Analyst on ‘most practical’ Pac-12 after CU causes mass exodus

Following the Big 12 jump from Colorado football, the rest of the ‘Four Corner’ schools, including Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah, followed suit and left the Pac-12 on life support with the help of Oregon and Washington’s Big Ten jumps.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the most practical step for the conference after being poached down to just four schools (Wazzu, Oregon State, Stanford, and Cal) would be to merge with the Mountain West — even if the cost for each school to leave the conference in time is astronomical.

“Presidents & ADs from the remaining four Pac-12 schools have held multiple meetings today to discuss next steps,” Dellenger prefaced before saying, “Options are limited, but one of the most practical is a merger or partnership with the Mountain West, which the MWC is receptive to, sources tell Yahoo Sports. Re-forming the Pac-12 with acquisitions is a long shot. The most likely candidates are from the Mountain West, where the exit fee to leave in time for 2024 is $34 million… per school.”

Big 12 could look to add UConn to Big 12 to get to an even number after Colorado football coach

CBS Sports’ David Cobb raised the possibility of Utah, Arizona, and Arizona State all being blocked from joining the Big 12. In that case, the backup option would reportedly be current college football independent UConn.

“Should the Big 12 be unable to acquire Arizona (its primary target), Arizona State and/or Utah, the conference may turn its focus to UConn as a top Group of Five option due to its stellar basketball program, sources previously told CBS Sports,” Cobb wrote.

UConn is admittedly not the most exciting option from a football perspective, but its reigning national championship basketball program is one of the 21st century’s top programs in college hoops. The odds of Utah, Arizona, and ASU being denied aren’t very high, though.