## Pac-12 Exploring Expansion With Four Mountain West Schools The Pac-12 Conference is reportedly targeting four schools from the Mountain West Conference in an effort to rebuild its league following the departures of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten. According to a report from ESPN's Pete Thamel, the Pac-12 is considering adding San Diego State, Fresno State, Boise State, and Nevada to its ranks. All four schools are located in the Western United States, which would help the Pac-12 maintain its geographic footprint. The Pac-12 has been looking to expand since USC and UCLA announced their departures in June. The conference has already added BYU and expects to add Houston and Cincinnati in the coming years. The addition of San Diego State, Fresno State, Boise State, and Nevada would give the Pac-12 a total of 12 schools. The conference is hoping to add more schools in the coming years to reach its desired size of 14 to 16 teams. ### Why the Pac-12 Is Targeting Mountain West Schools The Pac-12 is targeting Mountain West schools for several reasons. First, the Mountain West is a relatively strong conference, with several schools that have been ranked in the Top 25 in recent years. Second, the Mountain West schools are located in the Western United States, which would help the Pac-12 maintain its geographic footprint. Third, the Mountain West schools have large and passionate fan bases, which would help the Pac-12 increase its television revenue. ### The Impact of Pac-12 Expansion on the Mountain West The Pac-12's expansion would have a significant impact on the Mountain West. The Mountain West would lose four of its most prestigious schools, which would weaken the conference's overall strength. The Mountain West would also lose out on a significant amount of television revenue, which would make it more difficult to attract and retain top talent. ### The Future of the Pac-12 and Mountain West The Pac-12's expansion is a sign of the changing landscape of college athletics. The Power Five conferences are becoming increasingly dominant, and the Group of Five conferences are struggling to keep pace. The Pac-12's expansion will only further widen the gap between the Power Five and Group of Five conferences. It remains to be seen how the Pac-12's expansion will impact the Mountain West. The Mountain West could become a more regional conference, or it could merge with another conference to create a new Power Five conference. Regardless of what happens, the Mountain West will need to find a way to adapt to the changing landscape of college athletics.
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