As we inch closer to UCLA and USC competing in the Big Ten, the burning issue is what will happen to the PAC-12. Here’s my take.
With the PAC-12 losing the Southern California duo, the conference loses two programs with strong, relevant brands. Cases in point: UCLA men’s basketball made it to the Final Four in 2021, USC had yet another quarterback (Caleb Williams) win the Heisman Trophy, and Bronny James suits up for the Trojans this season.
Soon, accomplishments of that sort will be lodged on the Big Ten’s ledger, and it’s a fair bet that the PAC-12 won’t stand pat with ten schools. So, I think it’s worth evaluating three possible replacements–San Diego State University (SDSU), University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and Gonzaga University.
SDSU is on the move, too. Last Friday, the university gave the Mountain West Conference a withdrawal notice. It’s too soon to know where the Aztecs will land, but it’s sure that they’ll end up in a Power Five conference, either the PAC-12 or Big 12. Moving to the PAC-12 offers advantages for the league and the school. First, it would retain a Southern California connection lost with the departure of the LA-based schools. Second, a Northern California/Southern California conference rivalry (with Cal and Stanford) would remain intact. Third, SDSU is strong in the core revenue sports, football (with a new stadium) and basketball (made this year’s Final Four). Fourth, San Diego-area sports fans don’t have many options available in many other metro areas. The MLB’s Padres are the only pro team in town, and the impending MLS club won’t begin play until 2025.
What about UNLV? The PAC-12 lacks a university from Nevada, and UNLV would fill that void. More exposure for UNLV, the state of Nevada, and the city of Las Vegas wouldn’t hurt, as the area has grown accustomed to winning championships lately. The Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA title in 2022, and the Vegas Golden Knights just won the 2023 NHL title. The Oakland Raiders moved to Las Vegas in 2020, and the Oakland Athletics plan to do the same. It’s clear that
Las Vegas is becoming a sports dynamo, but UNLV’s current affiliation (also the Mountain West Conference) doesn’t provide marquee opportunities afforded by a Power 5 conference.
Gonzaga would be a basketball affiliate only. Once a competitor in college football, the Zags (like many other Catholic schools) no longer compete in football; the school dropped the sport following the 1941 season. And even though the basketball program has had outstanding players and teams over the years, the school hasn’t won a national championship. One reason, analysts say, is that GU doesn’t consistently play top competition in the West Coast Conference. Shifting to the PAC-12 would give the Bulldogs a larger platform and credibility going into the NCAA Tournament, and it would also provide the conference something it needs–a legit national-level team. Adding the Zags would also spice up Northwest rivalries, especially with UDub, Washington State, and Oregon.
I am not omniscient, so I can’t say what the future holds. But I know that PAC-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff will have to act fast. At stake? It’s the PAC-12 standing as a Power 5 conference.
