Expansion of the Pac-12 Conference: San Diego State and Fresno State take the lead.
The kickoff of the 2022 college football season is right around the corner, signaling the start of Arizona’s second season of sports betting.
With the season drawing near, the primary focus shifts from the field to the boardroom as the Pac-12 Conference looks to chart its course for the future.
The sudden news of USC and UCLA leaving the conference to join the Big Ten on July 1 greatly influenced the decision.
Since the announcement a month ago, there has been widespread debate about whether the Conference of Champions will come together or disintegrate.
Yengols.com utilizes a range of criteria such as facilities, football and men’s basketball performance, and television market size to assess the likelihood of certain schools receiving an offer from the Pac-12 in the coming years.
Below are universities that have a high probability of joining Arizona and Arizona State in the Pac-12 conference.
While you can’t wager on potential conference expansions, yengols.com offers suggestions for Arizona sports betting apps for the upcoming season.
Pac-12 Expansion Odds
San Diego State leads in our selection of potential Pac-12 candidates.
Based on our research, San Diego State and Fresno State, both part of the California State University system, are top contenders to potentially join the Pac-12 conference.
The Aztecs now have a competitive edge over their Mountain West Conference opponents, thanks to their new Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley. The stadium will make its debut when SDSU takes on Arizona at 12:30 p.m. on September 3rd.
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San Diego State has one of the most successful football programs on the West Coast, achieving 89 victories since 2012.
Over the last decade, the Aztecs have secured a winning record of 7 victories and 6 losses against current Pac-12 teams, positioning them with a winning percentage above .500.
In 2021, SDSU claimed victories over Arizona and Utah, while also defeating Arizona State in 2017 and 2018, California in 2016, Stanford in 2017, and UCLA in 2019.
Adding SDSU to the Pac-12 would give the conference a foothold in the fiercely competitive Southern California market, which is home to more than 6.5 million households.
It is important to consider that a substantial amount of the conference’s talent comes from Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.
SDSU has become one of the top men’s basketball programs in the West, with 247 wins and six NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament appearances since 2012, following a successful run.
NBA standouts such as Kawhi Leonard and Jalen McDaniels have risen to prominence after playing for the Aztecs.
Do not underestimate the Bulldogs.
Fresno State, located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, is another strong contender from the CSU system.
In the past decade, the Bulldogs have seen significant success with four 10-win seasons in football led by coaches Tim DeRuyter, Jeff Tedford, and Kalen DeBoer, as well as a total of 182 wins in basketball under Rodney Terry and Justin Hutson.
In the last ten years, the Bulldogs have seen 11 of their players drafted into the NFL, with notable picks such as current Las Vegas starting quarterback Derek Carr and 2019 first-round selection KeeSean Johnson.
Over the past decade, Fresno State has had a 4-8 record in games against teams from the Pac-12 conference.
The Fresno area is generally included in the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto TV market, which is ranked 20th in the nation, surpassing San Diego, which is ranked 28th.
Paul George is a graduate of the school’s men’s basketball program.
The University of California system’s longstanding chilly relationship with in-state universities such as SDSU and Fresno State may present a significant challenge for them.
This hurdle may not be as daunting at the moment, as the Pac-12 seems to be making concerted efforts to build a formidable conference in anticipation of their TV media rights negotiation.
Potential Options for Pac-12 Expansion
After considering San Diego State and Fresno State, George Kliavkoff and his team are left with limited options, as only a handful of state schools and smaller religious colleges are available.
Colorado State is at the top of the list, with a brand new football stadium (Canvas Stadium, opened in 2017), a large TV market (Denver, ranked 17th in the nation), and recent success in football and men’s basketball.
Additionally, Southern Methodist and Oklahoma State, both located in the Central Time Zone, are also listed.
Including SMU in the Pac-12 could provide access to recruiting in Texas, but it may conflict with the conference’s longstanding dedication to secular institutions.
Oklahoma State is the top choice among public universities in the Big 12, with five 10-win seasons and 10 bowl appearances since 2012. Despite competing for the Big 12 title last year, they are ranked third in Big 12 Championship futures at BetMGM Sportsbook Arizona with odds of +550, behind only Oklahoma and Texas who are leaving for the SEC.
Breaking Down the Contenders
San Diego State
- The recently built football stadium, known as Snapdragon Stadium.
- The team has experienced a recent surge in success on the football field, earning 89 wins since 2012 and accomplishing five seasons with 10 or more wins.
- Since 2012, Pac-12 schools have a record of 7 wins and 6 losses.
- The media market is the 28th largest, consisting of 1.065 million households.
- Since 2012, the men’s basketball team has had 247 wins and made six appearances in the NCAA Tournament, achieving great success.
Fresno State
- Having achieved a total of 69 victories since 2012, our football team has consistently excelled on the field, with four seasons boasting double-digit wins.
- A football stadium was built in the year 1980.
- Since 2012, Pac-12 schools have a record of 4 wins and 8 losses.
- The media market of Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto ranks as the 20th largest in the country.
- The basketball team has achieved 182 wins since 2012 and made one appearance in the NCAA Tournament, showcasing their success on the court.
Colorado State
- Limited success in football with just 54 wins since 2012 and only one bowl victory.
- Canvas Stadium, the newly built football stadium, was finished in 2017.
- Since 2012, Pac-12 schools have won only 3 out of 10 games against their opponents.
- 17th largest TV market
- Accomplishing significant success in basketball by achieving six seasons with 20 wins or more and making three appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
SMU
- 57 wins and only one 10-win season since 2012.
- Ford Stadium was built in 2000.
- No games have been played against Pac-12 schools since 2012.
- Dallas-Fort Worth ranks as the fifth largest media market.
- The men’s basketball team has achieved 210 wins and five 20-win seasons since 2012.
Oklahoma State
- Over the last ten years, there have been a combined total of ninety wins, with five seasons boasting at least ten wins each, and seven victorious bowl game appearances.
- Opened in 2009, the football stadium was dedicated to alumnus and major donor Boone Pickens.
- Since 2012, Pac-12 schools have won 3 out of 4 games.
- 41st largest media market
- In the past nine years, there have been five men’s basketball seasons where the team achieved 20 wins and earned a spot in the NCAA tournament.
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Author
Peterson Christopher, with over seven years of experience covering sports and sports betting in Arizona for ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News, now holds the position of lead writer at yengols.com.
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