Sticking with 12

The Pac-12 is the most enticing conference in realignment talks, but Larry Scott and company want to keep the league as is. By Kristina Callahan 

(AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

     After the shake ups in the Big East and Atlantic Coast Conferences, rumors started to circulate about the University of Texas and Oklahoma University making the jump to the Pac-12. Commissioner Larry Scott, though, shut these rumors down fairly swiftly. "After careful review, we have determined that is in the best interests of our member institutions, student-athletes and fans to remain a 12-team conference," he said in a statement on September 20th. 

     Plus, both of the athletic directors at Washington State and Southern California said they favored the decision to keep the conference as is. Neither believes there should be any rush to expand to a 16-team league.

     Given the Pac-12's apprehension, why even expand? After all, the conference looks to be the most stable one at the moment and has the richest TV deal. It's a conference that many teams want to be a part of. Nearly half-dozen schools have shown interest in the Pac-12, most of them Big 12 schools. After Texas A&M applied for admission into the Southeastern Conference, talks of Texas, OU, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech jumping to the Big 12 reignited. The league is very attractive, but doesn't want to be part of the dating scene. It's not you, Texas. It's me.  

     With the turmoil in college sports as of late, this won't be the last time we hear the rumors of a Pac-16, but it seems the Pac-12 wants to ensure it is.