Beginning in 2024, UCLA and USC will move to the Big Ten, leaving a void to fill for the Pac-12. They can either stay at 10 teams, add an 11th, or do whatever they can to get back to 12.
The conference’s plan very much uncertain at the moment. However, veteran Pac-12 reporter Jon Wilner believes the conference will do all it can to replace UCLA and USC, with San Diego State and SMU named as favorites.
Attempting basic math again …
I would put odds this way:
P12 goes to 12: 40%
P12 goes to 11: 20%
P12 stays at 10: 40%San Diego State and SMU are the clear favorites.
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) November 9, 2022
The drop off from UCLA and USC to San Diego State and SMU is significant, but it would boost the Pac-12’s ability to negotiate media rights. It would still be a difficult sell, but would provide additional bargaining chips as opposed to being limited with 10 or 11 teams.
There are some who even believe the Pac-12 should add four total schools. In addition to San Diego State and SMU, Boise State and UNLV have also been pegged as potential targets.
The good news for the Pac-12 is that no more exits are expected. Now the focus turns to landing a new media rights deal, and clarity on that could come over the next month. The University of California Board of Regents will make a final determination on UCLA’s planned move on November 17, with the Pac-12 expected to present a media deal shortly thereafter.
