Pac-12 expansion discussions begin to resurface following the Oliver Luck news

The Pac-12 may have a final chance at life

For the first time in a couple weeks following what was the a historic blunder for the conference, there seems to be signs of life coming out of Pac-12 country. 

Something that the college sports world likely would have never imagined following the news a couple weeks ago that saw Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah all leave the conference. The exodus left just four programs in Oregon State, Washington State, Cal, and Stanford.

While the latter two are pushing to join the ACC, they have come up one vote short and unless something changes will not be joining the conference. As for Oregon State and Washington State, they have been subjected to waiting and seeing as they are holding on to hope that the conference will either stay together, get a Big 12 invite, or they will be absorbed by a Mountain West conference. 

It is no secret that the Pac-12 has been misguided to extreme lengths over the past decade which is something that continued this past year and ultimately led to their downfall, but the four schools have turned to a new voice for advice. The four schools have since appeared to have turned their back to Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff, and have instead hired Oliver Luck to be a consultant for them.

Luck, who's the father of former Stanford star Andrew Luck has spent time as West Virginia athletic director, XFL commissioner, and also served as a consultant for the Big 12 following the Texas and Oklahoma move to the SEC. While there are still hopes in the Bay Area that Stanford and Cal will be picked up by the ACC, there is now a possibility that Luck can put them in a good position should they stick together. 

Following his involvement, there have been more discussions and reports indicating that the Pac-12 may get back into the expansion market. Something I broke down last week in terms of how they could attack it. The Athletic's Stewart Mandel broke down how it could work for the Pac-12, explaining they could add American programs and wait until 2025 to fill up the conference with Mountain West programs due to the fact their current buyout for the 2024 season would be $34 million. 

IF the Pac-4 stays put, expands, here’s a potential lineup (on-field/academics)

Stanford, Cal, Ore St, Wazzu, SDSU, Boise St, Fresno St, SMU, Tulane, Rice

Probably around $10M/yr. TV

Likely gets fifth CFP auto berth most yrs

No east coast travel

Wait until ‘25 for MWC teams

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) August 12, 2023

However, as I have been saying and as Mandel explained in his thread is that due to the fact that the conference doesn't have a media rights deal in place, it makes expansion pointless until they get one. Something that could prove to be difficult being that the conference was struggling to get one before they lost everyone.

But, with no TV deal in place and no exit fees, it may be more practical for Pac-4 schools to go in the other direction.

In which case, joining AAC may make more sense than MWC. Better TV deal (ESPN), some good academic schools. More travel, but much of it CT time zone.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) August 12, 2023

If it comes down to it and Stanford and Cal are unable to join the ACC and decide to not try the independent route, the American Athletic Conference is viewed as the better option due to having a media rights deal that runs through 2032. 

Expansion seems unlikely unless they add four American programs, and then add more Mountain West programs the following year but it is interesting to see that it is being viewed as an option again.