REPORT: San Diego State intends to leave Mountain West Conference
Here we go, folks!
ESPN’s Pete Thamel is reporting that San Diego State University has written a letter to the Mountain West Conference that it “intends” to exit the league. In case you are wondering, no — the Pac-12 has not yet extended a formal invitation to the Aztecs to join the conference and replace USC as a Southern California-based member of the conference.
However, we can all put two and two together and reasonably conclude that the process of transitioning from the Mountain West to the Pac-12 is underway.
That doesn’t guarantee it will happen, but it certainly increases the odds. San Diego State had to make a movement such as this to initiate the process if that process was going to happen. Now we can even more seriously consider the possibility that the Aztecs will move to the Pac-12.
This is not a done deal. This is not a guarantee. It does, however, represent real movement — and not just a rumor or wild speculation — about the Aztecs and their future, which will affect other aspects of college sports realignment.
Here's our @ESPN story on San Diego State's June 13 letter to the Mountain West that it "intends" to exit. SDSU does not have an invitation to the Pac-12, according a source. "SDSU is exploring all of the options and asking all the questions." https://t.co/nrRYjhhgA6
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) June 16, 2023
Below are various reports, tweets, and elements of speculation from the past several months surrounding SDSU and the Pac-12. Enjoy reading them, because as you probably know, speculation has been a constant feature of realignment talk. Today, we finally have a story which puts some meat on the bone and isn’t pure 100-percent rumor:
DAN PATRICK SHOW
Source: San Diego State is expected to join the Pac 12. Announcement could be made as early as this week. #SDSU #Aztecs pic.twitter.com/o1n6YkTLKN
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) November 7, 2022
FROM NOVEMBER
Brian Dutcher on reports Monday that SDSU's move to the Pac-12 is imminent: "Obviously, nothing has happened. If it has, I think they would have probably told me. It’s all great for media and talking points, but at this point we are in the Mountain West and trying to win it."
— Mark Zeigler (@sdutzeigler) November 8, 2022
TAMPING DOWN EXPECTATIONS
Don’t get all excited yet. From what I’ve heard, if this announcement happens, it should happen closer to Christmas time. I’d be happy to be wrong, but that’s what I got. Seems like the P12 talking heads have heard similar things. https://t.co/oUAiZoHFCc
— Aztec Breakdown (@aztecbreakdown) November 7, 2022
BEFORE FRIDAY'S REPORT HIT THE HEADLINES
NEW EPISODE:
San Diego State/SMU face one real hurdle on the TV front if they join the Pac-12
YouTube: https://t.co/n18jq7bHSA
Subscribe: https://t.co/N5MFAYciyD#Pac12 pic.twitter.com/eMUEo6Tl2W— Locked On Pac-12 (@LO_Pac12) June 16, 2023
SO MUCH WEIRD STUFF
Odd for this to come from DP and a really quick fly-by segment to make this kind of breaking news announcement. Hope his source is right. https://t.co/Lq13rOTUVt
— Andre Haghverdian (@ahaghver23) November 7, 2022
THE FUTURE
Was just talking about this w/@michaelbumpus5 & @ShaneVereen34 – I love SDSU to Pac12
The conf keeps SoCal firmly in their footprint, Aztecs' programs already have a lot of talent & potential to get better w/elevation of joining Pac12
Plus – doesn't get better than San Diego 💁♀️ https://t.co/U5QyUAmD28
— AJ McCord (@AJ_McCord) November 7, 2022
WE REMEMBER
Remember when everyone was like… “never gonna happen, Pac12 has a high academic hurdle that SDSU can’t clear” https://t.co/q4oBTCWsek
— Alex Kirry (@AlexKirryKSL) November 7, 2022
TUG OF WAR
One possible explanation regarding today's news about SDSU conference realignment is that the Big-12 is pushing hard for SDSU and the Pac-12 realizes it needs to act faster than the timeline they had put in place. We'll see if this proves true … 🤔
— Andre Haghverdian (@ahaghver23) November 7, 2022
TIMELINES
One possible explanation regarding today's news about SDSU conference realignment is that the Big-12 is pushing hard for SDSU and the Pac-12 realizes it needs to act faster than the timeline they had put in place. We'll see if this proves true … 🤔
— Andre Haghverdian (@ahaghver23) November 7, 2022
TIMING HAS BEEN ELUSIVE FOR MEDIA OUTLETS
Dan Patrick just reported SDSU to be invited to PAC 12 as soon as this week. pic.twitter.com/DEBXeRInnz
— Tom Aztec For Life (@OceansideAztec) November 7, 2022
SO MANY PEOPLE RAN WITH THIS ONE
Dan Patrick just reported SDSU to be invited to PAC 12 as soon as this week. pic.twitter.com/u6XPDg9tFc
— Tom Aztec For Life (@OceansideAztec) November 7, 2022
TODAY COULD MEAN SOMETHING
Aztecs ➡️ Pac-12 sounds more and more like ‘when’ and not ‘if’.
Big worry was SDSU ending up in a watered down version of the conference, but that seems less likely in the last month.
Part of me likes the Big 12’s potential, but if these reports are 🎯 a huge step is coming. 📈 https://t.co/IlfTn9YNiO
— Darnay Tripp (@DarnayTripp) November 7, 2022
WE'RE WATCHING
watch out for san diego state @tealtonedturtle https://t.co/Xdgja3BKt0
— Luka Donthičć (@landahoy14) November 7, 2022
OH?
😂 Perfect fit! Great value added! https://t.co/8LZnBmtxkP pic.twitter.com/6yT0DsLlqi
— Jason S. (@SpideYstow) November 7, 2022
TIME IS FICKLE
About time… https://t.co/QRavBhS04w
— Deztroy (@DEZTROYCLUTCH) November 7, 2022
SEVERAL MONTH DELAY -- MAYBE
lol yikes https://t.co/xvVFP596HP
— Fed Lasso (@StefonAW) November 7, 2022
SMU, NOT UNLV
If you’re the Pac-12 and you’re thinking about adding SDSU, don’t you acquire the asset and the San Diego market – and, BTW, UNLV and Las Vegas market, too – BEFORE you reconfigure your TV deal?
— Pete Fiutak (@PeteFiutak) November 7, 2022
OTHERS WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS
Whitt on the potential of adding SDSU to Pac-12– it would help us. It's a big part of our recruiting footprint so to continue having a team down there is a big plus. #Utes
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 7, 2022