San Diego Travel News: April 2023 | The Magazine

San Diego Travel News: April 2023 | The Magazine







Frontier Drive Inn Rooms

On Earth Day, April 22, which is also the start of National Park 7 days, all US parks offer you absolutely free admission. So strap on individuals mountaineering boots, and get prepped for some severe adventuring. Listed here is the latest journey information:








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There’s in no way been a additional enjoyable time to pay a visit to Colorado’s Terrific Sand Dunes Nationwide Park and Protect. North America’s maximum sand mountains shift with the wind, at situations reaching up to 13,000 ft. Sandboarders, evening sky aficionados, and hikers sojourn to Alamosa to discover (and even ascend) the dunes. Close by, the staff at the new Frontier Drive-Inn reimagined a 1940s push-in movie theater to now supply private abodes in renovated SteelMaster sheds or cozy yurts decorated with western textiles, equally overlooking the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountains.

A spa treatment method in just one of its 3D-printed adobe constructions or a nightly film screening in its theater is not to be missed. For inspired Italian fare, grab a seat inside of the candlelit dining place at the new James Beard–nominated Friar’s Fork for anything from a fancy fried bologna sando to a delectable eggplant parmesan.








Crater Lake

Some say Southern Oregon’s jaw-dropping Crater Lake Countrywide Park is one particular of America’s greatest places to search for awe. Allow the women at Explore Southern Oregon tailor a kayak trip by way of the Higher Klamath Nationwide Wildlife Refuge or a hike around the rim of Crater Lake. Seeking for a lighter journey? Winter season snowshoe tours and summer season boat excursions have returned right after a lengthy pandemic hiatus.

Beds in the region can be tough to occur by, so ebook nicely in advance for rooms at Klamath Falls’ Running Y Ranch Vacation resort. The assets just gave its Sandhill Spa a facelift to deliver river stone massages with dreamy views of Klamath Lake. Pop into the Ruddy Duck, a timbered eating home, foods truck, and functionality room for local crooners, to appreciate fresh caught wild salmon swimming in a bourbon-honey tub. Its array of craft beers on tap may well be the antidote for those people sore write-up-hike muscles.








Yosemite National Park

It‘s tricky not to be smitten with Yosemite Nationwide Park, and blessed for travelers, there are a number of new causes to voyage north. The venerable Ahwahnee Resort just reopened immediately after finding gussied up for summer time. If which is too posh (or crowded), Sonoma County’s most loved glamping hub, Wildhaven, now presents 40 new glamping tents in close by Mariposa County. Integrating the outdoor with a sprint of hipster minimalism, Wildhaven offers comfy beds, semi-personal outside chill spots, and staged photo ops for the ’gram.

Prior to heading again home, motor above to Merced’s initial wonderful-dining institution, Rainbird. Executive chef Quentin Garcia attained his chops learning beneath Michelin-starred greats all over the planet, like Restaurant at Meadowood’s Christopher Kostow. Now, Garcia is bringing his aptitude to the “Gateway to Yosemite” with an imaginative 5 class tasting menu spending homage to California’s abundance. Dishes like parsnip macarons, a duck breast in pine honey, and a grilled bread pudding topped with earl grey and lavender are placing Merced on the map.

Wave, not just the Padres, have chance to deliver major sports title to San Diego

Wave, not just the Padres, have chance to deliver major sports title to San Diego

The Padres have corporation as a San Diego sporting activities staff with a realistic chance to win a breakthrough title.

See: the San Diego Wave FC, who aren’t bashful about their intention to raise the trophy Nov. 11.

Some of you just rolled your eyes. Which is Ok. Two a long time in the past, who envisioned a women’s soccer crew would attract crowds of 16,000 to 32,000 to Mission Valley?

If Alex Morgan and her teammates had been to do well in winning the NWSL championship, area soccer aficionados would have their major San Diego victory to celebrate. The CBS telecast’s viewership right here undoubtedly would exceed the now strong in-person Wave crowds. Standing first in the world’s leading women’s soccer league would give the Wave a leg up on champions of U.S. men’s leagues that are enhancing but keep on being inferior to Europe’s leading circuits.

Recently, a couple significant women’s athletics events have rocketed into a new orbit. Will the flawed, 11-year-aged Countrywide Women’s Soccer League join the occasion? Which is to be decided, but the level that Padres General Supervisor A.J. Preller normally will make about young ballplayers’ careers — growth is usually not linear — appears at function.

Just take the NCAA championship women’s basketball activity previous week. LSU’s earn more than Iowa drew 9.9 million viewers. The previous mark: 5.7 million. That was just a person 12 months back.

Final summer time, 87,192 fans crammed Wembley Stadium to see England’s 2-1 soccer victory in excess of Germany in the UEFA Women’s Euro. The turnout blew earlier the file for a women’s global recreation in Europe. The telecast averaged 11 million viewers in the United Kingdom and peaked at 17 million. Both equally set British isles records for women’s soccer.

San Diego's crowd does the wave in an April 1 game against the NC Courage.

San Diego’s group does the wave in an April 1 match versus the NC Courage.

(Josh DaFoe/Josh DaFoe for the UT)

When a sport blasts past its specialized niche viewers, underlying influences are at operate. Patriotism can be rocket fuel. Other things may perhaps be a lot more delicate. Acquire 1 athlete’s partial explainer for the U.S. team’s ascent, pursuing Olympic and Women’s Planet Cup victories in 1996 and 1999.

“It was actually amazing just viewing soccer explode in this country,” former U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry explained to interviewer Olivia Christian in a retrospective. “But, it wasn’t just soccer that exploded in my impression. I believe it was potent females in standard. I know that my lifestyle and what I have accomplished in it has positively afflicted thousands and thousands.”

This summer’s Women’s Earth Cup will inject enthusiasm into the Wave’s time. Morgan figures to perform in every single match. Wave teammates Naomi Girma and Taylor Kornieck will attempt to sign up for her.

Decades ago, who would’ve forecast 1.12 billion individuals would watch a Women’s Entire world Cup, the FIFA-approximated viewing audience for the 2019 function in France?

Even if you don’t entirely belief any studies from FIFA (which is seldom a negative shift), the women’s ultimate drew 22 p.c a lot more viewers in the United States than the men’s 2018 Environment Cup ultimate performed amongst France and Croatia, for each Nielsen ratings.

The Wave (2-) will be challenged, of study course.

Can they continue to attract huge crowds to Mission Valley, wherever they are unbeaten in 5 matches?

Will they delight in frontline overall health like that which aided their 3rd-place finish very last calendar year?

Twenty formal matches stay, commencing with an April 15th showdown towards the OL Reign in Seattle. The title beloved is possibly the Portland Thorns. They edged the Wave in the 2022 semifinals and went on to get the title.

Xander Bogaerts

Xander Bogaerts, centre, celebrates with teammate Juan Soto, still left, right after hitting a two-operate house run all through the fifth inning of their April 4 video game.

(Gregory Bull / Connected Press)

Somewhere else

Like most pitchers, hitter Xander Bogaerts was cautious of the Eco-friendly Monster.

“It truly does search like it’s extremely shut,” he claimed.

Bogaerts typically felt like he could touch the 37-foot, 2-inch wall situated 310 toes down the left-area line. It spooked him, the Eco-friendly Monster as hypnotizing as the ring in Lord of the Rings.

“It definitely can get you in a good deal of issues,” Bogaerts said. “Throughout the decades, I have experienced to find out to modify to that. Try not to often want to hit into the wall.”

The uncommon Padres hitter to say he basically welcomed relocating to Petco Park — it is his story and he’s sticking to it — Bogaerts surfed to a .409 batting regular in his initial San Diego house stand. The righty pulled a few property operates and had 3 doubles in the 6 game titles.

Idea: it is for the reason that Bogaerts can hit… .

From the Dept. of BeLabor: Joe Musgrove’s fractured toe and Yu Darvish’s WBC relief get the job done will reward the Padres this summer. They have fewer innings on their arms subsequent a demanding 2022. …

The knee injuries Saturday that felled Mallory Swanson, 24, will discomfort anyone in women’s soccer. No one in the activity was a lot more fascinating driving with the ball. As she tried a contested move to U.S teammate Morgan, the 5-foot-4 speedster dropped to the Austin, Texas turf. The U.S. was playing Ireland in a Globe Cup tuneup… . Swanson netted a penalty kick in the Wave’s home opener, for Chicago. …

Of the various players on San Diego State’s nationwide championship runner-up basketball group — yes, just a reality-confirming reminder, the Aztecs in truth completed next out of 363 teams — who has the finest shot at sticking in the NBA as a bench participant?

Solution: Lamont Butler. The effective guard can protect, create his shot, dish and strike the 3. At 21, Butler was more youthful than 7 teammates in Brian Dutcher‘s 9-man rotation. Even prior to The Shot, his stock was mounting.

Recommendation to local athletics chat-show producers: Give Ted Leitner the mic for an hour for each 7 days and enable him go. No friends will be wanted. If Bill Walton is agreeable, give them two several hours jointly.

March Madness 2023: San Diego State makes Final Four after ‘devastating’ cancellation of 2020 NCAA Tournament

March Madness 2023: San Diego State makes Final Four after ‘devastating’ cancellation of 2020 NCAA Tournament

HOUSTON – Aguek Arop tucked his 6-foot-6 frame into the seat for his flight back home after an abrupt and gut-wrenching end to San Diego State’s 2019-20 season. Then, he pulled up a video on his phone that brought the pain into focus.

It was a compilation made by SDSU director of basketball operations Matt Soria of footage from the season for the Aztecs, who were 30-2 and projected as a No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament before the event’s cancellation amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“It was all of his favorite moments from throughout the year,” Arop said. “And that’s when it hit me. I watched that video and I was crying a little bit.”

More than three years have passed since a day that members of the Aztecs’ program still describe as “devastating” and “sad.” SDSU would have matched or improved upon its best NCAA Tournament seeding in program history after a 26-0 start that saw the SDSU rise to No. 4 in the AP poll.

Then, in the blink of an eye, a program that was barreling toward a golden opportunity to go on a run in the NCAA Tournament had its best season in years ripped away by circumstances outside its control.

“It was a feeling that you can’t really put in words,” said Jared Barnett, who was a freshman on that team.

But out of the heartbreak of an abruptly canceled 2020 postseason, came a foundation on which the No. 5 seed Aztecs stand as they prepare to play No. 9 seed FAU in the program’s first-ever Final Four game on Saturday night.

Five players who were on the 2019-20 team are still on the roster, and four of them play significant minutes for coach Brian Dutcher, who is now in his sixth season.

“For the five of us who were on the team, making the Final Four was a real special moment,” Arop said. “We lost it in 2020, we lost that opportunity. Just knowing that at any moment we could lose it, we just have a new sense of appreciation.”

Similar vibes accompanied Baylor during its 2021 national championship and Kansas in its title run last season. The Bears were ranked No. 5 when the 2020 season ended, and Kansas was ranked No. 1, which made the abrupt ending to that campaign similarly painful for them amid realistic championship aspirations. 

But the Bears and Jayhawks were well-established Big 12 programs with recent runs to remember and the talent to quickly make it back to the top.

The Aztecs, by contrast, were enjoying being ranked for the first time in five years when the season was canceled. Then, they lost three starters from the 2019-20 squad, including leading scorer and consensus All-American guard Malachi Flynn.

San Diego State still reached the NCAA Tournament the next two seasons but lost in the first round both times while lacking just a bit of the high-end talent that propelled the 2019-20 team to such great heights.

But the group of Arop, Barnett, Nathan Mensah, Keshad Johnson and Adam Seiko soldiered on to help this group of Aztecs finish what the 2019-20 team started.

“We’re doing it for those guys,” Seiko said. “I’m constantly talking to them, telling them how much I love them, how much I wish they could be here with us in this position. But they’re so happy for us. And we’re just blessed to be here.”

Jordan Schakel, who was a junior on the 2019-20 team, attended the team’s Elite Eight win over Creighton in Louisville and made his way on to the court to celebrate with the team.

“I hope that our success is giving them a sense of joy and happiness and some kind of fulfillment,” Mensah said. “So that’s one thing I hope we’re able to do for them.”

Seiko remembered being at home watching on ESPN when the season was canceled. Arop said he got a phone call from one of the SDSU coaches. Barnett recalled being at an on-campus restaurant with teammates as news started to trickle in of sporting event cancelations. 

Mensah may have been caught off guard more than the others. He had just been cleared to resume playing after a knee injury and texted Flynn with the good news.

“Haven’t you heard?” Flynn responded

That was how the one of the best seasons in SDSU history ended three years ago, and it makes the Aztecs unique in this Final Four. UConn, Miami and FAU were not on track to receive NCAA Tournament bids in 2020 and didn’t deal with the same level of devastation amid the postseason’s cancelation.

But the Aztecs haven’t forgotten what was lost in 2020.

“We always had that in the back of our head that we should have been here,” Barnett said. “We’ve always been trying to get that back and get back to that point we missed out on.”

San Diego State 2023 Final Four gear now available

The Aztecs are headed to the first Final Four in school history. Celebrate with commemorative t-shirts, hats and more. Show your pride for the boys from Southern California here.

We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

San Diego Travel News: March 2023 | The Magazine

San Diego Travel News: March 2023 | The Magazine







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Spring crack, spring education, a minimal R&R, or all three—seems like the Grand Canyon state’s dialed up the allure. Need to have extra coaxing? How about a pair of intellectual cultural events, a Nordic spa under the stars, and a dreamy new hotel? All right, Arizona, we listen to you.








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On the lookout to capture a Manny Machado homer at Cactus League spring schooling? On March 26, the Padres participate in at the personal Peoria ballpark, which is in the greater Phoenix area. At the end of the thirty day period in yet another Phoenix ’burb, the spring Pageant of the Arts in Tempe takes above the energetic Mill Avenue District with 350 artists from all over the globe hawking everything from turquoise bracelets to abstract, found-materials sculptures.

Afterward, grab a Crowd-Surfer Mexican Lager at Tempe’s newest woman-owned brewery, Hundred Mile Brewing Co. (FYI, these brewers perfected their hops appropriate below in San Diego.) The most recent lodge in the area, Westin Tempe, may be recognized globally for its brand’s marshmallowy smooth beds, but in this college city, sipping a spritz on a poolside daybed at the hotel’s Skysill Rooftop Lounge is the declare to fame.








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Sedona’s bringing some really serious luxury with the February opening of the very long-awaited Ambiente, A Landscape Resort. Nestled into three acres overlooking the Verde Valley’s iconic pink rocks and vortexes are forty glass dice domains that price tag $1,800 a night.

Besides a swanky, sustainable layout that involves a kitchen stocked with area goodies like Northern Arizona wine, a deep-black soaking tub, a personal rooftop lounge to look at taking pictures stars, and a seat at its special cafe, Forty1, the significant selling price tag foots the monthly bill for regenerating the historical waterway flowing as a result of the residence and restoring the landscape.

For people wanting to examine Sedona’s lively native history, the recently reimagined Trail of the Indigenous Peoples presents readers with a curated hike to seven notable Indigenous American heritage sites.








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Arizona’s initial Nordic-influenced spa, Higher Country Motor Lodge, is prepared for its close-up. Kitschy fun touches at Flagstaff’s revamped lodge involve mixtapes (and OG cassette gamers) in cosmic cottages, a activity home stocked with a pool table, and a cafe, The Common Retail store, serving mudwater cocktails (Guinness and Jameson) and Roman-fashion pizza. All of this enhances the Nordic expertise of rotating via the sauna, chilly plunge, and warm pool, finest relished beneath the dim sky.

When the fingers and toes get way too pruny, head in excess of to celebrity chef Rochelle Daniel’s Atria, the place you are in luck if the Two- Fisted Fried Rooster Sandwich graces the menu. The vibe listed here may search like an upscale botox studio waiting around room (imagine understated decor highlighted with hanging greenery), but really do not fret—the chill vibe allows the imaginative seasonal delicacies to dazzle.

San Diego home sales fall to lowest level in 35 years

San Diego home sales fall to lowest level in 35 years

January is generally a sluggish thirty day period for house sales in San Diego — but it is never ever been this slow.

There ended up 1,682 household sales in January, CoreLogic described Tuesday, which was the lowest at any time recorded in data heading back again to 1988. Prior to this, the slowest month was 1,742 product sales in February 1995, when considerably of the nation’s housing sector was likely by way of a continuous time period of a decline soon after a run-up in selling prices in the late 1980s.

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Unlike other times when the authentic estate market shifted — like the Good Recession — people today are not shedding their homes due to unemployment. In its place, wanting to maintain on to reduce interest prices, today’s homeowners are keeping set — dropping the amount of homes for sale to nearly their lowest amount in three many years. In the meantime, soaring interest rates are creating what residences are out there unaffordable for quite a few potential buyers.

San Diego County’s median residence value — which incorporates resale single-family members, condos, townhouses and recently created households — fell for the eighth thirty day period to $750,750. That’s down from a peak of $850,000 in Could.

Raylene Brundage, an agent who sells in numerous North County communities, mentioned the only phone calls most agents get are for folks who require to sell households for the reason that another person died, or are leaving the condition.

“It’s squeezing everyone,” she reported of real estate brokers, who are coming off quite a few yrs of more get the job done than they could cope with.

Brundage stated homes are still finding a number of delivers — just underneath the asking value. She reported there are customers out there, but they just can’t pay for residences at past year’s costs. The price for a resale solitary-family residence is even now up significantly for many potential buyers, she mentioned. From January 2020 to January 2023, the cost has improved 30.2 p.c.

For occasion, Brundage mentioned a 1,946-square-foot single-spouse and children residence Monday early morning on Lorca Push for $1.2 million, which the seller purchased for $695,000 in October 2018. Even if the vendor, who is transferring out of the area, gets under the inquiring rate it will very likely be a massive appreciation.

From Jan. 1 to Jan. 29, there were being 3,175 households listed for sale in San Diego County, said the Redfin Information Heart. That is down from nearly 6,000 at the conclusion of the summertime.

Consumers in January had lower fascination prices but it didn’t appear to be to transfer the market a lot. The fascination rate for a 30-yr, set-charge home finance loan was around 6.1 {515baef3fee8ea94d67a98a2b336e0215adf67d225b0e21a4f5c9b13e8fbd502} at the close of January, mentioned Freddie Mac, down from a significant of 7.08 per cent in November. Rates are on the rise again, with House loan Information Everyday declaring Monday that the preset-amount for a 30-12 months home finance loan was 6.88 p.c.

Here’s how the different house varieties fared in January:

Resale solitary-household: Median of $820,000, with 1,027 gross sales, and down from its peak of $950,000 in April.

Resale condo: Median of $600,000, down from its peak of $663,000 in Might. There were 517 profits.

Freshly developed: Median of $849,500, with 101 gross sales. This determine brings together solitary-family members homes, townhouses and condos. Down from the peak of $890,500 in August. Product sales in this class are predicted to be lessen than typical in 2023, as developers are reporting much less homes will be developed.

The month to month cost of a property finance loan has long gone up substantially in a year’s time when thinking of mounting curiosity prices. Getting San Diego County’s median house selling price — the level at which 50 {515baef3fee8ea94d67a98a2b336e0215adf67d225b0e21a4f5c9b13e8fbd502} the houses sold for additional and 50 percent for much less — of $750,750, the regular cost has absent from $2,997 to $3,934. That assumes a 30-yr, mounted-price home loan with a 20 percent down payment.

Alan Gin, an economist at the College of San Diego, reported falling house charges are not ample to make month-to-month payments wherever in close proximity to the place they had been a yr ago since interest charges are heading up extra more quickly than prices are dropping.

He mentioned, theoretically, there could be an equilibrium the place desire charges stay higher, but the property value drops adequate that a customer could get back to a $2,997 monthly payment. However, with interest prices continue to close to 6.1 {515baef3fee8ea94d67a98a2b336e0215adf67d225b0e21a4f5c9b13e8fbd502}, that usually means the San Diego County median household value would will need to practically drop an additional $200,000 to $557,900.

“There would need to have to be a extraordinary fall in costs,” Gin reported.

Individual finance web page Bankrate introduced a analyze Monday that shown the most effective and worst places for first-time homebuyers. It claimed the San Diego metro spot was the 2nd worst location in the nation, driving only the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro space.

Bankrate considered affordability, job market place, wellness and culture, and industry tightness in its dedication. It stated even though San Diego ranked better in other classes, especially wellness and tradition, its affordability rating was so reduced it canceled it out. It mentioned the greatest marketplaces had been Austin, Kansas Town and Raleigh.

Here’s a glance at the median price ranges across Southern Californian marketplaces for December:

Los Angeles County: Month to month fall of 1.5 percent to $763,000 down 2.9 per cent for the 12 months.

Orange County: Regular increase of 1.7 p.c to $950,000 Flat for the calendar year.

Riverside County: Month to month drop of 1.8 percent to $539,250 up .8 percent for the 12 months.

San Bernardino County: Monthly drop of 8.2 percent to $450,000 down 1.1 p.c for the yr.

San Diego County: Monthly fall of .7 {515baef3fee8ea94d67a98a2b336e0215adf67d225b0e21a4f5c9b13e8fbd502} to $750,750 up .1 percent for the 12 months.

Ventura County: Regular monthly fall of 1.8 percent to $670,000 down 2.1 p.c for the year.

Pac-12 expansion with San Diego State, SMU may be necessary before league inks new media rights deal

Pac-12 expansion with San Diego State, SMU may be necessary before league inks new media rights deal

The Pac-12 may need to commit to conference expansion first before achieving its compensation target in a new media rights deal, sources with knowledge of the situation tell CBS Sports. In an effort to return to 12 members following the departures of USC and UCLA, the Pac-12 has focused its efforts on evaluating San Diego State and SMU.

Pac-12 commissioner Georgia Kliavkoff has already toured San Diego State, CBS Sports previously learned. He is planning to visit SMU on Wednesday, according to Brett McMurphy.

The Pac-12’s next media rights deal will be heavily reliant on a digital streaming partner. Significantly more than half of each season’s Pac-12 football games will be primarily available via streaming as part of the conference’s next rights deal, sources tell CBS Sports.

Such a ratio is unprecedented for a Power Five conference and for whichever streaming giant becomes the first to more fully embrace college sports. The move would likely upset Pac-12 coaches, athletic directors and administrators who rely on widespread visibility for their games via linear (cable) and network platforms for everything from athletic recruitment to university enrollment.

The Pac-12 has long suffered from substandard distribution resulting after deciding to go with the standalone, wholly owned Pac-12 Networks. A heavy streaming deal would further limit the conference’s visibility. 

The next Pac-12 deal is expected to be split between a streaming service and ESPN. With the Pac-12 seemingly unable to reach its compensation target — believed to be approximately $30 million to $35 million per program annually — it appears to be urgent for the conference to expand as a condition of completing a deal in the monetary range it seeks.

Conferences that find themselves in this situation typically negotiate a new rights deal prior to completing a separate deal for expansion. That order establishes value for existing conference members prior to adding new members.

It is not known whether San Diego State or SMU — two Group of Five schools — would receive full media rights shares if the Pac-12 chooses them for expansion. Adding the programs would increase annual Pac-12 game inventory 20{515baef3fee8ea94d67a98a2b336e0215adf67d225b0e21a4f5c9b13e8fbd502} from 75 games per season to 90.

Which streaming giant is in the lead to ultimately carry Pac-12 games is unknown. Amazon was successful last season with its NFL “Thursday Night Football” package. Apple recently signed a 10-year contract with MLS. However, neither platform has shown much interest in college sports to this point. (Industry experts project most major sports will be viewed on streaming in coming years.)

The Pac-12 is only major conference to not yet renew its media rights this cycle. Critics say the league missed its most lucrative window as negotiations drag on.

Not helping matters is that far more lucrative properties are coming available, including UFC, NASCAR, NBA and WWE, the latter of which is seeking a sale to a content provider. .

Despite the loss of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC, the Big 12 was able to sign a deal late last year that was worth more than its prior contract. The current Pac-12 contract with Fox and ESPN, which expires on July 1, 2024, is valued at approximately $21 million per school not including revenue from the NCAA Tournament, College Football Playoff or bowl games.

ESPN is believed to be interested in the Pac-12 because of the “fourth window” — games that begin after 10 p.m. ET. The network would have a hole in college football broadcast day beginning in 2024 if it does not pick up some Pac-12 games. It already missed out on getting a piece of the Big Ten deal signed with CBS, Fox and NBC.

San Diego State makes sense in Pac-12 expansion. There already is a hole in Southern California given the Pac-12 has lost USC and UCLA to the Big Ten.

The addition of SMU would be non-contiguous (not bordering a state with a Pac-12 school) with the university 820 miles from Colorado, the league’s closest program. However, in at least some small way, SMU might establish a recruiting foothold for the Pac-12 in Texas.