USU isn’t terrible. At least they add an above average basketball program. Something pretty much every other available option can’t say. Gotta think they put the full court press on UNLV to get to 8 and stay there.

The Pac should just get to the minimum number of conference schools to stay a conference and look to build basketball. Everyone knows they have no shot at keeping up with the P4 in football, but they could kinda keep up with the P5 in basketball.

A 9 team basketball league of:

Wazzu, Oregon St, SDSU, Boise St, Colorado St, Fresno St, Utah St, UNLV, and Gonzaga would be strong or stronger than the MW has ever been. Without diluting too much and not much dead weight.

Could get to 12 if they want with St Mary’s, USF, and Santa Clara/Grand Canyon but I don’t see them being additive so they’d probably stick with 9