Large 12 enlargement candidates: Pac-12’s ‘4 Nook’ colleges lead potential additions after Colorado’s transfer

The Large 12 simply took a long-awaited swipe on the Pac-12 because it poached Colorado away from the West Coast-based league with the Buffaloes set to settle again into their former house in 2024. Colorado will return to an iteration of the league it performed in constantly for 70 years earlier than the Pac-12 transfer. 

So now that the floodgates have opened, will the dam break? The Large 12 has been aggressive in its pursuit of the so-called “4 Corners colleges.” In the meantime, otther Pac-12 and Group of 5 applications is also thought-about because the Large 12 doubtlessly appears to be like to develop within the coming weeks. 

Large 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has not operated like conventional commissioner since he took the job nearly a 12 months in the past. Virtually from the start, he telegraphed his intention to be a nationwide convention and double down on basketball. Will the technique work? Listed below are some potential Large 12 enlargement candidates because the realignment carousel is spinning as soon as once more. 

Energy 5 choices

Arizona: If the Large 12 solely provides yet another Energy 5 faculty, the Wildcats are prime precedence. Arizona suits effectively throughout the elite basketball configuration of the Large 12 and has invested effectively on the soccer aspect of issues below third-year coach Jedd Fisch. Stepping into the American Southwest has lengthy been a goal for the Large 12, and connecting via Colorado and Provo, Utah (BYU), makes the add a no brainer. Arizona president Robert Robbins has been on the report saying that he’s snug ready for the financials tied a Pac-12 media deal earlier than making a choice. Greater than a 12 months after negotiations began, the Pac-12 has not delivered one, which finally led the Buffaloes to defect. If the quantity lastly is available in, will Arizona pull the rip twine if brass aren’t glad? 

Arizona State:  Arizona State boasts one of many largest enrollments and alumni bases within the nation however with out a lot athletic success. The Solar Devils are breaking in a brand new soccer coach and haven’t gained an NCAA Match sport since 2009. It is also unclear whether or not Arizona State is connected on the hip with Arizona. All three main public universities in Arizona — Arizona, Arizona State, Northern Arizona — are run by the identical Board of Regents a setup which has typically created battle. How wouldn’t it work if the 2 colleges sat in numerous conferences? 

Utah: There’s been little urge for food from Utah higher-ups to depart the Pac-12, particularly because the Utes have gained back-to-back convention titles and loved time within the nationwide highlight. A transfer to the Large 12 would contain sharing a convention with in-state rival BYU. There’s loads of area for each within the football-hungry Utah market, but it surely’s a aggressive issue to contemplate. After touring via the non-power leagues for therefore lengthy, Utah additionally has nice geographic and cultural overlap with the Pac-12, which is probably not true within the Large 12. What might finally stack the deck is the Pac-12 delivering a poor tv contract. At that time, all bets are off. 

Group of 5 choices

UConn: The Huskies are one of many greatest enigmas of realignment however are believed to be a prime precedence for the Large 12 if it could actually’t add one other Energy 5 program. UConn gained the latest basketball nationwide championship and brings the Large 12 right into a Northeast area the place Yormark spent most of his profession. Nevertheless, the Huskies have additionally fielded a notably horrendous soccer program lately, going 27-83 because the Large East folded. Jim Mora Jr. led this system to a 6-7 report in 2022, so there may be some hope. In the long run, the Large 12 should steadiness the worth of including a game-changing basketball property — each males’s and girls’s — however basically sacrificing a soccer slot. 

San Diego State: The Aztecs’ connection to the Pac-12 has been lengthy reported, however issues got here to a head in June when San Diego State publicly put the ball within the Pac-12’s court docket and had been awkwardly rebuffed. It nonetheless stays possible the Pac-12 finally provides the Aztecs to try to stay within the Southern California footprint, however a Pac-12 collapse might change the chances. San Diego State is not an ideal match for the Large 12, however it could lock up a spot within the Pacific Time Zone, which has been a precedence for Yormark. The soccer and basketball applications have been traditionally excellent. 

UNLV: Going to Las Vegas could be a long-term market play as sports activities leagues throughout the nation attempt to develop some roots. The Rebels play on the new Raiders-owned Allegiant Stadium in a sports activities market that might quickly add an MLB staff (Oakland A’s). UNLV has a proud basketball historical past however has did not make an NCAA Match since 2013. The soccer staff is a perpetual afterthought, and former Missouri coach Barry Odom won’t be splashy sufficient to offer the Large 12 a lot optimism. Nevertheless, Las Vegas stays one of many fastest-growing metros in the USA, so of venture needs to be on the desk. 

Memphis: Practically 10 years in the past the Tigers appeared like a no brainer in realignment. Sadly, the present state of affairs has left Memphis in an odd place even two years after getting snubbed from the Large 12. The soccer staff has put collectively a pedestrian 21-15 report within the three seasons since Mike Norvell left. The basketball staff has been extra of a sideshow than contender below Penny Hardaway. Facility funding is on the way in which, however is it too late? Yormark has traditionally downplayed curiosity in Memphis.