The next step in conference realignment begins with the Stanford Cardinal and the Cal Golden Bears.
While four Pac-12 schools are currently figuring out their future, the belief around the country is that the Cardinal and Golden Bears will determine what happens next. They’ve made a push to join the ACC, but there are not enough votes at the moment.
Stanford, Cal, the Oregon State Beavers and the Washington State Cougars aren’t without options. They won’t be left in the wilderness. But the options on the table are not ideal when a school is coming from what was a Power 5 conference with a century of history.
So what are the options for the Pac-4? Here are the possibilities that have been discussed, according to people familiar with the scenarios who were granted anonymity to speak about the discussions.
Recreating a Pac conference
Administrators around the country remain baffled that the Pac-12 chose not to expand before its media deal. Had it added San Diego State and SMU in the spring, perhaps it would have six members right now and could continue on. But now, it’s hard to see the Pac-12 surviving in any form. The idea of the remaining Pac-4 schools backfilling as the Big East once did to keep the conference alive in a new form — rather than collapse like the Southwest…
