“If Memphis does stay in the East, it could severely disable the MWC,” Dellenger writes. “The Pac-12 is likely to turn attention to UNLV, Air Force and Utah State, three programs that have or will soon see the league’s presentation to expansion members.”

While the Tulane Green wave may be trying to stay under the radar, UTSA coach Jeff Traylor said the quiet part out loud.

When Oregon State and Washington State convinced Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Boise State to join their conference under the Pac-12 banner, it set off another round of realignment -- one could reach as far as Florida and impact powerhouses in Montana as well as the Dakotas.

UNLV would not be “structurally” tied to Nevada in the event the Pac-12 offers membership to the Rebels during the second wave of its expansion phase, according to a member of the Nevada Board of Regents whose comments contradict the public sentiment following a major shake-up in college sports on the West Coast.

The Pac-12's expansion efforts had been going on for weeks, but it wasn't until early last week that all parties felt confident the moves were going to happen. By that point, the general framework of the new-look conference was agreed upon,

The Pac-12’s continued expansion was put on pause Wednesday morning, as Memphis and Tulane are not a part of the conference. After programs like San Diego State committed to the Pac-12, others have been more difficult to convince.

The Tulane Green Wave are considered to be one of two American Athletic Conference schools on the Pac-12’s radar.

The Pac-12 conference went from two programs to six last week with the announcement that Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, and Colorado State are leaving the Mountain West to join Oregon State and Washington State starting in 2026.