FORT COLLINS — Mo Kamara doesn’t just know how to read a quarterback’s eyes. Unlike some conference commissioners these days, the star of CSU’s defensive line can actually read a map.
“The Pac-12 just makes sense (for us),” the Rams’ senior pass-rusher said of his preferred realignment destination for CSU.
“It makes sense. And I think we match up against them. They’re not that much better. They’re regional, but they’re not that much better.”
The 6-foot-1, 250-pound Kamara hails from Newark, N.J., which is now technically Big Ten country. Although pretty much every state save for the ones in the Mountain time zone, Hawaii and Alaska could probably make that claim these days, given that the formerly Midwest-centric league has added (deep breath) USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington, Nebraska, Rutgers and Maryland into its ranks over the last 13 years. (The Trojans, Bruins, Ducks and Huskies are joining the conference next summer.)
It’s getting loopy on the realignment front. And whether the Pac-12 exists anymore, and in what form, likely comes down to its last four — for now — members: Stanford, Cal, Oregon State and Washington State.
As of Friday afternoon, several media reports pegged the ACC as a likely candidate to snap up the Cardinal and Golden Bears along with SMU out of greater Dallas in an effort to create a national, multi-time-zone conference of its own. It would also give the Atlantic Coast Conference two members along the … um, Pacific Ocean.
Rams fans would be wise to keep an eye on any Stanford/Cal decision, as Fort Collins could feel the ripples from any trickle-down effect thereafter.
New Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez used to work with the Pac-12, and reportedly has made pitches to both Oregon State and Washington State, the likely last Pac-whatevers standing, on a potential partnership or merger. The American Athletic Conference, which has been jostling with the MW for the title of “best” Group of Five football conference, is doing the same.
If Stanford and Cal formally join the ACC, insiders expect a mad scramble to try and woo the remaining Pac-2 members and take a new-look league back to their respective television rightsholders for better payouts across the board.
Or perhaps form a hybrid, mid-major super-conference, as has reportedly been pitched by MW want-outs San Diego State, that features the most attractive football programs from the MW and the AAC plus Oregon State and Washington State.
Such scenarios could break the Aztecs and Boise State — another program with very public Power 5 aspirations — off from the rest of the MW, despite the league’s public statements regarding unity earlier this month.
It could also split the MW right down the middle, cutting off “haves” such as CSU from thriftier peers such as Nevada, San Jose State and New Mexico.
Rams safety Jack Howell doesn’t care where the Rams land once the musical chairs are done shifting. Just as long as they’re lumped with longtime rivals such as CU and Wyoming.
“I’d want to be a conference with (the Buffs) and Wyoming, I’ll tell you that,” the former Valor Christian prep told The Post. “Because it’s such a good rivalry with those schools. (I’ve) got respect for them, but definitely don’t like them.
“It doesn’t really matter to me what conference CSU is in. (But) I think we can be in a big conference and we can be a big school that a lot of kids want to go to and have dreams about, (in terms) of playing here.”
While CSU faithful wait out any Stanford and Cal fallout, everything appears to be on the table for the Rams. Even if some of the legs of that table feel a little wobbly.
“To be realistic. I probably (hope for) the Pac-12, nothing too crazy,” Kamara laughed. “Couldn’t put (CSU) in the Big Ten, couldn’t put them in the SEC — let’s just be realistic. I’ve been playing college football for a long time. Maybe ACC? The Pac-12, probably, would be good.”
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