Pac-12 football: Ranking the league’s 10 best expansion candidates

CARSON, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Khalil Shakir #2 of the Boise State Broncos catches touchdown pass against Noah Tumblin #10 of the San Diego State Aztecs on November 26, 2021 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Khalil Shakir #2 of the Boise State Broncos catches touchdown pass against Noah Tumblin #10 of the San Diego State Aztecs on November 26, 2021 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 07: Quarterback Jake Haener #9 of the Fresno State Bulldogs runs from Michael Bray #55 of the UNLV Rebels during the first half of their game at Allegiant Stadium on November 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 07: Quarterback Jake Haener #9 of the Fresno State Bulldogs runs from Michael Bray #55 of the UNLV Rebels during the first half of their game at Allegiant Stadium on November 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

10. UNLV

UNLV provides Pac-12 football a base in Las Vegas, a glittering tourist destination known worldwide and an expanding sports market that’s added NHL and NFL franchises in recent years.

That’s an enticing possibility for the league that’s grasping at straws to replace losing two schools from Los Angeles (the nation’s second-largest metro area), but the Rebels provide very little on the football field. UNLV has recorded one winning season since 2001 and is 2-16 in the past two years. Ouch.

9. UC Davis

UC Davis as a lower-tier FCS school may seem like an odd choice for the Pac-12, but there are a couple of factors that work in the Aggies’ favor here. First, UC Davis is the only other University of California system school (out of 10) that fields a football team besides UC Berkeley and UCLA — consider the significant criticism that the Bruins have faced from California governor Gavin Newsom in light of their impending departure to the Midwest-based Big Ten.

Second, the Aggies have potential and a solid body of work for a relatively new program at the Division I level. UC Davis moved up to the FCS level from Division II in 2002 and has since claimed victories against Stanford, San José State, and Tulsa. They reached the FCS quarterfinals after winning the Big Sky in 2018. The school has an overall enrollment of more than 40,000 students and has an endowment of $2.25 billion — larger than universities such as Missouri, Colorado, and Alabama.

The UC Davis football program gives off University of Central Florida vibes. It’s a big jump to go to the FBS, but other programs like UCF have done so successfully in recent years.

8. Fresno State

The Bulldogs would provide the Pac-12 Sunshine State replacement for the departed Bruins and Trojans, though clearly, it’s not a swap that anyone would choose to make in terms of prestige or brand value.

On the field, Fresno State can make one of the best arguments for adding some punch to the Pac-12’s lineup. The Bulldogs have reached double-digit wins in three of the past five seasons, including a 12-2 mark and the No. 18 AP poll ranking in 2018. The team has also shared or won outright three Mountain West titles since joining the league a decade ago.

In the past four seasons, Fresno State is 3-2 against the Pac-12, including two wins against UCLA.