College football news: Pac-12 eyes 2 schools for expansion, per report
College football expansion and realignment could be happening again and this time it's the Pac-12 that could be making a move.
Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff is taking a visit to SMU this week as part of that potential process, according to college football insider Brett McMurphy.
What schools are in consideration? SMU and San Diego State have emerged as two potential candidates for the Pac-12 to include in the near future, according to the report.
League needs to make a statement: Pac-12 officials appear to be of the opinion that the conference needs to take serious action after the shocking announcement of high-profile programs USC and UCLA to leave the league and join the Big Ten ahead of 2024.
Observers believe that the conference wants to add new members in order to acquire a new media rights contract, which is expected to rely more on streaming services in addition to traditional broadcasting.
SMU has been a member of the American Athletic Conference since the 2012 season and San Diego State has been in the Mountain West since 2000.
Media exposure: By adding SMU, the Pac-12 would get an important foothold in a major media market based out of the Metroplex in Dallas-Fort Worth and expand the league's presence into the football-obsessed state of Texas.
The Pac-12 lost a major footprint in the Los Angeles market, the second largest in the nation, after USC and UCLA revealed their intent to join the Big Ten.
Kliavkoff has stated that the conference's forthcoming media rights contract is his top priority going forward, but it appears he wants to bulk up the league's holdings before that happens.
(McMurphy)
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