George Kliavkoff reveals requirements for Pac-12 expansion candidates

One of the biggest questions facing the Pac-12 today is who will replace USC and UCLA when they depart for the Big Ten. Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff discussed what he takes into account when evaluating prospective schools looking to join the conference.

“We have a series of criteria related to market size, athletic performance, academic criteria, cultural fit, all of those,” Kliavkoff said. “We have the opportunity to look at different scenarios where those are weighted differently, and the board will direct us about how to weight the potential opportunities.

“I will tell you, I continue to be surprised by all of the schools that are reaching out to us and want to be part of that consideration set. I’m very enthusiastic about the opportunities that are in front of us, and we’ll let the board guide us in those decisions.”

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Programs like San Diego State, Boise State, Fresno State, UNLV and other west-coast based programs have been names thrown out as potential suitors for the new-look Pac-12 when the conference realignment takes place in 2024. Still, no names have officially been thrown out as definitively joining the Power Five conference.

Regardless of which team(s) will end up joining the league following the Bruins and Trojans’ departures, something will need to be done for the conference to remain relevant once the realignment within the Big Ten, SEC and even Big 12 take place in the coming years.

The ACC and Pac-12 are at a standstill, and with geography the least of any conference’s worries these days, options are limitless for any of the Power Five conferences moving forward. But for now, the Pac-12 remains behind the curb without a lucrative television deal and lack of national brads after the conference shifts take place.