<p>Isn't this an interesting outcome, considering all the talk about U of Texas?</p>
<p>To me, it demonstrates the cultural and political differences between the regions. During the U Texas speculation, the Texas legislature grumbled that it would stick its nose in this conference expansion business if Texas A&M and Baylor were not coupled in a Pac 10 expansion deal. I remember when the ACC wanted to expand, the Virginia state legislature pressured U of Virginia to vote 'yes' only if Virginia Tech was part of the deal.</p>
<p>WHEREAS...</p>
<p>in Utah, no one seemed to care at all that U of Utah's chief rival, Utah State, was unwanted. In the far west, politicians don't care much about college sports. If the Pac 10 voted to drop Washington State University [God forbid],' the distinguished gentlement and women in Olympia wouldn't awake from their usual dozing.</p>
<p>I think Utah is a good fit for the PAChowevermanyschoolsthey’llhave. I’d much prefer this over schools like UT, OU, etc…I mean, schools that are closer to the Gulf of Mexico than the border of California (or even New Mexico in some cases) should never be in the PACIFIC 10.</p>
<p>Since USU and U of U are in different conferences already, it probably would not have made any sense to push for a package deal. Besides, the big instate football rivalry is U of U v. BYU. Now all three of the big DI football programs in the state will be in different conferences, so any “Civil War” games will be non-conference, which reduces the stakes a goodly amount.</p>
<p>Don’t think it’s been formally announced the Utes have an invite…yet.</p>
<p>Larry Scott might be contemplating additional shock and awe by inviting BYU and Colorado State to the Pac-10 as well…<em>no source for this, just speculation on my part</em></p>
<p>^^Correct. BYU is Utah’s big rival, not Utah State. BYU and Utah are in the same conference and have hated each other since forever, and not just in football. They are the state of Utah’s version of the USC/UCLA or Stanford/Berkeley rivalries. Utah State plays both schools but it belongs to a different conference.</p>
<p>Athletically I think Utah can fit in the Pac10. Academically? I am not sure. I need to be convinced. UCLA, USC, Cal-Berkeley, Washington, Stanford are all very highly ranked and regarded nationally. Oregon, Washington State, Arizona and Arizona State have some very strong programs, particularly in the sciences (and Vet School for Wash. State), and Oregon State is no slouch in some areas. So where does Utah fit exactly?</p>
<p>I need people to come with specifics before I can be convinced. I am open to the evidence.</p>
<p>^The top schools in the PAC 10 (UCLA, Berkeley, USC, Stanford, Washington…and now possibly CU-Boulder) are all great universities. But those at the bottom, like Oregon St. and Washintgon St., aren’t anything special…they’re not bad or anything, but they’re certainly not some sort of clear step up from Utah. I’d say it’s better than some of the other Big XII options (Oklahoma St. and Texas Tech for example).</p>
<p>Athletically I think Utah can fit in the Pac10. Academically? I am not sure.</p>
<p>I don’t think academic strength is a criteria for whether a team belongs or not. That said, I doubt there is much academic difference between UAz, AzSt, and Utah…at least not enough to say that Utah is too beneath them.</p>
<p>I didn’t hear a peep from Senator Hatch during the last 3 weeks of speculation about whether U of Utah was worthy of Pac 10 membership. Neither have I heard a defense against all the Mormon-bashing from people who thought BYU didn’t deserve consideration for a Pac 10 bid. I’ve never been crazy about BYU, mostly because for years they maintained an atitude of superiority of over their Western Athletic Conference football companions. BYU was never well-liked in the old WAC; opponents often complained of taunting. Remember, in those days BYU ran up the score often.</p>
<p>Well since research seems to be the main standard academically, you could look at the NRC rankings in the main areas ([link](<a href=“NRC Rankings”>NRC Rankings)</a>). Here’s how just the 12 teams would be ranked:</p>
I believe TCBH provided sufficient evidence. Utah has a major hospital which includes the Huntsman Cancer Institute and some highly ranked STEM programs.</p>
<p>What does Utah bring to the pac 10? Besides a football program that has only been good for 5 years they have very little (except med school) to offer the pac 10. they are gonna get worked in all other sports and aspects…good riddance!</p>
<p>Their Basketball program, with 36 conference championships, a national championship, and 4 final fours, is a decent addition - they would be better than half of the Pac-12 in terms of tradition. </p>
<p>The Pac-10 also seems to like it if there’s at least one successful non-revenue team, and Utah gymnastics is one of <em>the</em> four national powers. That they’ve led the country in attendance for something like 25 years in a row only helps.</p>
<p>And Utah brings the conference to 12 teams, which is pretty much the whole point.</p>
<p>Cmoss, pay attention to the money!!! Follow the money!!! This spring burst of sports conference expansion is all about money. It has little to do with the quality of competition. 12 teams makes the league more attractive to Fox Sports Network, and a league championship game may be gravy in terms of $$$. Although the PAC 10 does not have a history of success with conference championship games. Remember, the 1980s version of the basketball tournament was abandoned for many years because fans didn’t really care much for it. Even the current Pac 10 tournament is not loved. The Pac 10 may find that the lack of revenue from a Championship game will make the regular season all the more important.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to pile on the OP but mentioning Utah State shows a laughable understanding of college football and their program. They’re awful in football and have less than stellar academics. That’s why they were never discussed. They only recently moved up from Div II. They are a growing basketball school with an amazing atmosphere, but they have a tendency to win less than 3 games in football.</p>
<p>Most legislatures can’t do anything because the situation doesn’t line up right. UNC and Duke were never going to vote for expansion, so since the ACC needed all 7 other members to vote yes, the Virginia legislature was in a powerful position. If you don’t have a perfect situation, one state can’t affect much. Baylor survived when the Big XII was forced formed because the governor was an alumni, but it the move to the Pac 16 had gone through they would have been left behind this time.</p>
<p>Lake W, So utah is going to be the sacrificial lamb of the pac12? They are horrible at everything besides Gymnastics and of late Football.</p>
<p>True Utah USED to have a good basketball program but there is no hope in the future of returning to that dominance.</p>
<p>While I “bleed blue” as a long time season ticket holder of byu football and basketball, i generally dont think what conference BYU/Utah, whether it be separate or the same conference, will have much impact on their rivalry. </p>
<p>I would have thought with BSU coming to the Mountain West would bring some great inter-conference play, but without Utah in the conference I can see BYU headed to the Big 12 (or whatever they will call it) within a few years.</p>