Following a short reprieve, the dynamics of conference realignment are once again heating up.

Late Wednesday night, it was announced that the Pac-12, which currently just includes Oregon State and Washington State, will be adding Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, and Fresno State from the Mountain West. This development was confirmed the next morning.

A merger between the remaining Pac-12 teams and the Mountain West had been anticipated, as it’s the only other FBS conference in the western time zones. However, after both conferences let their football scheduling deal expire after this season, the Pac-12 transitioned to a more aggressive strategy after facing significant losses over the preceding two years.

With the Pac-12 growing to six teams, it’s highly likely that further additions will happen, particularly since the NCAA mandates a minimum of eight members for a conference to be classified as part of the FBS. According to Yahoo Sports, the introduction of the four Mountain West teams is just the “first phase of a multi-phase expansion initiative,” indicating that this reshuffling is just beginning.

As the Pac-12 looks to strengthen its membership, here are eight schools that could be viable contenders for joining:

Candidates for Pac-12 Expansion

Memphis

The Tigers might just be the most sought-after program outside of the current Power Four conferences.

Boasting a rich basketball history, they often draw large crowds in a city passionate about the sport. The football team has achieved at least 10 wins in four of its last nine seasons and is situated in a talent-rich area. Additionally, FedEx supports the team financially, committing $25 million over five years to bolster Memphis’ Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) initiatives.

A key consideration for the Tigers might be whether the move would be advantageous. The current state of the Pac-12 is not as strong as it used to be, and the champion of this conference lacks an automatic entry into the College Football Playoff. Would it be beneficial to leave the American Athletic Conference for a league that’s arguably only slightly better?

Tulane

As a longtime rival of Memphis in various conferences, Tulane fits the criteria for many of the same reasons.

The Green Wave have seen notable football success recently, boasting a record of 23-5 over the past two seasons under coach Jon Sumrall. This would strategically add New Orleans, a major city, and a private institution with substantial alumni support to the Pac-12.

Like Memphis, Tulane must weigh the merits of joining a western conference.

UNLV

Many were surprised that UNLV was not among the Pac-12’s latest additions from the Mountain West.

With a storied basketball legacy, including a national championship, and a football team showing improvements with a 9-5 record last season and a 2-0 start this year, UNLV presents an attractive option. Although market size is less crucial in current realignments, Las Vegas ranks as a top-40 TV market, which could help the Pac-12 recoup losses from schools in Los Angeles, Seattle, and the Bay Area.

UTSA

For a conference seeking to enhance its football profile, entering the Texas market could be a strategic move. The Roadrunners stand out among non-Power Four options in Texas.

UTSA’s football program has seen rapid growth since entering the FBS in 2012, boasting a 32-9 record over the past three seasons with coach Jeff Traylor. While the university is situated in a major media market, San Antonio faces less competition for attention from professional teams than other cities like New Orleans and Las Vegas.

If the Pac-12 aims to expand into Texas, North Texas, situated about 40 miles from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, could also be a sensible choice.

New Mexico

The Lobos are the largest university in a state devoid of professional sports and are located in Albuquerque, a growing city within the top 35 in the nation.

They fit well geographically within the conference and boast a strong basketball tradition with a devoted local fan base, often ranking their attendance among the top 20 in college basketball. While their football program has not been as successful, with just two bowl games since 2008, they recently appointed Bronco Mendenhall as coach, a known winner from previous experiences at BYU and Virginia.

Air Force

Since the early 1980s, the Falcons have maintained steady success in football, with only nine losing seasons since 1982. This includes 24 seasons with at least eight wins and 10 seasons with 10 or more wins.

While they may not significantly boost the Denver media market, which is already served by Colorado State, the idea of integrating a service academy into the conference’s structure could be very appealing to the university.

Presidents are responsible for determining which guests to invite.

Utah State

Although it ranks as the third-most significant university in a relatively small state that already hosts two Power Four institutions, the Aggies boast a dedicated fan base and have found success in football, qualifying for 10 bowl games over the last 11 full seasons. In basketball, they have reached the NCAA tournament four times in the last six years and claimed the Mountain West title in the 2023-24 season.

The FCS Powerhouses

To keep things concise, this category includes North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Montana, and Montana State.

The schools in the Dakotas have collectively secured 11 of the last 13 FCS championships. Montana has celebrated two national titles since 1995 and reached the championship game last year. Additionally, Montana State made it to the title game three years ago.

While some schools have achieved significant success, others have faced challenges when moving from FCS to FBS. Despite their accomplishments, the four FCS institutions mentioned would need to overcome financial disparities compared to the four new members from the Mountain West, who allocate considerably more funds to their football programs. Among the FCS schools, Montana State, which has the highest spending, invested only about half of what Fresno State, the team with the lowest football budget among the Mountain West departures, spent, according to the latest data from the US Department of Education.

These four institutions will need to deliberate on whether a larger financial incentive would be worth the potential trade-off of losing their consistent championship contender status.