- This Is The Place Sports
What if? Here's what the conferences we care most about could look like in the future:
Welcome to “Realignment Today,” where speculation and who-knows-what drives the bus. College conference realignment is an ongoing platform for prognostications — right or wrong, weak or strong.
Pac-12
Here’s a few thoughts, none based on inside info, intel, or even science for that matter, on the Pac-12.
For starters, let’s assume that BYU is interested in an effort to ease hardships on Olympic sports and establish more regional rivalries.
Pac-12 without UCLA and USC . . .
Arizona
Arizona State
BYU
California
Colorado
Oregon
Oregon State
San Diego State
Stanford
Utah
Washington
Washington State
Pac-12 after poaching the Big 12 . . .
Arizona
Arizona State
Baylor
BYU
California
Colorado
Houston
Oklahoma State
Oregon
Oregon State
San Diego State
Stanford
Texas Tech
Utah
Washington
Washington State
Pac-12 if California, Oregon, Stanford, Washington join Big Ten and the Big 12 is poached . .
Arizona
Arizona State
Baylor
BYU
Colorado
Houston
Kansas
Kansas State
Oregon
Oregon State
San Diego State
TCU
Texas Tech
UNLV
Utah
Washington State
Pac-12 if Big 12 poaching isn’t possible and the Big Ten doesn’t expand . . .
Arizona
Arizona State
California
Colorado
Oregon
Oregon State
Stanford
Utah
Washington
Washington State
OR
Arizona
Arizona State
California
Colorado
Oregon
Oregon State
San Diego State
Stanford
UNLV
Utah
Washington
Washington State
Pac-12 if things got really weird and some avenues are closed and the Big Ten expands . . .
Arizona
Arizona State
Boise State
Colorado
New Mexico
Oregon
San Diego State
Southern Methodist
Utah
UTEP
UTSA
Washington State
Pac-12 if poached by Big Ten and Big 12 . . .
Air Force
Boise State
Colorado State
Fresno State
Nevada
New Mexico
Oregon State
San Diego State
San Jose State
Southern Methodist
UNLV
Utah State
UTEP
UTSA
Washington State
Wyoming
There are many other variables, obviously.
Mountain West Conference
Same goes for the Mountain West Conference. Here’s a few scenarios, none of which may come to fruition.
MW if the Pac-12 takes San Diego State and Boise State . . .
Air Force
Colorado State
Fresno State
Hawaii
New Mexico
Nevada
San Jose State
UNLV
Utah State
Wyoming
OR
Air Force
Colorado State
Fresno State
Hawaii
New Mexico
New Mexico State
Nevada
San Jose State
UNLV
Utah State
UTEP
Wyoming
MW if the Pac-12 takes Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, San Jose State and UNLV . . .
Air Force
Hawaii
New Mexico
New Mexico State
Nevada
Utah State
UTEP
Wyoming
OR
Air Force
Hawaii
New Mexico
New Mexico State
Nevada
Southern Methodist
Utah State
UTEP
UTSA
Wyoming