that to happen, the division has to include a SoCal school.

We all know the UC schools want no part of SDSU in the PAC for academic reasons. As crazy as it sounds, I would say that a UCSD invitation to the Big West this year would do no less than double the probability of PAC expansion in the next 20 years. A PAC East of UCSD, Utah, Arizona, ASU, Colorado, Texas, X, and Y would be feasible (with X and Y coming from some combo of UNM, TTU, OU, KU, Rice). That has about a 0.01% chance of happening, but it's far more likely than TCU and/or Baylor joining the PAC.

At the risk of sounding greedy, if UCSD is joining the league, the four CA schools are going to want to be in the same division as them. Maybe we should go to three divisions of 5 or even four divisions of 5 to make it happen. But seeing as UCSD is already the only UC that can claim to attract some students away from Berkeley and UCLA, it makes sense that they be kept with their UC brethren.

1) UCSD would need a lot of incentivizing to make a move to P5 football. There is nothing in it for the PAC to provide that incentive except for the case of UCSD serving as an appeasement to the SW schools for eastward expansion.
2) I think the PAC would be fun as a 3*5 with UCSD to the Cali, Hawaii to the NW, and either UNM or UNLV to the SW. There's no money in it, but it wouldn't be terrible.

I reconsider adding the two Oklahoma schools here. I am not sure adding the leadership at those schools would fit the Pac 12(16). I am starting to think the Kansas schools might be better. Kansas brings academics and hoops. Kansas State brings a fairly recent football history. Their leadership doesn't seem to be putting the dysfunction in their current conference. Both would renew conference rivalries with Colorado. I stand by Hawaii for the 13th game possibility, decent academics, and occasional football success. As for the 16th member, Air Force could add good academics and a national brand.