Four Other Programs That Could Emerge as Pac-12 Expansion Targets

Just when the college football world thought we had heard the last of the Pac-12, a Wednesday report by Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger revealed that the conference is still kicking.

According to Dellenger, the Pac-12 is targeting and expected to add Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State and Fresno State from the Mountain West. He also revealed that each of the four programs is expected to apply "soon" if they haven't already, and the deal could be done by the end of this week.

The four schools will have to pay a $17 million exit fee, while the Pac-12 will have to chip in an additional $10-12 million for every program they nab, thanks to the agreement they made with the Mountain West.

The Pac-12 formed a scheduling partnership with the Mountain West for the 2024 season, but talks for a second year broke down recently.

While this is certainly a step in the right direction for the 108-year-old conference, they still are in need of at least two more schools to be considered an FBS conference by the NCAA. They have until July 2026 to get to at least eight programs, and there are quite a few intriguing candidates out there.

The Pac-12 likely will be choosing from the American Athletic Conference for their remaining members, considering they chose to stop at four MWC members. Had they wanted to keep paying hefty exit fees, they could have gone after more if they felt it was worth it. Instead, there are some more intriguing programs across the country.

Here are four programs that could emerge as Pac-12 expansion targets based on what they bring to the table as the conference looks to continue to grow.

Memphis

The Memphis Tigers have already been reported as a team that could be next on the list, and have been consistently viewed as a program on the outside looking in when it comes to realignment. Football-wise, they are viewed as arguably the best Group of Five team in the country and are looking to make the College Football Playoff this season.

The Tigers have won two AAC titles in football, and are coming off their first 10-win season since 2019. They also happen to be one of the biggest basketball brands in college hoops, which is a nice bonus.

USF

Ultimately, USF's chances depend on how far the Pac-12 is willing to go for their teams. Geography has been disregarded over the past couple of years, with programs in California traveling to Miami or New Jersey depending on their new conference. However, the Bulls would likely need a couple of programs around them to join the Pac-12 to make some sense logistically.

In terms of what they bring to the table, it may be more than what people realize. They are investing in their program in a big way, as they are set to unveil a new football stadium in 2026 that holds 35,000 people. Their football program appears to be on the rise under Alex Golesh, who led them to their first season above .500 since 2018 this past year. They also happen to reside in one of the biggest television markets in the United States, which could be appealing for media conglomerates in the media rights aspect of things.

UTSA

Similar to Memphis, UTSA was automatically reported as a program that could be targeted. They have been on an absolute terror over the past few seasons, going 32-9 in their last three seasons. The Roadrunners have been trending upward under Jeff Traylor, and the athletic department as a whole has seen an uptick in financial support. A release in February revealed that they received around $57 million for facilities and "capital projects" for UTSA Athletics, showing there is a willingness to invest in the program.

Geography-wise, UTSA develops a nice Texas pipeline for the Pac-12, and would add a major market in San Antonio.

Tulane

In a report by college football insider John Canzano, Tulane was named one of the three AAC programs that could get the next look by the Pac-12. In the past two college football seasons, they went 23-5 and even beat new Big Ten member USC in the Cotton Bowl a couple of years back. The past two seasons also happen to be two of the best in program history, and even with a new coach, they still appear to be one of the top Group of Five programs.

While New Orleans isn't as promising a television market as others on this list, it does provide a unique hosting opportunity for the conference. Depending on how far East the Pac-12 is willing to go, it can even out the geography a bit and make for a good travel partner. An added bonus that would appeal to the old Pac-12 is that it is one of the better academic institutions in the country and a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU).