Which is probably the ranking system that most closely approximates the PAC's academic priorities. That's ahead of Oregon and WSU who both fall in the 201-300 (and also ahead of BYU which is 301-400). The only other Western Universities that rank as high are Hawaii and Iowa State with Rice being a little better and only UT being ranked above the PAC mean.

I don't think CSU's academics would be a problem if they were in any way athletically or economically desirable to the PAC. There are very few Western schools with FBS football that fit that bill.