Big 12 expansion speculation: Arizona State, Arizona to follow Colorado from Pac-12?

Colorado is leaving the Pac-12 Conference for the Big 12 and speculation has immediately turned to which Pac-12 teams could potentially follow the Buffaloes.

Arizona State and Arizona are right in the middle of that speculation.

Will the Sun Devils and Wildcats be the next Pac-12 teams to leave the conference?

The two Arizona schools lead recent Sportsline.com Big 12 expansion odds to be the next Pac-12 teams to bolt for the Big 12, with Arizona at +300 and Arizona State at +400.

Utah is third at +600, with UConn fourth at +700. Gonzaga (+1200), San Diego State (+1500) and Memphis (+2000) round out the odds.

Check out what college football writers are saying about ASU and Arizona's chances to leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12:

Big 12 expansion: Arizona Wildcats could leave Pac-12, Arizona State Sun Devils could stay

More: Pac-12 expansion speculation includes San Diego State, SMU, Boise State, UNLV, Fresno State

Action Network: Big 12 eyeing Arizona, ASU, Utah

Brett McMurphy wrote: "Arizona is the most likely Pac-12 candidate to join Colorado in the Big 12, sources said. Arizona State, Utah, Oregon and Washington also are possibilities from the Pac-12. If the Big 12 gets to 14 or 16 members for the 2024 season by adding Pac-12 schools, it would not add any other members."

The Oklahoman: Big 12 wants the Four Corners schools

Berry Tramel wrote: "The Big 12 has made little secret of its desire to pull in the four-corner schools – Colorado, Arizona, ASU and Utah – to produce a 16-team league. And that still could happen."

Big 12 expansion odds: Pac-12's Arizona, Arizona State favorites to next join conference

Action Network: Arizona, Arizona State among 'most likely' Big 12 expansion candidates

Brett McMurphy wrote: "Colorado’s departure for the Big 12 could start an exodus of more Pac-12 schools to the Big 12, sources said. The most likely candidates are Arizona, Arizona State and Utah. Arizona president Robert Robbins met with Yormark in Houston during the Final Four, sources said. Officials at Arizona State and Utah also have had informal conversations with Big 12 representatives and officials, sources said."

Trojans Wire: All eyes on Arizona State, Arizona as Pac-12's fate hangs in the balance

Matt Zemek wote: "Arizona schools need to have a presence in Texas, not just California, for recruiting. Arizona State football, under former coach Todd Graham a decade ago, made it a point to recruit the state of Texas. The Arizona schools would not be out of place in the Texas-anchored Big 12 (which has several schools in the state). USC in the Big Ten is a weird geographical reality, but the Arizona schools in the Big 12 would feel relatively natural by comparison."

More: Big 12, Pac-12 conference split for Arizona, ASU? Wildcats president addresses potential

Sportsline.com: ASU would 'almost surely' follow Arizona to Big 12

Matt Severance wrote: "Arizona has been the more engaged and more closely targeted school than Utah and Arizona State. Arizona president Bobby Robbins has said no decisions will be made until there's clarity on the Pac-12's television deal, but Colorado bolting could change the dynamic. If Arizona leaves for the Big 12, ASU almost surely will eventually do so as well."

Athlon Sports: Big 12 could add ASU, Arizona after Colorado

Steven Lassan wrote: "With one of the four corner schools in the Big 12 fold, could Yormark put the full court press on Arizona, Arizona State, or Utah to follow the Buffaloes away from the Pac-12?  The departure of Colorado is certainly going to increase the anxiety surrounding the future of the Pac-12. Would the rising level of concern about Pac-12 membership, plus the departure of the Buffaloes, be enough for a program like Arizona to depart for the Big 12?"

More: Arizona to Big 12? Conference expansion speculation swirls around Pac-12's Wildcats

Sports Illustrated: Arizona, Arizona State could follow Colorado to Big 12

Pat Forde wrote: “If Colorado brings the four corners (fellow Pac-12 members Utah, Arizona and Arizona State), that’s the ideal scenario,” one source told SI. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. Our schools love the four corners, going from 12 to 16. Can Colorado bring in Arizona or Utah? Arizona more likely than Utah.”

Bleacher Report: Fate of Arizona, ASU key for future of Pac-12

Tyler Conway wrote: "As it stands, the Pac-12 is looking increasingly weak and rudderless during a time that will prove critical in ensuring its future. San Diego State recently pulled back on its plan to join the league to remain in the Moutain West—a sign of how uncertain the Pac-12 is viewed from the outside. Retaining Arizona, Utah and Arizona State could wind up being the difference between the league remaining strong moving forward and a complete teardown."

More: Big 12 expansion, realignment: Could Colorado start exodus from Pac-12 Conference?

Pistols Firing: Adding ASU, Arizona 'ideal' for Big 12 Conference

Kyle Boone wrote: "The ideal addition(s) to the Big 12 from the Pac-12 always seemed to be the Four Corners Schools — Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah. Well, well, well: one down. Colorado’s move to the Big 12 could open up the door for the other three schools to follow suit. Remember: the reason Colorado was receptive to leaving the Pac-12 to begin with was because the league’s uncertain future related to TV deals. With USC, UCLA and now Colorado leaving, that should only be more realistic as Arizona, Arizona State and Utah consider their options."

College Football News: Arizona, Arizona State would be big additions for Big 12

Pete Fiutak wrote: "Arizona and/or Arizona State would be the real grab - if Oregon and Washington aren't on the table yet. Phoenix is 11th in media market size, and the UofA overall base in Arizona makes up for Tucson not being all that huge. Going after more Pac-12 schools will be the big media focus."

More: Pac-12 Conference collapse, demise predicted by college analyst Paul Finebaum

Sports Illustrated: ASU, Arizona targets for Big 12 Conference in expansion

Schuyler Callihan wrote: "The Pac-12 is on the brink of collapsing, if it's not already considered as such. The remaining institutions will need to find a new home and geographically, it makes the most sense for those schools to want to end up in the Big 12. The Arizona schools and Utah have been linked to the Big 12 before and will certainly be linked again once Colorado officially bolts. But Oregon is the big one. An all-around strong athletic program that has a strong national brand, which is something the league currently lacks."

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Big 12 expansion speculation: Arizona State, Arizona to conference?