SMU’s interest level in joining the Pac-12 “is so high it’s ready to help cover some of the costs,” according to Mac Engel of Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM. Sources said that SMU is “more than prepared to make certain concessions in order to secure a spot in the league.” One concession “would be a willingness to agree to a substantial decrease in revenue sharing for the first few years in the league, as well as potentially covering its own expenses.” A school that enters a new conference “often agrees to take less in revenue sharing; TCU did it in the Big 12.” What SMU is contemplating in that area “is beyond the norm.” SMU has “made it zero secret its desire to join a power league, but its invite to the Pac-12 is not quite imminent.” This is “not a done deal," because there are "high ranking members of current Pac-12 schools that are unsure if the combination of SMU and San Diego State are good adds and add value to the league.” Unlike previous times when SMU’s name has been "dangled around the topic of conference re-alignment, this time it feels different.” Engel wrote it feels different “because the power conference that is considering adding SMU will soon be dramatically different" (Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/15).
BEST OF THE WEST? In Oklahoma City, Berry Tramel notes the Big 12 is "not going to stop dreaming and scheming to lure the best of what's left of the West" until the Pac-12 signs a media rights deal. Big 12 sources said that Commissioner Brett Yormark "again shared with both athletes and donors his desire for westward expansion" during a visit to Stillwater Tuesday. The Big 12 "feels empathy for the Pac-12," but "not enough to stop lusting after some combination of Washington, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Arizona State and Arizona." Big 12 expansion is a "longshot," though, as the Pac-12 schools say no, the "expansion candidates are slim." But every passing day without a Pac-12 media deal "makes that longshot a little less long" (OKLAHOMAN, 2/16).
