Save the Pac?

It is time for something drastic if the Pac wants to remain relevant in the new CFB climate. Some like @CokeGreaterThanPepsi are suggesting UW, the LA schools and Oregon reach out to the B1G. I think this makes a lot of sense. I do, however, think there is one path to a worthwhile Pac16 that should be explored first.

It is probably unlikely to work, and would require the Pac loosening some long held standards. But it would allow the Pac to build credibility, expand TV markets, and actually restore one element of tradition.

The cornerstone of this plan is TAMU. If you can't get them on board it won't work. But they are pissed at the SEC right now, and facing a world as Texas's little brother again which is exactly why they left the Big 12. If they were ever in play now is the time to strike.

If you can get TAMU on board, you then add Oklahoma State. These are the two automatics to this plan. You then add two of these three depending on what the Pac prioritizes: Nebraska, Texas Tech, TCU.

Nebraska is also famously unhappy with their conference. This reuinites them with their Colorado rivalry and a couple other old Big 8 rivals. TCU gets you the DFW market. Obviously this would require a drastic change in what the Pac looks for in a university. But as I said, it is time for something drastic.

TAMU, OK State, Nebraska, TCU is the ideal 4 as far as TV markets and pure football relevance. If the Pac won't budge to add TCU, or TAMU demands another Texas public school in order to join, drop TCU (or Nebraska) for Tech.

Any of those foursomes gives you a Pac East and a Pac West (the old Pac 8). This restores some tradition while being aggressive in expanding your footprint. Most importantly it doesn't add any G5 schools. You are adding legitimate Power 5 level football programs.

The Arizona and Mountain schools won't love losing the LA market from their division but they get Texas as a reward, and it's far better than losing USC, UCLA completely. In the process you add Houston and Dallas (if you get TCU) as massive major TV markets, plus OK City, Tulsa, Omaha and Lincoln as smaller markets.

This works financially, adds a mix of traditional powers (Nebraska and TAMU), a power booster to compete with Oregons facilities (OSU) and a new football power with some tradition who has done remarkably well reestablishing themselves as legitimate (TCU). I would stay in the Pac for this Pac16. But only for this Pac16.

None of this crap adding Boise or BYU or UNLV or San Diego State is the least bit worthwhile.

Time for Kliavkoff to show some vision and sales ability. Go get TAMU!