Pac 10 Expansion?

A Salt Lake City News station has got us here at WSU Football Blog a little riled up.

For what seems like years there has been rumblings the Pac 10 might expand.  Salt Lake City’s ABC News 4 reports that Pac 10 Commissioner Larry Scott is seriously considering expansion, by adding Utah.  The reporter then goes on to mention that BYU would not be the natural rival, as the Pac 10 has Sunday contests, and then speculates the University of Colorado would also join.

The reporter is citing a blog report from San Jose Mercury News beat writer for the Pac 10, Jon Wilner.  In the blog, Scott is quoted as saying “this would be the most logical time to do so.”

It seems that every year this topic comes up on a variety of blogs, message boards, etc.  However, this is the first time I can recall the Pac 10 commenting positively about the possibility of expanding.  The current TV deal (for football and basketball) is set to expire at the end of the 2011-2012 season, meaning in the next year their is going to be some major negotiations for the new contract.  *Note to Larry Scott, Fox Sports is awful.  Don’t take it from me Mr. Scott, but maybe from their commitment to mediocre on-air talent, horrible video and audio or because Google said so.

Furthermore, any school leaving one conference to join another (or go Independent) must give it’s current conference one year’s notice.  Meaning if Utah said tomorrow it was leaving the MWC for the Pac 10, it likely wouldn’t be eligible for Pac 10 play until the start of the 2011 school year.

Brian Nelson over at Bleacher Report has a similar report about the Utes and Buffs joining the Conference of Champions.