We’ve noted in the past that, if the Pac-10 failed in its bid pull in five more schools from the Big 12, you should probably look for the conference to make an effort to add Utah along with Colorado and get to an even 12 teams.
Now that the Big 12 has indeed survived, George Schroeder of the Eugene Register-Guard reports that very scenario is likely to happen. And, in very short order.
Per a league source, Schroeder writes that the Pac-10 could make a move on Utah of the Mountain West “in a hurry”. The Pac-10 would then, Schroeder reports, cease looking into further expansion, seemingly content with adding Colorado, Utah and, probably, a conference title game.
As for the Mountain West, losing the Utes would drop them down to nine teams even after adding Boise State late last week. Would they look to get back to ten?
They’ve played the last five years as a nine-team conference, but added the Broncos in the hopes of improving their shot at becoming an automatic BcS qualifier. Losing Utah would seem to negate the BSU gain, and it’s appears unlikely they could add a school from another conference who could bring what Utah does to the BcS table.
Houston and SMU -- don’t laugh; June Jones has that program headed in the right direction -- of the Conference USA and Nevada and Fresno State of the WAC would seem like the next-best option at this point in time.
Of course, this is all mere speculation as we await Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott to, presumably, make his next move.
