Pac-10 to consider expansion, too?

The Pac-10 could become the Pac-12 in the near future.

Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott told reporters in a conference call the league plans to consider expansion within the next 12 months.

"We have a group of presidents and chancellors who are very engaged," Scott said during a conference call. "All of them are very involved concerning an issue as important as possibly expanding the membership."

The discussion comes two months afterBig Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said his league also will consider expansion.

The Pac-10 hired former Big 12 Commissioner and former Big Ten Deputy Commissioner Kevin Weiberg beginning in April. It's expected Weiberg will help the league secure new TV deals or begin its own network. Weiberg was involved with the Big Ten Network in his short duration with the Big Ten.

Rumors swirl on the West Coast about which schools could land in the Pac-10. Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle puts Utah and Brigham Young at the top of the list. Bud Withers of the Seattle Times tabs Utah and Colorado as the top candidates. Other schools thrown in the discussion include New Mexico, San Diego State, Fresno State, TCU, Hawaii and even Texas.

Utah and Colorado seem the most logical fits for the league. Both are state universities with solid academic reputations. Any school joining the Pac-10 is going to have to bring something besides athletics to the party, such as market size and geography. Denver is No. 16, while Salt Lake City is No. 31 in TV market size.

So if the Pac-10 snags Colorado and the Big Ten grabs Missouri, what does that do to the Big 12? Rampant speculation would center on shifting Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to the North Division, and the South adding two former Southwest Conference schools TCU, Houston or putting on a full-court press for Arkansas.

Let the game of musical conference chairs begin.