Conference expansion news never fails to get the people going. That held true this week as more buzz has gone around that another wave of it could come soon. The news involves a unique choice, as the Pac-12 Conference is humming around… Dallas, Texas?
Brett McMurphy of The Action Network first reported the news that the SMU Mustangs could be next in line in the conference expansion wave. To that point, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff intends to visit the SMU campus.
“Pac-12 commish George Kliavkoff visiting SMU Wednesday, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. San Diego State & SMU are top Pac-12 expansion candidates. Pac-12 needs more member & more inventory for new media rights deal, which is expected to rely heavily on digital streaming services,” McMurphy tweeted.
Pac-12 commish George Kliavkoff visiting SMU Wednesday, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. San Diego State & SMU are top Pac-12 expansion candidates. Pac-12 needs more members & more inventory for new media rights deal, which is expected to rely heavily on digital streaming services
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) February 8, 2023
SMU is an intriguing conference expansion choice for many reasons. The program obviously has plenty of history, both good and bad. There’s plenty of pride in the university and, now that NIL is a thing, there’s been more leaning on that history. Plus, it’s in the Dalla metroplex, one of the biggest cities in America.
So it makes sense in that regard that the Pac-12 may be looking at the Mustangs. Conference expansion news won’t be stopping anytime soon, especially with the conference losing two mainstays in USC and UCLA.
The CFB world reacted to the conference expansion news after it rolled through.
San Diego State is an absolute layup. Makes too much sense geographically and they've competed exceedingly well vs Pac12 teams over the past decade in football and mens hoops.
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) February 8, 2023
Here we go. Two more case studies in what good to great G5 brands can do with P5 resources. TCU made the natty in a decade. Go get em.
— the D (@DieselOnRadio) February 8, 2023
this has big “the Big East is adding TCU and Boise State” vibes, more convinced than ever that Oregon and Washington are about to be poached https://t.co/bU3bWQh6ed
— actioncookbook (@actioncookbook) February 8, 2023
So the Pac-12 turned their nose up at large state schools with huge alumni bases — Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Iowa State, etc. — but now wants SMU for a streaming-heavy deal reliant on a large volume of subscribers.
Absolutely brilliant, @Kliavkoff. https://t.co/7jGbIizvsl
— Gamblin' Gauchos 🎙️ (@GamblinGauchos) February 8, 2023
Could have had TCU and other Big 12 schools back when Texas and Oklahoma left for the SEC. PAC-12 is running their business like Blockbuster Video. https://t.co/X8LslC1Ulb
— Newy Scruggs (@newyscruggs) February 8, 2023
This just seems pathetic frankly. https://t.co/WoREgpziEG
— TwistNHook (@TwistNHook) February 8, 2023
