Pac-12 Conference Expansion: Which Schools Should We Expect to Join?

Check out some hypothetical odds from one sports-betting oddsmaker

Over the last few weeks, Pac-12 Conference executives have been hard at work seeking and negotiating a media rights deal, which the league expects to finalize this summer.

Some insiders believe the “Power Five” conference could strike a new agreement as soon as the end of this month, as it is widely expected the league may choose to expand its membership. After all, the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans will be members of the Big Ten conference in 2024, bringing the Pac-12 Conference to only 10 members.

These are the top universities that could be the newest members of the Pac-12 Conference, according to hypothetical odds—sportsbooks may not offer this wager, nor is any book necessarily offering these odds for bets—prepared by the veteran oddsmaker Adam Thompson of Bookies.com.

Notably, the “field” has been given odds of +1100 by Bookies.com, which implies an 8% probability that a school not listed below might join the Pac-12 Conference.

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San Diego State Aztecs

Bookies.com has +200 odds on the San Diego State Aztecs, which implies a 33% probability that they will be the Pac-12’s newest member.

Based in San Diego, the 29th largest media market in the U.S., the San Diego State Aztecs generally fare quite well in the big-money sports of college football and men's basketball.

SMU Mustangs

Bookies.com has +400 odds on the SMU Mustangs, which implies a 20% probability they will be a newcomer to the Pac-12 Conference.

Astute college sports fans might remember that Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff visited Dallas in February 2023 during the college basketball season.

Adding the recruiting riches of Texas and Dallas, the nation's fifth-largest media market, could be a winning addition.

UNLV Rebels

Bookies.com has +700 odds on the UNLV Rebels, which implies a 12.5% probability that they will join the Pac-12 Conference.

Las Vegas is already home to the Pac-12 Conference's conference championship games and tournaments, given its proximity to many league members. Adding the No. 39 media market in the U.S. would be nothing to scoff at either.

Colorado State Rams

Bookies.com has +750 odds on the Colorado State Rams, which implies about a 12% probability that the Pac-12 Conference could add the school to its ranks.

Bringing the Colorado State Rams might be a natural choice given its rivals, the Colorado Buffalos, are already Pac-12 members.

The Rams could also be a safe choice for the West Coast-based conference to maintain a foothold in the Rockies if the Buffalos decide to leave for another conference, such as the Big 12, which is also eyeing an expansion of its own.

Tulane Green Wave

Bookies.com has +800 odds on the Tulane Green Wave, which implies an 11% probability that they might match up against the Pac-12 as a new member.

The Green Wave, hot off its recent college football success in 2022, might be an interesting addition to the Pac-12 Conference. Louisiana and the South have long been fertile grounds for recruiting, and a move eastward might just be what the league needs to entice new fans and media partners.

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

Bookies.com has +950 odds on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, which implies a 9.5% probability they will be the newest members of the “Conference of Champions.”

Hawaii might be a natural next step for the West Coast-based Pac-12 Conference. The Rainbow Warriors’ fans generally travel well to games; likewise, who wouldn’t want to visit Hawaii?

Boise State Broncos

Bookies.com has +1400 odds on the Boise State Broncos, which implies a 7% probability they will leave the Mountain West Conference for the Pac-12 Conference.

Long a West Coast powerhouse, the Pac-12 Conference might be chomping on the bit to have Boise State join. They would be a known quantity, given that the Broncos have a long track record of games played (and won) against the Pac-12’s many teams.

Fresno State Bulldogs

Bookies.com has +1400 odds on the Fresno State Bulldogs, which implies a 7% probability they will enter the ranks of the Pac-12 Conference.

Fresno State might be a long-shot for the Pac-12's expansion efforts, but something must be said for the geographic proximity in Northern California and the state school's fandom.

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