San Diego State and SMU continue to be make headlines in Pac-12 expansion discussions

The two schools have long been viewed as perfect fits for the Pac-12

With the NCAA Tournament nearly finished there have still been some interesting matchups that haven't taken place on the court or field, but more so in the boardrooms of the Big 12 and Pac-12.

The two conferences have been exchanging jabs recently with the Big 12 reportedly eyeing the four corner schools, while the Pac-12 has maintained that they are sticking together and nearing a deal. On the flip side, the two programs that have long been viewed as locks to join the Pac-12 in San Diego State and SMU, have only been picking up steam as of late with the Pac-12 presidents and chancellors having meetings that have consisted of a "positive update" according to Heather Dinich. 

As explained in an article by Sports Business Journal, SDSU has had “frequent contact” with the Pac-12 in recent months, and Athletic Director John David Wicker recently addressed the fact that their coaches are constantly being asked about the move and have been explaining to recruits that a "potential opportunity is coming.”

Surely San Diego State's current basketball success which has seen them make it to the Elite Eight only makes them that much more attractive to the Pac-12, who had their last team in UCLA knocked out in the Sweet Sixteen. The article also goes on to explain that Wicker has gotten positive feedback from coaches when it comes to the recruiting trail, as the interest from recruits only grows at the possibility of being in a Power 5 conference. When it comes to the SMU side of things they are also hoping that they will be receiving an invite as it goes on to say SMU is “eager to learn if the Pac-12 will invite the Mustangs to join, especially after Commissioner George Kliavkoff’s well-publicized visit in February.”

The two programs both seem to meet all of the criteria that the Pac-12 is rumored to be looking for as there has been an emphasis on academics, media market, and of course competitiveness. Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News recently dove into what SMU brings to the table saying:

"As a private school, SMU would have “unfettered ability to plow resources into the football program.” And with a “wealthy donor base that could be energized by the move into the Power Five,” the school’s potential to “generate an effective NIL collective -- an essential piece to recruiting -- would be significant.” SMU’s football program “hasn’t moved the needle since the 1980s, before receiving the death penalty from the NCAA for recruiting violations.” In the Dallas media market, the Mustangs are “far down the pecking order” but those “aren’t the only criteria for calculating value”.

 While expansion appears to be taking a back seat to the media rights deal again despite initial reports saying that there was a possibility it would help the Pac-12 in their negotiations, the trends indicate the deal will be the priority as Kliavkoff had stated prior. Regardless of when it happens, it appears that the programs of both schools are really looking forward to the possibility, and the Pac-12 has a chance to finally get themselves out from the corner that they have been backed into.