Interesting candidates for Pac-12 expansion

Pac-12 expansion could be around the corner

The Pac-12 expansion talks have quieted way down over the past month or so, but in a recent interview with then USA TODAY Colorado's Chancellor may have hinted that the conference could soon be adding a few teams. 

Phil DiStefano discussed the top two candidates in San Diego State and SMU saying that expansion is dependent on the looming media rights deal, which he expressed is "getting close". The media rights saga has been one that has been hanging over the Pac-12 for months thanks to the fact that the Big 12 was not able to expand, but  secure a deal before the Pac-12.

The conference has since flirted with the likes of ESPN, Apple, Amazon, CW, and ION and are expected to assemble a deal that heavily relies on streaming. DiStefano also expressed confidence that despite the rumors and naysayers, the Pac-12 is expecting to land a deal that is better than both the ACC and Big 12.

However, the most intriguing part of what he discussed was the discussion aspect, as it still remains a mystery as to what the conference will end up doing. There have been murmurs of just adding two more teams to return to 12 programs, and there have also been rumors of the conference looking at adding four programs. At the end of the day the conference has a very distinct type of program they are looking for, one that values academics and is in a prominent market. A while back Colorado State was confirmed as the third possible candidate, but we have yet to learn who the master fourth candidate is.

In a recent mailbag over at The Mercury News expansion was discussed, and another team was suggested that sparked my interest. Here are the five teams that I think would be compelling targets for the Pac-12 to consider adding, not including San Diego State and SMU as they are viewed as next in line. It also won't include  Colorado State who was already confirmed as a candidate.

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Rice

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 Rice being a candidate isn't the most sexy suggestion by any means, but if academics and media value are as important as the conference says, Rice is one of the premier academic institutions in the country. It ranks as the No. 15 university in the country behind programs like Vanderbilt and Brown, while trailing only Stanford in terms of Pac-12 academic ranking. 

Football wise is where their case fizzles, as the program hasn't finished above .500 since 2014. Market wise would be their saving grace being that they reside in Houston which ranks as the No. 8 television market in the country. It would make road trips to SMU that much more feasible for other sports, but again competition wise they are a liability. If the conference went wild and added six teams I could see Rice getting a nod. 

UTSA

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The Road Runners have an ascending football program in a very promising market in San Antonio Texas that ranks as the No. 31 market in the country. If the goal was to simply target the biggest markets, they would have a great chance. Especially when you look at the fact that Jeff Traylor has led the program to two 11 win seasons over the past couple years, and they would also be a great pairing with SMU competition wise, compared to Rice. 

Academically is where their chance likely fades, as they come in the 331-430 range according to US News, which for reference is in the Boise State range and the Broncos have often been overlooked in expansion talks. 

New Mexico

A school that I personally hadn't thought much of when it comes to candidacy, but one that Jon Wilner attempted to make a case for in his recent mailbag. The Lobos clearly have a much better case than many people realize, something that Wilner explained when answering why they don't get more consideration saying:

New Mexico works geographically, it’s an R1 research school (the highest level) and the basketball program operates at a sufficiently competitive level, although the past eight or nine years have been rough. Also, the Albuquerque media market is the 48th-largest in the country, substantially bigger than Tucson and Spokane, for instance. In all candor, the Hotline has wondered about the Lobos as an expansion candidate precisely because nobody is talking about them as an expansion candidate.

He continued saying:

 Don’t rule out any option. That includes New Mexico, although we’re fairly skeptical of the Lobos’ identity as the mystery school. The R1 status is notable, but New Mexico isn’t a member of the Association of American Universities, and it ranks 212th in the U.S. News and World Report list of national universities. Also, the football program is third-rate. The Lobos can’t match San Diego State as an institutional, competitive or financial fit. Nor do they bring SMU’s massive market and long-haul potential. (As a private school with a wealthy donor base, the Mustangs could plow huge resources into football.) In other words, New Mexico doesn’t have enough merit in any aspect to clear the expansion bar.

UNLV

While they were once previously revealed to not be a likely candidate, something about turning down all that Las Vegas has to offer doesn't sit right with me. Wilner himself said not to rule anything out, which is why I will again make a case for UNLV.  Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff worked as the President of MGM Sports and Entertainment prior to taking the job as Pac-12 Commissioner, which means he is well aware of the crowds and appeal that  the Las Vegas market can be. Las Vegas has become a sports hub with the NFL, NHL, UFC, boxing, WNBA, and an upcoming F1 race all taking place there. The Oakland A's are also slated to move there, and there are murmurs of the NBA adding a team there as well. 

The Pac-12 have also held their conference championships there, and the market ranks as the No. 40 market in the country. Football could use some improvement which would likely happen in joining the conference thanks to a broader recruiting net, but they are competitive in basketball. Like other programs on the list their case is damaged by their academic ranking of No. 285, but if the Pac-12 goes with four or even six teams they should get a nod.

Tulane

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Tulane checks the boxes academically ranking as the No. 44 university academically according to U.S. News, and on the field the program's brand is at an all-time high following the program's No. 9 finish this past season.  It would grant the Pac-12 access to New Orleans' fertile recruiting grounds and also extend the conference's net of televisions further East. If the conference does in fact add four programs, SMU and Tulane would also give the Pac-12 more interest across the country. 

They also are an AAU school which cannot be said about either San Diego State or SMU. Market wise they are home to the No. 50 market in the country. Having them allows for SMU to have somewhat of a travel partner as well. I personally think they would be the best candidate, but their distance may be too far.