College football expansion: 2 more Pac-12 schools apply to join Big 12

The offseason has proved to be another dramatic episode in the college football conference realignment project and now two more members of the failing Pac-12 appear to be looking for a way out as Arizona State and Utah have formally applied for membership in the Big 12, according to media reports.

That news follows an already hectic turn of events that saw the Big Ten vote unanimously to add Oregon and Washington, and amid reputed plans by Arizona to leave in favor of the Big 12 Conference.

Big 12 members have already voted to accept Arizona as a member, though a decision by the Board of Regents is yet to be cast, and it is believed that traditional rival Arizona State would likely join it, in addition to Utah, both of which have been connected to the league for several weeks now as the Big 12 has scouted the so-called "Four Corners" schools.

Should these plans all come to fruition, the Pac-12 would suffer a serious decline in terms of national standing with only four remaining teams and no practical options for any larger brand names to add to its roster that would result in a favorable media contract. Several prominent analysts, including ESPN's Paul Finebaum, have already predicted that the Pac-12 may cease to exist in the near future.

The lack of such a deal has inspired the tidal wave of exits from the Pac-12 already, starting with the stunning announcement that USC and UCLA would leave for the Big Ten, followed by the decision by Colorado to depart for the Big 12, and finally the news that Oregon and Washington would also join the Big Ten.

And apparently, more to follow.

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