After decades of hoping, wishing, waiting, and then expecting to be a member of the prestigious Pac-12 Conference, San Diego State is officially in as of July 1st this year.
San Diego State has always viewed themselves as the perfect addition to the conference of champions both geographically and competitively. Although it’s not exactly the same conference us Aztecs fans remember eyeing with envy for so long, it’s still a very special change, during a very special time in SDSU athletics.
Over the last several years the nation has seen head coaches Brady Hoke & Rocky Long put together the Aztecs most consistent football success since the Don Coryell/Claude Gilbert era’s of the 60’s & 70’s.
In basketball Steve Fisher’s rebuilding of the program ushered in Brian Dutcher’s elevation of it to national title contenders. The San Diego region is now thriving in the sport to unimaginable heights. Aztec Nation and SDSU supporters know very well how far they have come.
To the outsiders making this move to the new Pac-12 at this point in time brings mixed reactions, assumptions and perceptions. So here are a few important storylines that we feel every one should know about the new Pac-12 and how SDSU should see about joining the new revamped league.
1. Not a group of five—But in a league of their own
Okay let’s be honest.
SEC/B1G are clearly the National championship contenders every year with the largest TV revenue. Their fanbases are massive across the country and they dictate which way the college sports culture moves.
The ACC/Big12 are next up with established power teams that hold some ridiculous budgets.
But once you get passed them (insert optimism), you have the Pac-12 and the Pac-12 all alone.
Positioned as the strongest conference outside the Power Four, it’s not even a debate if the Mountain West, Sun Belt, American, or MAC is the Pac-12’s dancing partner. They’re turning up Billy Idol and truly ‘dancing with themselves’.
The Pac-12 right now is competing above these leagues for television exposure, recruiting and CFP access. The numbers prove it and we’ll get into more supporting facts as you read on.
2. Football first—But hoops may be the Pac-12’s biggest national strength
The New Pac-12’s re-imaging of itself is a football first motivation. But don’t overlook all the olympic sports as well. Above all those is basketball and the PAC really has a chance to be a major player nationally.
The five San Diego State, Utah State, Boise State, Colorado State and Fresno State added real quality to both Washington State and Oregon State, who admittedly need the boost. But once Gonzaga joined in the party, it was like pouring gasoline on the fire of new excitement for the league.
Compared to leagues outside the Power Four, there may not be another conference with this much combined NCAA Tournament pedigree. Multiple NCAA Tournament bids every season should become the expectation.
3. Football depth is dramatically better than people realize
Okay back to football.
While Fresno State and Texas State will struggle in the beginning to find relevance on the hardwood court, in football they push the depth of quality in the PAC very much.
The conference brings together teams with many recent conference championships, New Years Six, or major bowl appearances in their history.
Take a look at these teams. Now try to put them in order of finish:
Boise State
Washington State
Oregon State
San Diego State
Fresno State
Texas State
Whatever your projections are, the gap between first and sixth place may be among the smallest in the country. That creates one of college football’s most competitive races every season.
4. The conference footprint is far more logical than many leagues
The B1G Ten stretches from the metropolitans of Los Angeles to New Jersey.
ACC rolls from the hills of California to the beaches in Florida.
The Big 12 from the deserts of Arizona to the mountains of West Virginia.
Yes, it’s interesting to have all that convergence of teams and cultures, but it can be a bit of a grind on everything else surrounding the teams. Travel, costs, student responsibilities, fans feeling disconnected with odd rivals—these are all things that can take a toll for the worse.
The Pac-12 is largely concentrated across the western United States with one eastern outlier in the Texas State Bobcats. San Marcos, Texas is largely regarded as one of the top college towns in America, so the likemindedness with the others shouldn’t be a problem.
That helps reduce travel costs while maintaining regional rivalries.
5. The financial gap still matters (Unfortunately)
This may be the most important long-term storyline.
Even with an improved media rights package, Pac-12 schools will still receive substantially less annual television revenue than members of the SEC and Big Ten. Estimates for media-rights distributions have been the topic of conversation around the nation. But not for PAC-12 President Theresa Gould.
On the John Canzano podcast last week she stylishly side-stepped the question on the media right dollars. However and to her and the conferences credit, she offered the explanation on the league’s ability to produce and profit off of creating their own 4th tier rights broadcasts among the olympic sports, etc.
The PAC-12 enterprises gives them the ability create a ton of content that they won’t have to share with any other entity.
Nevertheless, it’s locked up just exactly how much the league will get in revenue distributions for each team. Gould will not put it out there.
“All money is green, all money will be spent. I think it’s incredibly inappropriate to release numbers of agreements with media companies partners that are very complex. They’re not simple agreements.”
Gould is choosing to focus on the end of the year numbers.
No matter what approach the league feels is proper or wise, it’s all an uphill battle when stacked up against the power conferences and all negotiation room when keeping ahead of the rest of the college sports leagues looking up.
This may matter to you as the fan, or it may not. You may not give a hoot as it’s not your money that’s being spent at the end of the day or you may take it as a personal matter where you do see it as your finances being put to work.
The PAC has their work cut out for them as a league on and off the playing fields and courts. We are just happy it’s now almost time to begin that work. Let the games begin!
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