College football realignment: G5 conference willing to throw lifeline to Pac-12 schools

The Pac-12 leftovers could reportedly be thrown a lifeline by the AAC of all conferences.

While Cal, Oregon State, Stanford and Washington State are what is left of the dying Pac-12 conference, the AAC could be looking to swoop in and take advantage of the fortuitous situation.

Eric Prisbell of On3 reported that the AAC would be interested in adding all four schools, believing its league could be an ideal landing spot for the four Power Five programs that are soon to be without a home. From the early conversations about this, it seems as though it would be more of an AAC acquisition than a merging of conferences. Keep in mind that The American is a G5 league.

Here is what one source told On3 about the AAC’s chances of hauling in the Pac-12 holdovers.

"“We would be a good landing spot for those schools given our existing ESPN deal, which has a strong linear component, along with our major cities and institutional profiles.”"

You have to remember the biggest reason why the media rights deal fell through with the Pac-12 was because the dying conference was dumb enough to think not having a linear TV model component wasn’t the least bit important. No Pac-12 Network distribution previously and going with a pure streaming model was absolute lunacy. It is why the Pac-12 is no more. OHNOHEDIED!

While an ACC/Pac-12 merger has been thrown around a bit, an AAC takeover makes more sense.

College football realignment rumors: AAC looking to add the Pac-12 holdovers

What I like about the AAC potentially absorbing the Pac-12 leftovers is that the league has always been national in scope, that is has a strong linear television partnership with ESPN and that is has been by far and away the strongest Group of Five conference throughout the College Football Playoff era. At this stage of game, it is all about adding inventory, particularly on the West Coast.

Not to say the four Pac-12 holdovers will do a number on linear TV, but we know Oregon State and Washington State have proud and rabid fanbases that will pack their stadiums to the brim. As far as Cal and Stanford are concerned, they have put forth very competitive football teams in years past. They have rigid academic standards to navigate, but can put forth winning products at times.

Ultimately, I think rapid AAC expansion by way of the leftover absorption helps both parties considerably. The Pac-12 schools get a new and competitive league to play in, while the AAC increases its market visibility and television inventory. It may be a step down for the other four, but the AAC has outpaced the more-established Mountain West for the better part of a decade.

College football realignment was never about making geographical sense; it’s all about the money.