Multiple sources are confirming, including the Pac-10 website, that Utah has been formally invited to the Pac 10. Utah will hold a press conference tomorrow and then it will be a done deal. My question is what do you think are some of the considerations the conference is looking at as they decide how to divide the league. Here are some of things that are likely to be taken most into consideration.
1) All traditional rivals must play each other every year (UCLA/USC, CAL/Stan, UW/WSU etc...
2) NW schools will fight tooth and nail to get as many trips as possible into CA every year....what is the least they will settle for?
3) Try to geographically align the divisions to minimize and balance travel.
4) Try to include secondary rivals every year (UCLA/CAL, UW/Ore...?)
I'm biased and care more about playing all CA schools every year so I'm favoring....
Snow
UW, WSU, Ore, OSU, Utah, CO
Sun
UCLA, USC, CAL, Stan, Zona, ASU
w/ 5 div games, 3 out of div games, 4 OCC games (less auto conf losses than before but a CCG will hurt whoever loses the game). Seems simple enough if we keeps the same 3 teams rotating ever year from the other division. For UCLA that would mean something like UW, Ore, CO one year and then WSU, Ore St., Utah the next year and so on. I imagine than the NW schools will fight for something different.
What are some other considerations?