(11-17-2020 11:25 AM)Attackcoog Wrote: What’s the point of the expansion? The way I understand it, an expansion would be looking to expand the subscriber base of the Pac12 network. The Pac12 is already in California and Utah. The other options have such small state populations it probably wouldn’t make much difference. The last proposed expansion to 16 included Texas, which is the largest population state is the nation other than California and is the only state west of the Mississippi that might make a substantial difference in the network subscriber base. My guess is any expansion that does not have a school (or schools) that the conference believes can attract significant viewership in Texas is a non-starter.
Pretty accurate.
If the B12 implodes, with Oklahoma and Texas leaving (SEC/B1G doesn't matter), then it is entirely plausible the P12 looks at schools like TCU, Texas Tech and even Kansas. TCU is the most logical add, but they are not a research institution. If TCU then why not BYU?
Note: BYU's audience is a bit different, it brings you Mormons who are rather significant in much of the West; it would not add any markets, but it would add eyeballs.
The standard has always been Texas. But the Longhorns are never going to go west. Does even a TCU and Texas Tech combo give you sufficient a slice of the Texas market to bother?
As for adding "City" State U's like San Diego State, UNLV, Boise State, Colorado State, et al, they don't help one iota, and most lower league the AI. Colorado State looks like a P12 school in the mold of the other three State schools (WSU, ASU, OSU) but is teetering on the bottom of that group for AI. SDSU has decent AI but not enough research (CSU charter in the way) and not enough stature to ever be accepted by the UC schools. UNM, BSU, UNLV are non starters. Same for Fresno State.
That is not much to pick from. And even questionable if a B12 implosion leaves them any scraps worth picking up. I expect the P12 to be the P12 for a very long time.