Can we just take a minute to appreciate BY here.
https://twitter.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/1687516551283400707
Who exactly are the options if not ASU and Utah? I suppose staying at 14 is also an option.
Yep, 14. If it happens its a solid option.
Ranking the remaining PAC members:
1. UofA - Solid fit, cares about athletics. Why aren't they here yet?
2. Stanford - Don't laugh. They can't go big 10 unless the conference modifies its research sharing policies. Stanford didn't share with their PAC brethren and probably won't share with the big 10 for the sake of sports; major problem for the big 10 as an exception would leave them the research / academic cancer UT was to Big XII athletics. Also, surprisingly good brand in sports though that's not in my wheelhouse at all.
3. Cal - LOL,right? Cal alums are way more tolerable than, say, Utah fans and this athletic department probably dies w/o an immediate P5 affiliation. Whereas Stanford can probably survive as an independent for a while, Cal can't. And the MWC ain't gonna cut it here. But, sadly, Fat Dawg is probably dead and his warehouses auctioned off so there's really no reason to ever go to Berkeley again.
4. ASU - Baseball rocks. Crow is getting up there, his expiration date is probably not far beyond that of the PAC. All the potential in the world here but do the alums care enough to push Crow out and install someone who isn't trying to kill off athletics? If they do can they get it done? Does the Big XII feel lucky?
5. Utah / Wazzou / OrSt - Pick 'em. None of them adds much to the conference really. Utah seems new-money toxic.
When you think about the above, think about the next big 10 and SEC media negotiations. Any of 'em adding a $100M+? If not they're subtracting. Biggest reason for the Big XII to take 3 is to ensure the PAC actually dies.
But if BY wants UConn give him UConn. NE markets and hoops are what he does. It's still innovate or die in college athletics.
Reportedly FSU thinks the ACC GOR can be killed with 8 votes. Perhaps the networks will find 8 landing spots for the best of the ACC and allow that to happen. Or maybe the 8 most valuable properties will get a head start on the next wave of realignment and vote the laggards off the island by dissolving the conference and forming a new one that can generate higher payouts per team. That's probably the next wave (looking at you big 10 and SEC).