Is Utah Already in the PAC-10?

First, sorry it has been so long since my last post, I have been crazy busy and it's not football season. But I will try to post more often. Anyway, on to the topic.

So this past week or so has been crazy on the internet regarding possible PAC-10 expansion. The PAC-10 commissioner said that they are beginning to look into the possibility of expansion and that if they were to do it, now would be the right time considering their current TV deal is expiring.

The rampant speculation is that the most likely candidates are Utah and Colorado, though undoubtedly the PAC-10 really wants Texas, but that ain't happenin'. Anyway, if the invite came for Utah they would almost definitely accept. However, we are not sure about Colorado. Though I think they would do it. They fit better in the PAC-10 than they do the Big-12. I certainly think that CU is the deal breaker. If they don't accept, they don't invite Utah.

There has been some talk about BYU going to the PAC-10. While I think they should and it would be awesome to have Utah and BYU in the PAC-10. I don't think there is any chance BYU gets a fair shake from the PAC-10. Not a chance that the liberal bastions of Cal and Stanford will accept conservative and anti-prop 8 BYU in their conference. The PAC-10 will try and say the Sunday rule was the reason but that is BS.

Anyway, back to Utah. There is a ton of speculation on going about this potential opportunity and where there is smoke there is fire. There is even RUMINT that Utah has already received the invite and signed the paperwork, but that it won't be announced for another 6-8 weeks. This according to random rumor on Utefans.net. Admittedly, I put little to no stock in the rumor, but it is interesting none the less.

What is certain is that the PAC-10 can't sit by and do nothing. I almost guarantee the Big-10 will go to 12 if not 14 teams. The Big-12 will have to fill those gaps and may also go to 14 if the Big-10 does. This would leave the PAC-10 in a severe monetary and national perception disadvantage.

All of this expansion talk is getting a head of steam and it could completely change the entire atmosphere of College Football. With all the talk of both the Big-10 and Pac-10 targeting the Big-12, we can be sure that the Big-12 will not stand by and do nothing. There is even talk of a super conference of Western Powers so to speak. Though this is also purely rumor. As all this talk has gotten bigger and bigger, I think we may end up with a Pac-12 with Utah and Colorado, a Big-12 with 14 teams, and a Big-10 with 14 teams. I also think Arkansas may be one of those teams in the new Big-12 which would force the SEC to find a replacement as well.

What this all adds up to, even if each conference only ends up with 12 teams, is a great chance that in the end both Utah and BYU win. Utah in the Pac-12 and BYU in the Big-12. Though I think the former is far more likely. Nevertheless, BYU is likely to be the Big-12's 2nd pick among realistic options (unrealistic being their possible targeting of USC) just behind Arkansas. I certainly think that BYU (and probably Colorado State and New Mexico) would be ahead of TCU just purely due to location.

Personally, I am torn about how I feel about Utah leaving the MWC. I think if they stuck with the conference and it became a BCS conference, they could be a perennial National Championship contender because they would be among the class of the conference. In the PAC-10 I worry that they would fall to the middle. On the other hand, the PAC-10 is a BCS conference now, they have much more enticing teams to play, and it would strengthen recruiting. I also am very concerned about how it would affect the rivalry with BYU. That better never end (and there are some idiotic Ute fans who couldn't care less if we stop playing BYU).