San Diego State's efforts to create new Power 5 conference with Pac-12 and AAC falls short
According to a report by CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd, San Diego State made efforts to create what they were hoping to be the newest Power 5 conference.
After leaving the Mountain West with the thought an invite from the Pac-12 would come, the Aztecs had to return to the Mountain West. The Pac-12 has since essentially collapsed after failing to agree on a media rights deal, but you can't fault San Diego State for their efforts towards the conference they weren't even in. Dodd explained that their idea consisted of getting the best schools from the Mountain West and American conferences to merge with California, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State. Something that fell apart on Monday after a meeting with all of the Mountain West presidents showing loyalty to their conference. One source explained the motivation to Dodd saying:
"Everything that is out there is from San Diego State," a Mountain West source said Monday of the breakaway attempt. "They've been wanting to be part of the Pac-12 forever. They have a hope and dream that they can take the best of us, the best of some other leagues, re-form and keep, honestly, the [College Football Playoff] designation, reap the 10s of millions of dollars in distributions and resurrect the Autonomous Five in the West."
While it's still possible that the Mountain West gets their hands on Oregon State and Washington State, Dodd explained that nothing will happen until the futures of Stanford and Cal are decided. One conference we do know that none of the four schools will end up in is the Big 12, who as of Monday are no longer interested in them or San Diego State.
As for the future of Stanford and Call, it appears that the ACC is their likely landing spot despite prior beliefs that the Big Ten would come calling. For Stanford, the independence route is also an option if they don't end up in a conference that they deem acceptable.
