Will the Fans Ever Really Come Back? there's one other requirement. a conference that wants us! why would the Pac-12 want to add 2 more teams (they are not gonna be the Pac 13) and if they were, they'd head into Texas for big money. We'd have to buy in, and probably buy out of our current conferences. Mountain West? Again, us and who else, because conferences want to have a balanced number to make two equal-numbered divisions? If the MWC lost teams, and needed teams to get to the minimum for two divisions (i think its 12) so they can have a championship game, made. else, no. to be honest, Sac is probably more attractive and they have a stadium that meets the minimum. I would think the Sac Metro area has bigger TV numbers than the greater Dixon-Woodland Metroplex.
and, there's the Tittle IX stuff. add more football scholarships and either add the same for women's, or drop a men's sport.
ain't gonna happen. there is no way a California school will make the transition up. just too expensive, and no suitable conference to jump into.
they mentioned South Alabama in the comments to the article. they had a stadium in place (old, but meets requirements). they are in a rabid football area and had resources (remember they showed up with a Semi with their logo?). they had a conference (a weak one, but a conference) who wanted them.