Pac-12 Chancellor calls for expansion and names the two best fits for the conference

The Pac-12 schools all appear to be on board

Wouldn't you know, despite the many reports and speculations that the Pac-12 was days away from a collapse the conference still stands.

On top of that, not only is the conference not extinct like some people were predicting, but for the first time since last July when USC and UCLA announced that they were leaving the conference; there seems to be a unanimous loyalty to the conference. 

The lone program that had many people worried recently was Colorado, who has been making headlines for a plethora of reasons as of late. However, what might have gotten overlooked in the midst of all of their transfer portal madness was their Chancellor, Phil DiStefano, not only pledging the school's allegiance with the Pac-12 but discussing expansion.

A subject matter that often comes in waves, and has since quieted down since three schools were confirmed to be candidates back in early March. In a recent interview with the USA TODAY, DiStefano was asked about expansion and his comments have flown way under the radar. 

Not only did he express that he wants the conference to return to having 12 schools, but he also discussed what both top candidates San Diego State and SMU bring to the table. The two programs have widely been viewed as the perfect matches from the moment the news broke of USC and UCLA leaving, and DiStefano thinks that despite the fact neither are AAU schools that they both bring value elsewhere. 

SDSU “did really well in basketball,” DiStefano said. “They have a new stadium in football, a good Southern California market. Dallas is a good area for recruiting.”

He also hinted at the fact that expansion is looming, saying it comes after the media rights deal which is something he told Brent Schrotenboer, is "getting close". 

Pac-12 and college football fans alike have long been awaiting some news as to what is going on with the conference, and the fact that multiple Colorado representatives have spoken out recently after months of radio silence could be very telling.