The Pac-2 is formally rising once more.
On Thursday, the surviving convention members of final 12 months’s 10-team mass exodus introduced 4 new colleges will likely be added to the convention starting in 2026-27.
Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Colorado State be a part of Washington State and Oregon State within the revamped Convention of Champions.
It’s a internet optimistic for school sports activities to maintain the Pac-12 alive — even when it comes on the possible destruction of the Mountain West Convention. The Group of 5 league gave Wazzu and Oregon State a lifeline by way of a scheduling alliance solely to look at their very own convention get raided by their company. It’s a tricky hold, however that’s the truth of school sports activities in 2024. And the Pac-12 nearly assuredly isn’t achieved but.
Good morning! It is a gorgeous new day 😎#BackThePac pic.twitter.com/jfIU1Gk22u
— Pac-12 Convention (@pac12) September 12, 2024
The convention nonetheless wants at the very least two extra colleges to fulfill the minimal eight required for league membership below NCAA guidelines for the Soccer Bowl Subdivision.
So who ought to the Pac-12 add subsequent? Within the faculty soccer spirit of holding this convention as bizarre as attainable, we’ve bought some concepts that will make the league endlessly entertaining.
College of Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports activities
Let’s begin with the layup of all layups.
There’s nothing faculty soccer followers need again greater than Pac-12 After Darkish. The ultimate FBS video games of the week all the time ship the weirdest and wildest outcomes and there’s nothing just like the camaraderie of posting by it collectively as the remainder of the world goes to mattress.
Deliver Hawaii into the fold, promise followers it should kickoff no sooner than 10 p.m. ET every week and benefit from the rankings surge for the brand new America’s Workforce.
College of Wyoming Cowboys
Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports activities
Talking of bizarre late-night video games, there’s actually no motive the Pac-12 shouldn’t invite Wyoming (apart from the extremely small TV market).
The altitude in Laramie is 7,165 ft — practically 2,000 ft increased than Boulder, Colorado. That does large issues to the soccer when it’s within the air, to say nothing of what it does to visiting gamers.
Let’s take a look at among the large wins the Cowboys have pulled off at house within the final decade: No. 24 Fresno State (24-19), Texas Tech, Mizzou and No. 13 Boise State.
Get this staff within the Pac-12.
UNLV Rebels
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY
UNLV isn’t a foul staff by any stretch — and there’s definitely a rising TV market out within the Nevada desert — however we will be sincere about this. Las Vegas is likely one of the weirdest cities on the planet. Each league needs a foothold for a significant occasion alongside The Strip. The Pac-12 shouldn’t assume twice about this. It’s an ideal match.
Simon Fraser Purple Leafs
Inform me with an actually straight face that you just don’t need the one Canadian faculty within the NCAA to affix the Pac-12. You possibly can’t do it.
Look, Simon Fraser may need a methods to go earlier than it’s FBS prepared, particularly for the reason that former D-II Lone Star Convention staff gave up the game in 2022. Certain, a 186–321–2 all-time file isn’t nice. However to that I say first, it’s nothing just a little TV/NIL cash can’t repair. And second, Maple Leafs on soccer helmets!
Suppose exterior the field, Pac-12. Go north and stake a declare to the Vancouver tv market. Go get the Purple Leafs.
Pomona–Pitzer Sagehens
LOOK AT THAT MASCOT.
Earlier than I let you know the rest about this faculty, simply take all of it in.
Okay, now, can I curiosity you in a program that’s truly a three way partnership by two colleges: Pomona Faculty and Pitzer Faculty? Sure, the Sagehens are presently D-III. We’ll fear about that later. Their program clearly is aware of the way to produce winners.
Gregg Popovich coached the basketball staff from 1979-86 and received three straight SCIAC titles. Mike Budenholzer additionally got here by Pomona Faculty.
However this all goes again to the Sagehens mascot, Cecil. He’s bought one eye on the sector of play, and one eye on the enemies throughout. He by no means sleeps. You’ll by no means catch him off-guard. Stealing from him is a demise sentence.
He’s the brand new face of the brand new Pac-12. Embrace it.
