San Diego State and SMU both expecting invitation to Pac-12

Despite not having been invited yet the top two expansion candidates for the Pac-12 believe an invite is coming

After recent reports indicated that both San Diego State and SMU are both expected by those around college football to be invited to join the Pac-12, there is now confirmation that the two programs are expecting an invitation as well.

According to the latest report by Pac-12 insider John Canzano, despite the fact that neither San Diego State nor SMU have received a formal invitation, the belief is that their invitation is inevitable. Something that has long been the consensus, but with San Diego State recently announcing their plans to leave the Mountain West before being invited, things became a little more murky.  Canzano explained that while they know they haven't been invited, the two programs are treating their status as if they know their invitation is in the mail.

The Pac-12 has not extended a formal offer to San Diego State, per a member of the conference’s CEO Group. Nor has the Pac-12 officially offered SMU an invitation, I’m told. However, both universities are acting like they know an invitation is coming.

One person from the SMU corner even practically guaranteed that they will be joining the Pac-12 when talking with Canzano.

“If they expand, we’re in.”

The expansion saga regardless of how interesting it is has been on hold for the past year, as the Pac-12 is still in the process of locking down a media rights deal. The rumors around who would be considered for the Pac-12 has stretched as far from San Diego State to a program like Tulane. At the end of the day everyone in and around the Pac-12 knows that they won't be able to make up for the value they lost from the departures of USC and UCLA, but adding two major markets like San Diego and Dallas is a nice consolation. Something Canzano explained in his most recent report.

San Diego adds 1.16 million TV households and keep the conference in Southern California. Dallas-Fort Worth adds 2.96 million television homes and would immediately become the Pac-12’s largest media market. Also, SMU provides regular access to playing in Texas, a recruiting bonus.

While the main goal of the Pac-12 is to survive and get a deal that adequately compensates their programs, there has also been a developing rivalry between them and the Big 12. Based off a previous report, if the Pac-12 has any chance at surpassing the Big 12's revenue for each school, they will in fact need to add San Diego State and SMU. There hasn't been an established timeline, but it is worth noting that San Diego State has an important deadline with the Mountain West that expires in June or they will owe over $30 million dollars to leave the conference compared to around $17 million.

As for SMU, they would owe the American a $10 million payment with “27 months notice” to leave the conference. While they have yet to do so, Canzano expressed that there is a belief the American will negotiate.

The end of June and beginning of July continues to be viewed as the target time period when all of this could go down, but at the same time the Pac-12 is no stranger to missing deadlines.