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Pac-12 Expansion: With UCLA leaving, what happens next?

By Ryan Kay

A general overall view of the Pac-12 Conference logo at midield at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
A general overall view of the Pac-12 Conference logo at midield at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pac-12 Expansion
The first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 16, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

821. . . . Jayhawks . . team

AAU Member: Yes

Top 40 Revenue School: Yes (#35)

Top 120 Academic National University Ranking: No (#121 tied)

Top 30 tv/streaming markets: No (#33)

The Pac-12 can not be as selective as the Big Ten conference for example when talking about conference expansion. Kansas is an AAU school and that is important for the Pac-12 conference that prides itself on academic excellence. The conference is also in need of a blue-blood basketball program replacement for UCLA and adding Kansas and its historical basketball program to replace UCLA makes some logical sense.

The Jayhawks are also making progress with its football program having recent success on the field as they qualified for a bowl game last season and played Arkansas very tough losing in triple overtime. Kansas is not considered a high-end academic university but they are not a low-end academic performing institution either which in 2023, the Pac-12 would have no issue adding to their conference. Their athletic revenue has increased and they are projected to be the top-producing revenue school in 2024 in the Big 12.  It would be a surprise if Kansas were to leave the Big 12 for the Pac-12 but specific things would have to take shape in order for the move to occur.