Utah Must Explore All Options Now

[Uteified]

Utah needs to focus all of its efforts on reaching a stable situation. The BIG and SEC are going to become the power 2. So the only long term solution is to join the BIG 10. Easier said than done. In the short run, Utah should pursue all best options at the same time. The president and the AD need to be working overtime.

Here are the three options in my view:

– Apply to the Big 10 (longshot). Team up with a solid school in a unique media market and apply to join the BIG 10. Perhaps the teams agree to a deal similar to what Utah did to join the PAC 12 (slowly vesting rights with decreased revenues in the early years). The trick is finding a partner. Arizona may be the best option when considering revenue sports and academics. Stanford has amazing academic prestige, a link to California, and good olympic sports, but football has been down. Kansas could be interesting, but not sure we have any relationship with them. Colorado has geographic ties and a nice market, but also a down team. BYU offers the rivalry and a modest following, but the BIG doesn’t seem to want two teams in the same market. No other team in the current PAC 12 or Big 12 makes sense to me.

– Join the Big 12 (likely outcome). Let’s face it, the PAC 12 is dead with Oregon and Washington leaving now too. The Big 12 is a stopgap since it will face the same eventual fate as the PAC 12 when the BIG 10 raids it, but it would buy some time. This is probably what is going to happen.

– Talk with the ACC (also a longshot). This is a long way to travel. And would also likely require a travel partner. But it is the only other vialble conference. Eventually, the ACC and the Big 12 leftovers are going to band togehter, so might as well explore it now.

[ALUF]

Absolutely agree that these are the options. Praying for the B1G but I do think UW and Oregano get in before we do. The XII, like you said is the most likely to happen

[dystopiamembrane]

UO and UW leaving, too. Wow.

[Charlie]

It does not make sense for UCLA and USC to travel so far for Big 10 conference sports. It makes more sense, given that the two are leaving, that there is a likely Big 10 west division of some sorts. That would suggest that the Pac 12 and maybe the Big 12 will have schools fill in this division, with mostly Pac schools. You might expect the best 8 or 10 most valuable media markets. Washington and Oregon are at the top of the list for the next ones in. Cal and Stanford likely next. Az/Az St, Utah/Colo, and Baylor/TCU will then be candidates in some order. The Big 12 will take the ones left out and the best of the MWC to try to compete with the 2 super conferences but may end up a second tier with the ACC. This is likely because the ‘alliance’ never got any traction.

[ryynoo]

Let’s face it, the PAC 12 is dead with Oregon and Washington leaving now too.

Where are you seeing this? There is nothing in the Seattle Time or Oregonian except Oregon news release saying no news.

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