The only conference that would take CSU is the Big 12. There isn't a Pac 12 or B1G offer that will ever materialize. A bunch of stuff has to happen for the B12 to extend an offer. The first, and probably most important, is that the B12 decides it even wants more than 10 teams. Both UT and OU have made it clear that they prefer a 10-team league. Those two schools run the B12. So they have to change their mind on that before anything that CSU does even comes into consideration. Once they make that determination, CSU has to be in a position where they offer something the other potential candidates don't. For now, those other candidates include schools like Cincinatti, USF, UCF, Tulsa, SMU, Houston, UNM and BYU. Cincinatti probably holds the biggest edge, in that they're located in a populous state, near another member school (WVA), and would probably move some TV sets. BYU would be next - they have a national following. CSU's best hope is that the B12 not only decides to expand to 12 teams, but that it decides to expand to 14 or 16 teams. That's a very, very steep hill to climb. So yes, it's probably not realistic at all for them to expect the invite, but they have two options - either work at doing what it takes to get one, or give up. Their pride won't allow them to give up.