As the Pac-12 Conference continues to search for two more football programs to meet the NCAA's minimum of eight teams by 2026, four universities from the American Athletic Conference now are off the table.

Four schools in the American Athletic Conference will not join the Pac-12, but AP sources said Gonzaga is now discussing potentially joining the conference.

This latest round of conference realignment has turned into a struggle for College Football Playoff access primacy. The current Mountain West is regarded as the best of the Group of Five conference and its champion would likely earn an automatic CFP bid in most years under the current format.

After reported discussions regarding a potential move to the Pac-12, several AAC schools are remaining members of the conference instead. The AAC announced

North Texas officials have long touted just how good a fit the American Athletic Conference is for its programs due to the number of Texas and regional rivals in the

Despite rumors of the University of Memphis being a candidate for the Pac-12 expansion, the school remains a member of the American.

UTSA was among a group of four AAC schools to state a commitment to the league Monday, joining Memphis, USF and Tulane.

Memphis, Tulane, UTSA and South Florida reaffirmed their commitment to the AAC, spurning potential offers to join the reconstituted Pac-12. All four schools were reportedly courted by the re-imagined conference,

Memphis, Tulane and South Florida plan to announce their continued commitment to the American Athletic Conference, turning down serious interest from the Pac-12, sources told Yahoo Sports on Monday. UTSA,