Canzano: Next Pac-12 expansion bite getting a little clarity

C Rod · Thursday at 03:20 PM

The article is paywalled but John put the important information above the fold…

The University of North Texas isn’t taking itself off the table as an expansion target for the Pac-12 Conference. But a “Mean Green” source tells me the school has not had discussions with the Pac-12 about leaving the American Athletic Conference.

“There’s been no communication with us,” the source said.

All is quiet in Denton, Texas.

North Texas isn’t attractive as a stand-alone expansion target for the Pac-12, but a campus with 40,000-plus undergraduate enrollment might be interesting if the new-look conference wanted to add a cluster of Texas-based schools.

https://www.johncanzano.com/p/canzano-next-pac-12-expansion-bite

C Rod · Thursday at 03:27 PM

Also, this Oregon State fan references a juicy UNT rumor on the Pac-12 Reddit thread. I hadn’t heard this before…

Any insiders know if there is any validity to this rumor?

cwb · Thursday at 03:33 PM

Lost me at "pile of cash from donors"

emmitt01 · Thursday at 04:05 PM

31 minutes ago, cwb said:

Lost me at "pile of cash from donors"

Maybe the fajita luncheon was actually a clandestine fundraiser!!??

No Way Wow GIF

NT80 · Thursday at 04:25 PM

21 minutes ago, emmitt01 said:

Maybe the fajita luncheon was actually a clandestine fundraiser!!??

Yes, it was on the super-secret VIP board.

Matt from A700 · Thursday at 04:47 PM

Yeah, no way we go to the Pac without a cluster of schools around us.

Probably the same for UTSA and TXST.

NT80 · Thursday at 07:25 PM

4 hours ago, C Rod said:

North Texas isn’t attractive as a stand-alone expansion target for the Pac-12, but a campus with 40,000-plus undergraduate enrollment might be interesting if the new-look conference wanted to add a cluster of Texas-based schools.

https://www.johncanzano.com/p/canzano-next-pac-12-expansion-bite

We are just as attractive as TXST and UTSA as a stand-alone. We have more major-college level football history than they do combined!

JimboF · Thursday at 11:36 PM

Call me relentlessly hopeful, but I'd love to see Texas State and North Texas join the Pac as a pair. I think it'd be great for their long-term athletic future.

MeanGreenGlory · 2025-04-04T02:10:12Z

Come on Mosley, you can do it!

UNT as the solo TX team to the PAC would be good. If we went as a pair, I’d prefer TX State over UTSA.

keith · 2025-04-04T13:22:30Z

I have to believe exit fees are negotiated and probably financed and paid over time. I doubt anyone pays cash on day 1, but I don't have any direct insight into how exit fees really work.

JimboF · 2025-04-04T14:42:53Z

Yeah, based on what I've read during recent years, departing schools typically pay about 60 percent (or more) of the exit fees after negotiations. That's a big deduction though.

Green Otaku · 2025-04-04T16:58:55Z

TxSt pres. makes a cryptic post about soup, basically saying he was offered a half share, but will only take a full one. Seems like he is unwilling to take a reduced share.

C Rod · 2025-04-04T17:38:00Z

38 minutes ago, Green Otaku said:

TxSt pres. makes a cryptic post about soup, basically saying he was offered a half share, but will only take a full one. Seems like he is unwilling to take a reduced share.

NT80 · 2025-04-04T18:10:59Z

29 minutes ago, C Rod said:

What was the connection to his visit to DC and the PAC conference? Maybe he is referring to budget funding?

Unequal conference shares are going to become more the norm. They are already trending toward becoming more performance based or brand based. As I mentioned in another thread, Boise was given more revenue in the MWC because of their brand importance. The same will happen with UNLV and AF in the future MWC. Fla St and Clemson settled their ACC lawsuit with the promise of performance based revenue being started in that conference.

MCMLXXX · 2025-04-04T18:45:51Z

Dannymacfan · 2025-04-04T18:48:20Z

1 minute ago, MCMLXXX said:

I knew this would happen. No program in their right mind in Texas would want to do all that travel out west. It's a damn death sentence in today's environment.

C Rod · 2025-04-04T19:18:31Z

1 hour ago, NT80 said:

What was the connection to his visit to DC and the PAC conference? Maybe he is referring to budget funding?

Unequal conference shares are going to become more the norm. They are already trending toward becoming more performance based or brand based. As I mentioned in another thread, Boise was given more revenue in the MWC because of their brand importance. The same will happen with UNLV and AF in the future MWC. Fla St and Clemson settled their ACC lawsuit with the promise of performance based revenue being started in that conference.

Apparently the man likes soup and has tweeted about it in the past. Canzano pressed him on the comment...

https://www.johncanzano.com/p/canzano-diving-into-a-bowl-of-lobster?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=795059&post_id=160590926&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=4i9aed&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

NT80 · 2025-04-04T20:02:47Z

1 hour ago, MCMLXXX said:

Maybe a half share to start then more later? They tried to low-ball Memphis and Tulane too and were turned down last year.

More clarity once the media offer to them is made, and the Pac mediation with the MWC is settled over poaching fees. Both conferences need $$ to feed hungry schools they are trying to keep happy.

MCMLXXX · 2025-04-04T20:48:14Z

Clearly that Bowl of Soup he was offered is half empty and not half full.

In reality it all depends on how hungry you are.

GMG_Dallas · 2025-04-04T23:26:42Z

Just want to point out some bowl game numbers:

Friday 12/20 at 3:30 pm on ESPN, Tulane vs Florida, 1.78 million

Friday 1/3 at 4:00 pm on ESPN, UNT vs Texas State, 1.7 million

Monday 12/23 at 11:00 am on ESPN, UTSA vs Coastal Carolina, 767k

Saturday 12/28 at 2:15 pm on ESPN, TCU vs Louisiana Lafayette, 1.22 million

Saturday 12/28 at 5:45 pm on ESPN, ECU vs NC State, 886k

Tuesday 12/17 at 9:00 pm on ESPN, Memphis vs WVU, 1.2 million

Wednesday 12/18 at 9:00 pm on ESPN, Cal vs UNLV, 1.48 million (7pm local for CAL and UNLV)

Different dates and times, all on ESPN. If I'm a PAC rep, I'm looking at that Texas State vs UNT game and seeing dollar signs. If I'm UNT and Texas State leadership, I'm pointing it out as well. Close to Tulane vs Florida at essentially the same time slots two Fridays prior, better than several other AAC vs P5 opponents, better than several other Westcoast teams, etc... Texas State vs UNT on a Friday evening that could do 1+ million on a yearly basis in a time zone the rest of the PAC doesn't cover would be great for the conference.

JimboF · 2025-04-05T02:44:27Z

I think a half share for Texas State is acceptable, as long as it increases by 10 percent every year until they're at 100 percent in 2031.

JimboF · 2025-04-05T03:08:49Z

I mean, if Texas State had won a bowl game each of the last five seasons (rather than two seasons), then they'd certainly warrant a full share from the beginning. However, the reality is the Bobcats' potential currently outweighs their past and present achievements.

NT80 · 2025-04-05T04:30:28Z

1 hour ago, JimboF said:

I think a half share for Texas State is acceptable, as long as it increases by 10 percent every year until they're at 100 percent in 2031.

The PAC may just be testing your Admin's resolve. They know you want in, but can they get you for cheap?