I'm looking forward to this game because it has some real meaning....unfortunately, after sloging through 2/3rds of a football season with the new power 4...I'm just bored shitless. The ACC, B12,B10 and SEC are no longer leagues, they're phone books... way too many teams. Each phone book has a couple of contenders that appear to be better than the rest and a whole lot of other teams relegated to obscurity with absolutely nothing to offer the average fan, playing random exhibition games within their phone book. You know what constitutes an exciting and intriguing league in my humble opinion? 8 or 10 teams tops that have something in common, really don't like each other and play EVERY year....you know, with a "real" championship at stake? Here's my fix. Cut all four of those leagues in half and then I'll pay attention. Until then, I'm just waiting around for the power brokers to stuff their expanded playoffs and hopefully that's more exciting to than what I've seen so far because this sucks....in my opinion.
In a year with some very good comments this by far THEEEEEE BEST comment I have read all year!!! You put into words the MEH feeling I have been experiencing this season. I have loved college football since I started following it as a kid in 1967. I signed up for pop warner because I fell in love with the 1967 OSU Giant Killers and watched my very first Civil War Game at Autzen that year and loved the passion of the fans and players as well as what the game meant to both teams, etc.
FOX and ESPN have literally raped the format and wrecked what was an absolute wonderful structure. I am hoping their money grab blows up on them but doubt it will. I will continue to follow the regional teams in the Northwest but have lost interest on a national level. Thanks again!!!! I will blindly steal your verbiage and credit you when appropriate!!:):)):)
I hope the Pac 12 expansion moves into Texas, with some combination of UTSA, Texas State and/or North Texas. They are the best combination of media markets and geography. Better markets than UNLV & Nevada and better geography than Memphis & Tulane. Also, recruiting in Texas has always been a priority and this give exposure. Get two Texas teams as traveling partners, and you have a nine team football conference with decent upside.
I'll be there for the game and I believe Utah has a chance. It looks like Brandon Rose will be behind center for the rest of the year and he might surprise the Cougars. Keep in mind that the Cougars, just like the Miami Hurricanes, have skirted disaster multiple times this season. And listen, it isn't that Utah isn't talented, they were picked to win the Big XII before the season after all, it's just that somehow the entire offensive side of the team has gotten out of synch. The defense is still elite (15th in the nation!) and has kept the team in every single loss. There's no reason to believe that this game won't be close and anything can happen.
Exactly...it's a rivalry game and tempers will be up...there's nothing that Utah would like more than to spoil BYU's march towards an undefeated season. I will say though, that Chris Hill might be right. There will be a ton of BYU fans at Rice Eccles for the simple reason that some Utah fans will want to recoup their season ticket investment by selling out. Last year, when BYU played Utah at the Huntsman Center, there were almost as many BYU fans at the game for that same reason.
I have always enjoyed your column but you used to irk me with what felt like a knock on both my state and Boise State. You now seem to have updated info on TV markets in Idaho and a new found respect for Boise State as a national brand. The Broncos will be the flag bearer of the new PAC 12, just as they been for every conference they have competed. I find that when I go to my email, if you have a new column, I read it first. Thank you for your contributions to my enjoyment of western U.S. sports.
Interesting that people sometimes hate on the Blue Turf?? Bronco stadium has been named by readers poll at USA Today as the top sports attraction in the USA two years running. You have to admit it helped bring BSU to Nat’l attention back in the 80’s. They seemed to be on ESPN every Friday and even now if you channel surf to a game you instantly know you are a watching a game in Boise. Solid Marketing.
It is listed as top not because of BSU football, but in comparison to facilities like California Surf Museum and Louisville Slugger Museum. Personally, I check BSU football when they are playing away games, but it is just too ugly to watch their home games. Obviously an acquired taste that a lot of sports fans simply can't stomach on TV.
Noted. Know that the Blue is extremely popular with BSU fans. If an athletic director ever tried to change back to green, he would no longer have a job.
I hopped the fence in May about 15 years ago when we were passing thru Boise on a road trip, just so I could see it. Thought it looked pretty good in the spring sunshine!
I too love Boise State but when OSU and WSU gain their footing again after the multiple gut punches they have taken, Boise's road to the championship will be as tough as they have ever faced. Even tougher if Memphis, Tulane, UTSA, North Texas and Rice join the conference.
I can’t speak to the strength of the CSU Sacramento fan base. Aside from San Jose State, Sacramento is by far the largest television market with a school available. Reno, Las Vegas, Memphis, and New Orleans are dwarfed by the number of people in the Sacramento media market.
It sounds odd for Sac State to be in the conversation. Yet they are part of the same CSU system that includes Fresno State, San Diego State and San Jose State. Attendance at Sac State is over 30,000 students -- larger than Fresno State and pretty close to San Jose State. The "greater Sacramento area" has a population of 2.4 million people. ( So it is a larger school and larger metro area than some of the PAC12 members.)
It is really a matter of leaders in Sacramento (within university leadership and also leaders in the business community) getting behind the effort for a jump to FBS. There is movement on this front.
We will see what happens. I agree with John that the timetable may be too fast for Sacramento State this time around.
It's a steak vs sizzle thing. I need to see some steak behind all the talk (sizzle). When they get their funding and stadium in line and upgrade facilities across the board (not just football), then they may in fact have something to offer. At least 5 years out for me and by that time, the mass realignment into the Top-70 programs (all former Power 5 programs) will have likely taken place.
Good article John. I have so much respect for the Utah football program. The Oregon/Utah rivalry is the one I will miss most about the old PAC-12. It would be great if Portland State found an AD that can drum up interest in the schools sports programs. They reside in a large media market. It’s too bad there isn’t more interest in the Vikings becoming a bit more “Big Time”.
Sac and San Jose are two large market areas that make sense geographically. Competitively, could be a stretch. But every conference can use a potential bottom feeder. Might be the only way to get UNLV (Nevada) on board.
Don't like either school but it's going to be an ugly night in SLC for the Utes. Cam Rising's refusal to move on and their inability to recruit a QB because he's still there is really hurting that program.
Offer New Mexico State a 60% stake in media rights, to increase by 10% a year, and you've got your eighth Pac-12 program with a football team, and also baseball, which the new Pac-12 needs. The media-rights pie is already baked so NMSU won't impact the bottom line either way, the existing eight teams have more money to divide up, and you eliminated outlier trips to Memphis/Tulane/Texas.
No need to even approach UNLV or Nevada, the Pac-12 should be done with the MWC and settle that lawsuit so both leagues can get on with their business. Fox and ESPN declared war on Western football by breaking up the Pac-12; now it's time for the MWC and the Pac-12 to work together to protect the brand.
Its great Sac State wants to move up. Let them make the transition and then prove themselves in CUSA or someplace before offering them a seat at the grownup's table.
Are you talking UNM or NMSU? Either one is a loser. I grew up there and one of my high school buddies (who never left) is fond of saying that ABQ is a "Top 50 City." If it's something good, ABQ is #50 and if it's something bad ABQ is #1.
That's the beauty of Pac-12 membership, I could visit there for Beaver games, but not live there! Even though come February I'll be begging for some southern New Mexico sunshine.
I sure hope Portland St. makes a good pick for AD. Small college athletics allow the athlete who participates for love of the game to play on. We all get told “it’s over” at some point ( Moneyball). The small college athlete gets to delay that disappointment a little longer.
To that end, maybe an aggressive AD coupled with a new mayor can figure a way to get the Vikings home games back to Civic Stadium. Where I believe they belong.
I’m sure I’ll get some hate for this, but I admire that Sacramento State aspires to be something. Something greater than itself. Because the status quo doesn’t work in college athletics anymore, nor does wishing and hoping for something to happen or change. Go for it, Hornets. Build your nest empire. 🐝 👍
PAC12 same old same old. Same list of schools who said no. Hey, it's a great league Notre Dame! And you'll get tons of money every year from our media partners! What's not to like? P12 and MWC should have merged. Neither is better than the other.
I think Sac State has raised a substantial war chest for making a move to FBS. I dunno about how many scholarships they can fund by that deadline, but they have a new football stadium in the works, and the Kings organization told them they can use their arena for basketball if they move to FBS. And Sacremento is only about 100k less than LV in population. They also received a copy of the P12 application.
The Monty Show (mostly dunks on P12) said in a recent show that ESPN is on board with Sac State. I don’t know how accurate the Monty Show is, but he “reported” it.
I think Sac State will move into FBS in the next few years. I’m sure the MWC will snag them if the P12 goes with someone else.
They have pledges for NIL money, and the "concepts" for a new stadium.
NIL pledges don't pay for the stadium, the additional annual budget costs for more scholarships and staff, and they don't pay the $5 million FCS-to-FBS transition fee. Sac State in FBS is a pipe dream at the current time.
Sac St is looking to have their new stadium open by the 2026 season. If they’ve raised (by now) between 25-50 million for NIL funds I don’t see a problem with them having the 5 million dollar fee planned for and possibly already in the bank.
Sac St has a “SAC12” committee which involves the Sacramento community. They have their local politicians on board from the interviews with their AD and President say.
To me it looks like they have a plan to move into FBS and are moving forward with it. As John says, it probably won’t be in time to be the P12’s eighth member deadline. But I can see the P12 looking at them with consideration in a couple years.
I really think the Utes having a second bye week has benefited them tremendously! The first bye week they were still wondering if cam would be playing or not. This second bye week gave the whole team the time to adjust and come together as a group and also gives Wilson some time to learn the playbook even more and to give that faith that the team needs from him! I see the Utes as coming out strong and being a whole new team. They have the fire under their ass to play better and stronger football on top of wanting that revenge on BYU when they lost because of the Baylor Transfer that was new to Utah and didn’t truly know or understand how much this game means to the Utes and so he definitely threw that game for the team! As a QB it is your job to know these things and to lead your team to a huge victory four games like these! It’s going to be a tough game but I see Utah coming out with the win. Utah 27 BYU 24
I'm looking forward to this game because it has some real meaning....unfortunately, after sloging through 2/3rds of a football season with the new power 4...I'm just bored shitless. The ACC, B12,B10 and SEC are no longer leagues, they're phone books... way too many teams. Each phone book has a couple of contenders that appear to be better than the rest and a whole lot of other teams relegated to obscurity with absolutely nothing to offer the average fan, playing random exhibition games within their phone book. You know what constitutes an exciting and intriguing league in my humble opinion? 8 or 10 teams tops that have something in common, really don't like each other and play EVERY year....you know, with a "real" championship at stake? Here's my fix. Cut all four of those leagues in half and then I'll pay attention. Until then, I'm just waiting around for the power brokers to stuff their expanded playoffs and hopefully that's more exciting to than what I've seen so far because this sucks....in my opinion.
I don’t think you’re alone.
You NAILED IT, Rick!!!
In a year with some very good comments this by far THEEEEEE BEST comment I have read all year!!! You put into words the MEH feeling I have been experiencing this season. I have loved college football since I started following it as a kid in 1967. I signed up for pop warner because I fell in love with the 1967 OSU Giant Killers and watched my very first Civil War Game at Autzen that year and loved the passion of the fans and players as well as what the game meant to both teams, etc.
FOX and ESPN have literally raped the format and wrecked what was an absolute wonderful structure. I am hoping their money grab blows up on them but doubt it will. I will continue to follow the regional teams in the Northwest but have lost interest on a national level. Thanks again!!!! I will blindly steal your verbiage and credit you when appropriate!!:):)):)
Amen!
I hope the Pac 12 expansion moves into Texas, with some combination of UTSA, Texas State and/or North Texas. They are the best combination of media markets and geography. Better markets than UNLV & Nevada and better geography than Memphis & Tulane. Also, recruiting in Texas has always been a priority and this give exposure. Get two Texas teams as traveling partners, and you have a nine team football conference with decent upside.
Let’s see where TV steers this
I agree with you. Texas is the place to be.
Need to take All of them if we can...Memphis, Tulane, UTSA, Texas State, Rice and North Texas.
I'll be there for the game and I believe Utah has a chance. It looks like Brandon Rose will be behind center for the rest of the year and he might surprise the Cougars. Keep in mind that the Cougars, just like the Miami Hurricanes, have skirted disaster multiple times this season. And listen, it isn't that Utah isn't talented, they were picked to win the Big XII before the season after all, it's just that somehow the entire offensive side of the team has gotten out of synch. The defense is still elite (15th in the nation!) and has kept the team in every single loss. There's no reason to believe that this game won't be close and anything can happen.
Throw out the records. This is Utah’s Super Bowl.
Exactly...it's a rivalry game and tempers will be up...there's nothing that Utah would like more than to spoil BYU's march towards an undefeated season. I will say though, that Chris Hill might be right. There will be a ton of BYU fans at Rice Eccles for the simple reason that some Utah fans will want to recoup their season ticket investment by selling out. Last year, when BYU played Utah at the Huntsman Center, there were almost as many BYU fans at the game for that same reason.
I have always enjoyed your column but you used to irk me with what felt like a knock on both my state and Boise State. You now seem to have updated info on TV markets in Idaho and a new found respect for Boise State as a national brand. The Broncos will be the flag bearer of the new PAC 12, just as they been for every conference they have competed. I find that when I go to my email, if you have a new column, I read it first. Thank you for your contributions to my enjoyment of western U.S. sports.
Thank you for this. Glad you’re here for it.
Not unless they get rid of that podunk blue turf. Act like you belong there.
Interesting that people sometimes hate on the Blue Turf?? Bronco stadium has been named by readers poll at USA Today as the top sports attraction in the USA two years running. You have to admit it helped bring BSU to Nat’l attention back in the 80’s. They seemed to be on ESPN every Friday and even now if you channel surf to a game you instantly know you are a watching a game in Boise. Solid Marketing.
It is listed as top not because of BSU football, but in comparison to facilities like California Surf Museum and Louisville Slugger Museum. Personally, I check BSU football when they are playing away games, but it is just too ugly to watch their home games. Obviously an acquired taste that a lot of sports fans simply can't stomach on TV.
Noted. Know that the Blue is extremely popular with BSU fans. If an athletic director ever tried to change back to green, he would no longer have a job.
I hopped the fence in May about 15 years ago when we were passing thru Boise on a road trip, just so I could see it. Thought it looked pretty good in the spring sunshine!
More accessible now. Around 20,000 a year visit just to take a look.
I too love Boise State but when OSU and WSU gain their footing again after the multiple gut punches they have taken, Boise's road to the championship will be as tough as they have ever faced. Even tougher if Memphis, Tulane, UTSA, North Texas and Rice join the conference.
Looking forward to Emma’s work from the UW/Penn State contest tomorrow
Never been much for the “Holy War” moniker.Not a BYU-Utah thing, by any means, just a mis-placed euphemism
GO DAWGS 🙏🏼
I can’t speak to the strength of the CSU Sacramento fan base. Aside from San Jose State, Sacramento is by far the largest television market with a school available. Reno, Las Vegas, Memphis, and New Orleans are dwarfed by the number of people in the Sacramento media market.
I hear you… but the timing doesn’t work for 2026. Could be a later addition tho.
Regarding Sacramento State...
It sounds odd for Sac State to be in the conversation. Yet they are part of the same CSU system that includes Fresno State, San Diego State and San Jose State. Attendance at Sac State is over 30,000 students -- larger than Fresno State and pretty close to San Jose State. The "greater Sacramento area" has a population of 2.4 million people. ( So it is a larger school and larger metro area than some of the PAC12 members.)
It is really a matter of leaders in Sacramento (within university leadership and also leaders in the business community) getting behind the effort for a jump to FBS. There is movement on this front.
We will see what happens. I agree with John that the timetable may be too fast for Sacramento State this time around.
Feels like it could be a “next time” conversation.
It's a steak vs sizzle thing. I need to see some steak behind all the talk (sizzle). When they get their funding and stadium in line and upgrade facilities across the board (not just football), then they may in fact have something to offer. At least 5 years out for me and by that time, the mass realignment into the Top-70 programs (all former Power 5 programs) will have likely taken place.
Good article John. I have so much respect for the Utah football program. The Oregon/Utah rivalry is the one I will miss most about the old PAC-12. It would be great if Portland State found an AD that can drum up interest in the schools sports programs. They reside in a large media market. It’s too bad there isn’t more interest in the Vikings becoming a bit more “Big Time”.
I’m hoping they’ll play in some playoff games.
I could definitely see that happening in the future…especially if Whittingham stays around a few more years.
Sac and San Jose are two large market areas that make sense geographically. Competitively, could be a stretch. But every conference can use a potential bottom feeder. Might be the only way to get UNLV (Nevada) on board.
New world… but I don’t see Sacramento State right for this round of expansion.
Don't like either school but it's going to be an ugly night in SLC for the Utes. Cam Rising's refusal to move on and their inability to recruit a QB because he's still there is really hurting that program.
Offer New Mexico State a 60% stake in media rights, to increase by 10% a year, and you've got your eighth Pac-12 program with a football team, and also baseball, which the new Pac-12 needs. The media-rights pie is already baked so NMSU won't impact the bottom line either way, the existing eight teams have more money to divide up, and you eliminated outlier trips to Memphis/Tulane/Texas.
No need to even approach UNLV or Nevada, the Pac-12 should be done with the MWC and settle that lawsuit so both leagues can get on with their business. Fox and ESPN declared war on Western football by breaking up the Pac-12; now it's time for the MWC and the Pac-12 to work together to protect the brand.
Its great Sac State wants to move up. Let them make the transition and then prove themselves in CUSA or someplace before offering them a seat at the grownup's table.
Are you talking UNM or NMSU? Either one is a loser. I grew up there and one of my high school buddies (who never left) is fond of saying that ABQ is a "Top 50 City." If it's something good, ABQ is #50 and if it's something bad ABQ is #1.
Meant NMSU and have edited it. Leave the MWC alone. Every conference needs a bottom feeder and it might as well be the Aggies.
I was in Cruces for a game this fall and had a great time there and touring campus.
I agree with you about Las Cruces. Great place for a visit and they have a couple of nice golf courses. Wouldn't live there though.
That's the beauty of Pac-12 membership, I could visit there for Beaver games, but not live there! Even though come February I'll be begging for some southern New Mexico sunshine.
John,
I sure hope Portland St. makes a good pick for AD. Small college athletics allow the athlete who participates for love of the game to play on. We all get told “it’s over” at some point ( Moneyball). The small college athlete gets to delay that disappointment a little longer.
To that end, maybe an aggressive AD coupled with a new mayor can figure a way to get the Vikings home games back to Civic Stadium. Where I believe they belong.
Need an experienced hire with external ideas… who will stay. Very tricky hire.
I’m sure I’ll get some hate for this, but I admire that Sacramento State aspires to be something. Something greater than itself. Because the status quo doesn’t work in college athletics anymore, nor does wishing and hoping for something to happen or change. Go for it, Hornets. Build your nest empire. 🐝 👍
I like people who make no small plans
Nothing to hate about this, Todd. Initiative and vision are going to pay off for Sac St wherever they end up.
PAC12 same old same old. Same list of schools who said no. Hey, it's a great league Notre Dame! And you'll get tons of money every year from our media partners! What's not to like? P12 and MWC should have merged. Neither is better than the other.
Re: Sac State.
I think Sac State has raised a substantial war chest for making a move to FBS. I dunno about how many scholarships they can fund by that deadline, but they have a new football stadium in the works, and the Kings organization told them they can use their arena for basketball if they move to FBS. And Sacremento is only about 100k less than LV in population. They also received a copy of the P12 application.
The Monty Show (mostly dunks on P12) said in a recent show that ESPN is on board with Sac State. I don’t know how accurate the Monty Show is, but he “reported” it.
I think Sac State will move into FBS in the next few years. I’m sure the MWC will snag them if the P12 goes with someone else.
Feels like the soonest they could be ready would be 2028…
That’s probably more realistic.
Also, I wonder if their new stadium for football will be expandable. They list it at holding 25k, which would be on the small side for FBS.
They have pledges for NIL money, and the "concepts" for a new stadium.
NIL pledges don't pay for the stadium, the additional annual budget costs for more scholarships and staff, and they don't pay the $5 million FCS-to-FBS transition fee. Sac State in FBS is a pipe dream at the current time.
Sac St is looking to have their new stadium open by the 2026 season. If they’ve raised (by now) between 25-50 million for NIL funds I don’t see a problem with them having the 5 million dollar fee planned for and possibly already in the bank.
Sac St has a “SAC12” committee which involves the Sacramento community. They have their local politicians on board from the interviews with their AD and President say.
To me it looks like they have a plan to move into FBS and are moving forward with it. As John says, it probably won’t be in time to be the P12’s eighth member deadline. But I can see the P12 looking at them with consideration in a couple years.
Great insight, fun read. Thanks 👍👍
I really think the Utes having a second bye week has benefited them tremendously! The first bye week they were still wondering if cam would be playing or not. This second bye week gave the whole team the time to adjust and come together as a group and also gives Wilson some time to learn the playbook even more and to give that faith that the team needs from him! I see the Utes as coming out strong and being a whole new team. They have the fire under their ass to play better and stronger football on top of wanting that revenge on BYU when they lost because of the Baylor Transfer that was new to Utah and didn’t truly know or understand how much this game means to the Utes and so he definitely threw that game for the team! As a QB it is your job to know these things and to lead your team to a huge victory four games like these! It’s going to be a tough game but I see Utah coming out with the win. Utah 27 BYU 24