Cataholic wrote: ↑Wed May 31, 2023 9:30 pm
If the PAC 12 was to lose Oregon, UW, Arizona, ASU, Colorado and Utah, they will most likely try to survive by getting MWC teams: Colorado State, San Diego State, Boise State and maybe Fresno or UNLV. That leaves a need for teams in the MWC. Who else could join the MWC? MSU and UM would clearly be the most logical teams to consider. Who else would the MWC even consider?
If those PAC 12 defections happen and the conference folds, then you have 4 teams looking for a new conference. The MWC already has 12 teams. Do they try go to 16 teams because those teams would clearly add value to the MWC? I can’t imagine those 4 teams joining a different conference.
I think if the PAC lost 6 schools and chose to backfill rather then break apart you could potentially see the following:
-PAC adds SDSU, Fresno State, UNLV, Boise State, Colorado State and Hawaii to get back to 10. Could go for more if they add $$ but for now will stick at 10.
-The remaining 6 MWC members would backfill first with UTEP and NMSU. After that I think both MSU and UM would be added to get back to 10, if they wanted to expand to 12 I'd go for 1 more California team (Sac State) and then maybe go for Idaho to open a new market/state (and they have boosters still wanting back into FBS). Wouldn't be a terrible looking Conference:
SJSU, Sac State, Idaho, MSU, Montana, Nevada, Utah State, Wyoming, Air Force, New Mexico, NMSU, UTEP
STATES: (CA, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY, CO, NM, TX)
Also completely disagree with moving up by ourselves, it WILL kill the rivalry and to me that's unacceptable. As mentioned it wasn't to long ago the roles were reversed between UM and MSU. Also some short memories here, when the WAC came calling back in the day Montana refused because they only wanted them and not us. We're a package deal, as we should be.