3 Teams that can join the Pac-12 after additions of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State

The Pac-12 is back. As the clock approached midnight on September 11, Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger announced that the conference, operated by Oregon State and Wazzu, was adding Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State. The schools were officially introduced on September 12.

This has been in the works for a while. The "Pac-2" of Oregon State and Wazzu had until 2026 to make moves to keep the Pac-12 alive.

They made their move well ahead of schedule.

These additions are exciting but there are still a few pieces missing.

Specifically, the Pac-12 needs eight teams to be considered an FBS conference. So which teams could be next to make the jump?

UNLV

While not a football power by any stretch, UNLV is still the premier brand in the state of Nevada; a state with a top high school powerhouse (Bishop Gorman) and home of one of the most important sports cities in the country, Las Vegas.

The Rebels are a sleeping giant and can be awakened by a jump to the Pac-12. Barry Odom has the program moving in the right direction and the school's location in Sin City should be a way bigger draw to recruits than it is.

Nevada

Apply much of the same sentiment from UNLV to Nevada, just without the pull of Las Vegas -- though the Wolf Pack's proximity to Lake Tahoe could be the great equalizer between the two Silver State schools.

Nevada has been a much more successful program in recent years, so Nevada is a more deserving program to get the bump. Current Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell was a major reason for their rise.

New Mexico

This one was tough. San Jose State probably makes more sense to join Fresno State and San Diego State in the Pac-12, but if the Spartans were going to get that invite, it feels like they would've already gotten it.

New Mexico is a good culture fit with the markets joining the Pac-12 and the Mountain West can simply replace the Lobos with New Mexico State.