The latest spin of the college football realignment wheel came to a spectacular halt on Thursday, with the Pac-12 officially pilfering four programs to keep the dreams of keeping the “Conference of Champions” alive beyond the 2026 college football campaign. To manifest that dream into reality, the Pac-12 isn’t done yet, so which teams should the conference target to bolster their ranks?
Which Programs Should The Pac-12 Target Next?
The Pac-12 still requires another two teams to be a legitimate college football conference and will likely look to get to at least 10 by the start of the 2026 campaign. Which teams could they target? Which teams should they target?
Let’s dive into some potential options that Oregon State and Washington State should look to coerce into the conference next.
The Texas State Bobcats Should Be Target Number One For the Pac-12
In my opinion, the Texas State Bobcats should be atop any list that Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gold is currently compiling. Under GJ Kinne, the team has become a blossoming Group of Five contender in the Sun Belt. They’re a team on the rise, with a passionate fanbase in San Marcos.
Adding the Bobcats would help elevate the competition level in the Pac-12. However, the benefits of a partnership extend far beyond that. Their location in San Marcos is just far west enough to make travel a non-issue, and it would give the Pac-12 a foothold in what has historically been Big 12 country.
The Pac-12 Shouldn’t Leave the UNLV Rebels Behind
At one point in the not-too-distant past, calling the UNLV Rebels a lucrative target for a conference would have seemed laughable. However, Barry Odom has the team trending in the right direction, with recruiting at a high level and the on-field product up there with any team at the Group of Five level (and beyond).
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It remains to be seen whether the Pac-12 returns to the Mountain West well, and the fact that UNLV wasn’t in the first wave of converts might be telling, but the locality and quality would certainly benefit the conference. At a time when money makes the college football world go round, UNLV’s position in the casino capital of the world only adds to its appeal.
Could the Pac-12 Prise the Liberty Flames Away From CUSA?
File this one under “pie-in-the-sky, best-case scenario for the Pac-12” thinking. 2026 will be the Liberty Flames’ fifth year as a member of CUSA. In their first year, they netted the conference title with an undefeated record that paved the way for a play in the New Year’s Six, and they should be a contender for a CFB Playoff Place every year under the same circumstances.
That said, the Flames fought to be in a conference for years, and CUSA likely wasn’t their first choice. Their lack of a solid strength of schedule has been a measuring stick to beat them with, and joining a conference like the Pac-12 would give them a platform to prove themselves. Furthermore, the CUSA TV deal that helped lure Liberty will almost be at an end in 2026.
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