The Pac-12 is reportedly considering a change that would bolster marquee matchups in the conference schedule for the 2018-19 season, a source told Fan Rag Sports' Jon Rothstein.
Last week, head coaches voted on projected standings to create a model where the top teams in the conference would more likely play each other twice.
Per Rothstein, the Pac-12 will have "travel partners" and listed below are the reported coaches rankings for the upcoming season.
USC/UCLA
Oregon/Oregon State
Arizona/Arizona State
Washington/Washington State
Stanford/Cal
Colorado/Utah
The top pair, USC and UCLA, would then have to play the top three seeds in a home-and-home series with standalone games against the last four, being the Bay Area schools, Colorado and Utah.
For instance, last season Arizona played the LA schools once in Tucson, and all three teams finished in the top four of the Pac-12 and were projected to finish in the top half of the conference prior to the season. The new model would ensure the preseason coaches rankings would structure the top teams to play each other twice during the regular season.
UA head coach Sean Miller applauded the Pac-12's ambition to discuss possible scheduling changes during last Thursday's press conference. Miller addressed the possible increase in conference games from 18 to 20.
"I don't believe 22 could ever happen, I believe 20 could. We're looking at the pluses and minuses of it and a lot has been talked about, but no decisions have been made," Miller said. "We're talking about a lot of things as a conference scheduling, but the fact that we're talking about it a lot of things and the month is May and June is great."
