With the future of the Pac-12 in question, the conference is expected to sooner or later add San Diego State to the conference according to Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated.
In his recent article, “‘The Next Wave Is Coming’: Expansion, Realignment and What’s at Stake for Power 5 Conferences“; Dellenger said “The Pac-12 plans to expand by adding San Diego State and maybe SMU coinciding with its completion of a new TV deal.”
Dellenger also mentions that there is a deadline, however, associated with San Diego State. If San Diego State were to announce its departure from the Mountain West Conference by July 1, it would only have to pay an exit fee of approximately $17 million. However, that exit fee would triple following July 1 if the Aztecs were to leave the conference to start Pac-12 play in 2024.
The Pac-12, of course, is in the middle of negotiating their next television deal. That deal is expected to be made official at some point this summer but the target date for the deal to be completed has been pushed back several times already. The conference, now under commissioner George Kliavkoff is in the tough situation of having to reposition the conference going forward after losing UCLA and USC to the Big Ten. The Big 10 has also long been reported to be after Oregon and Washington as well, potentially leaving the Pac-12 in an even more precarious situation.
Eyes will be closely pinned on the Pac-12 over the next several weeks, however. As a television deal is finalized, the future of the Pac-12’s current members and any future members will likely have to be decided.