[weg313]

if conference realignment is largely about sports particularly football and the $, Rice only serves to further erode perception the Pac-12 is already fighting -- concerns about quality of play compared to the other power-5 conferences

That's one way of looking at it.  However, every other P5 conference has their dogs in each of the Big 3 men's sports, and
Rice would not be coming into the Pac-12 by themselves, but rather, in all likelihood, with another 3 schools.  Obviously, Rice would have to make a major financial commitment to improve facilities as part of any deal, and would also likely have to agree to a much smaller share of TV revenue in the near term.  

Having said that, as the poster above mentioned, Rice does bring one of the best TV and recruiting markets in the country (Houston) and academically Rice is a perfect fit for the Pac-12, especially with it's latest decision to grow enrollment by 65% of the next 5 years.  And while the recent performance in the Big 3 men's sports have been sub-par to the say the least, expectations are for football to finally be bowl-eligible this year (in Bloomgren's 4th year and with the recent transfer of QB Luke McCaffery from Nebraska) and basketball to post a 20-win season (with virtually the entire team returning, along with a couple impact transfers).  And baseball is on the path back to national stature with the hiring of Jose Cruz jr as head coach, and with the infusion of 5 transfers already.  Also, though clearly not revenue sports, Rice women sports ranked in the Top 26 in 5 sports (volleyball, soccer, basketball, indoor/outdoor track) and Top 35 in tennis.

I am not so sure I'd bank on Rice bringing in one of the best TV and recruiting markets in the country (Houston), it just happens to be located there. In Houston it is all about the University of Houston, Texas A&M, and Texas.

TCU and SMU would bring in the metroplex, and that is worth considering. Heck, even Baylor would bring in Waco, although I don't want that.

University of Houston does not have much stronger fan support than Rice, particularly for a school of it's size.  It's largely a commuter school...and it's academics certainly don't fit the Pac-12 profile.  TCU, SMU and Baylor are all religious-affiliated schools which goes against the Pac-12 charter.

[weg313]

if conference realignment is largely about sports particularly football and the $, Rice only serves to further erode perception the Pac-12 is already fighting -- concerns about quality of play compared to the other power-5 conferences

That's one way of looking at it.  However, every other P5 conference has their dogs in each of the Big 3 men's sports, and
Rice would not be coming into the Pac-12 by themselves, but rather, in all likelihood, with another 3 schools.  Obviously, Rice would have to make a major financial commitment to improve facilities as part of any deal, and would also likely have to agree to a much smaller share of TV revenue in the near term.  

Having said that, as the poster above mentioned, Rice does bring one of the best TV and recruiting markets in the country (Houston) and academically Rice is a perfect fit for the Pac-12, especially with it's latest decision to grow enrollment by 65% of the next 5 years.  And while the recent performance in the Big 3 men's sports have been sub-par to the say the least, expectations are for football to finally be bowl-eligible this year (in Bloomgren's 4th year and with the recent transfer of QB Luke McCaffery from Nebraska) and basketball to post a 20-win season (with virtually the entire team returning, along with a couple impact transfers).  And baseball is on the path back to national stature with the hiring of Jose Cruz jr as head coach, and with the infusion of 5 transfers already.  Also, though clearly not revenue sports, Rice women sports ranked in the Top 26 in 5 sports (volleyball, soccer, basketball, indoor/outdoor track) and Top 35 in tennis.

I am not so sure I'd bank on Rice bringing in one of the best TV and recruiting markets in the country (Houston), it just happens to be located there. In Houston it is all about the University of Houston, Texas A&M, and Texas.

TCU and SMU would bring in the metroplex, and that is worth considering. Heck, even Baylor would bring in Waco, although I don't want that.

University of Houston does not have much stronger fan support than Rice, particularly for a school of it's size.  It's largely a commuter school...and it's academics certainly don't fit the Pac-12 profile.  TCU, SMU and Baylor are all religious-affiliated schools which goes against the Pac-12 charter.