A few conflicting reports already exist on the topic, but I posted on Twitter a few hours ago that Utah would indeed be the next member of the Pac-10. Sources claim that the school has met with Pac-10 official in California, and could announce as soon as Wednesday that they will be joining the current eleven school conference.

More details are expected on Wednesday.

Sources say that in adding Utah, the plan for the Pac-10 will be to bring both Utah and Colorado for the 2011 football season. The conference would then be permitted to host a conference championship game, as the NCAA currently requires conferences to have twelve members to do so.

There have been two different divisional alignment scenarios discussed. One would create true North/South divisions comprised of (North) Washington, Washington St., Oregon, Oregon St., Utah and Colorado & (South) Arizona, Arizona St., UCLA, USC, Cal and Stanford. However, sources are now saying that the divisional alignment might be setup that would split the California schools into separate divisions. The rumored divisions would include: (North) Washington, Washington St., Oregon, Oregon St., Cal, Stanford & (South) USC, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona St., Utah and Colorado. You can bet the Cal & Stanford fans will be unhappy with that if it comes to be.

The loss of Utah from the Mountain West would be a big blow for the conference. Just a few days ago, it appeared as if in addition to adding Boise St., they’d potentially be in the position to add current BCS schools like Kansas, Kansas St., and Missouri. Boise St. will be a positive addition to the conference, but losing Utah might dampen the conferences hopes of gaining an automatic bid into the BCS, something that seemed like a lock with Utah and Boise St. in the conference together.