The idea that the Pac-12 is essentially nonexistent is still hard to grasp. For over 100 years, the PAC 10/12 has been a staple of College Football. However, with USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington going to the Big 10 and Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, and Colorado set to join the Big 12 in less than a week, the conference is watching its rich history and tradition disappear.
But could it come back?
According to a report by Athlon Sports Kevin Borba, it could still survive, to some extent, and I’ll go as far as to say it could give them their seat back at the P5 table while eliminating the G5 from the FBS division.
Oregon State and Washington State Have Three Options
Borba reports that Oregon State and Washington State are running out of time to decide what they are going to do. He reports the following:
“There is just one proactive action that can be taken by the conference, which getting to eight programs by the time their grace period ends in 2026. The other options include hoping the Big 12 wants to expand again, a reverse merger with the Mountain West, and also hoping to see if a program like UCLA or Cal doesn’t love their new arrangement and is willing to return somewhere down the line.”
The most likely scenario seems to be the reverse merger with the Mountain West, but let’s explore the first option and what it could ultimately mean for the future of the Pac-12 and college football.
The G5 is Already Being Super Dilluted
For years, the division between the P5 and G5 conferences was wide; however, it was still on a somewhat equal playing field. Teams like UCF, Cincinnati, Houston, Boise State, and BYU built up great programs and were respected nationally for years. However, most of the respected teams have been promoted to the P5. There are very few teams left who garner any respect.
At the same time, the G5 conferences have been allowing FCS schools to rise and join their ranks. This isn’t a shot at programs like Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State, and Sam Houston State. Still, replacing Cincinnati and UCF essentially with Sam Houston State and James Madison hurts the overall image of the G5.
It’s almost embarrassing and hard to say with a straight face that teams in the CUSA and MAC conferences are playing for the same championship as the Big 10 and SEC.
But could the Pac-12 change that?
Pac-12 Expansion Could End G5 Completely
As I said, a few teams in the G5 still warrant respect, and if they were promoted to the P5, it would be considered legitimate. Borba suggests that Oregon State and Washington State stay local, taking teams primarily from the current Mountain West, but if they want to kill the G5, they should go after the following 14 teams to equal the number of teams the Big 12 and SEC have.
- San Diego State
- Boise State
- Memphis
- UTSA
- UNLV
- Liberty
- Colorado State
- Tulane
- App State
- Military Academies (Air Force, Navy, Army)
- Coastal Carolina
- Fresno State
- (If going to 18) South Florida and Utah State
By doing this, essentially, the best brands and markets from the G5 would join Oregon State and Washington State, still considered P5, and create a conference that would put them in an awkward spot between the other Power Conferences and the G5. But the awkward spot wouldn’t last long.
The G5 wouldn’t be able to survive this loss, and it would make things much easier for the rest of college football. The new Pac-12 would stand alone, and the other Power Conferences would likely accept them as a Power Conference. This would be easiest because they wouldn’t have to pretend to care about the G5 conferences.
There would be five Power Conferences, each with 16-20 teams, and only those teams would play for the National Championship. Maybe at that point, they could all get together and re-make divisions and conferences that make sense geographically.
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