Inside the Pac-12 collapse: Four surprising moments that crushed the conference
1 year, 4 months ago

Inside the Pac-12 collapse: Four surprising moments that crushed the conference

LA Times  

As the calendar turned to December 2022, the Pac-12 Conference was in a precarious position. If he could guarantee the Bruins $52 million annually during the five years of the league’s next media deal, the regents promised Kliavkoff a vote heavily in favor of UCLA staying in the Pac-12. The Pac-12’s math said that a media rights deal for 11 schools — even with the Los Angeles market back under the conference footprint — was not likely to net $52 million for each school. Three sources with direct knowledge of the talks who were not authorized to discuss the negotiations publicly provided The Times with the following new details about the Big 12’s offer and the Pac-12’s response. It didn’t matter that the deal included additional revenue based on subscriptions that could have put the payout to schools well above the Big 12 and the ACC, or that Apple believed so much in its ability to sell subscriptions to the Pac-12 content that it offered the schools an out after two years if they hadn’t reached the Big 12’s $31.7 million, two sources with direct knowledge of the offer told The Times.

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History of this topic

Big 12 distributes record $470M to schools, but original members see decrease after expansion
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Big 12 distributes record $470M to schools, but original members see decrease after expansion

New York Times  

IRVING, Texas — The Big 12 will distribute an estimated $470 million to 14 member universities in 2024, conference commissioner Brett Yormark announced Friday at the league’s spring meetings. That $470 million represents a record high for the Big 12, while at the same time a reduction for the conference’s 10 original members compared to last year. “As you know …

Washington gives Pac-12 chance to be conference of champions in football 1 more time before leaving
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Washington gives Pac-12 chance to be conference of champions in football 1 more time before leaving

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! NEW ORLEANS — The curtain will close on the Pac-12’s final season as a Power Five football conference on the biggest stage in the sport. Washington, one of 10 schools leaving the conference this coming summer, beat Texas 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl to earn a …

Pac-12 Signing Day: Oregon lands top-five class as it prepares to head to Big Ten
1 year ago

Pac-12 Signing Day: Oregon lands top-five class as it prepares to head to Big Ten

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Oregon’s class is ranked behind only Ohio State among its new Big Ten counterparts. Southern California’s class ranked second among 2023 Pac-12 schools and would be fifth in the new Big Ten, behind Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Michigan. LEADER OF THE PACK Oregon signed …

Pac-12’s demise steals the show from basketball players and coaches at media day
1 year, 2 months ago

Pac-12’s demise steals the show from basketball players and coaches at media day

LA Times  

UCLA coach Mick Cronin speaks while sitting next to players Adem Bona, center, and Lazar Stefanovic during Pac-12 media day in Las Vegas on Wednesday. “I’d love to keep the name, I’d love to save the league,” Washington State coach Kyle Smith said. “What’s amazing,” Bona said, rattling off a list of teammates that includes 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara, 6-foot-9 …

With Pac-12 unsettled, CFP managers meet to make difficult decision on number of reserved bids
1 year, 2 months ago

With Pac-12 unsettled, CFP managers meet to make difficult decision on number of reserved bids

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! College Football Playoff managers will meet this week, but with the future of the Pac-12 still unsettled, it will be difficult to make a final decision on whether the number of places reserved for conference champions in the soon-to-be expanded field should be six or five. …

Q&A: The downfall of the Pac-12: How did we get here and what comes next?
1 year, 3 months ago

Q&A: The downfall of the Pac-12: How did we get here and what comes next?

LA Times  

With Stanford and California joining the mass exodus from the Pac-12 on Friday, the one-time power conference could be no more by next year. With the news last week that Stanford and California will bolt to the Atlantic Coast Conference next year, the speedy demise of a power conference that has been around for more than a century is nearly …

Pac-12, the ‘Conference of Champions,’ dies at 108
1 year, 3 months ago

Pac-12, the ‘Conference of Champions,’ dies at 108

LA Times  

It was the early days of college football’s great shake-up, with schools jumping from one conference to another, everyone looking for more money. The deal never materialized and now, a few years later, the Pac-12 — known to sports fans as the “Conference of Champions” — has died. “To think even remotely, five years ago, the Pac-12 would be in …

Stanford, Cal and SMU join the ACC, potentially cementing the death of the Pac-12
1 year, 3 months ago

Stanford, Cal and SMU join the ACC, potentially cementing the death of the Pac-12

LA Times  

California running back Jaydn Ott, top, fumbles the ball while attempting to dive into the end zone against Stanford in Berkeley, Calif., on Nov. 19. While most industry observers expect the schools to join the Mountain West Conference, the San Jose Mercury News reports Oregon State and Washington State plan to take their time reviewing legal options because they could …

AAC won’t ‘look westward’ for expansion: Where that leaves Washington State, Oregon State
1 year, 3 months ago

AAC won’t ‘look westward’ for expansion: Where that leaves Washington State, Oregon State

New York Times  

The American Athletic Conference will “not look westward” for expansion following Friday’s news that the Atlantic Coast Conference is adding Stanford, Cal and SMU, AAC commissioner Mike Aresco said in a statement Friday. Here’s what you need to know: The ACC’s moves leave the Pac-12 Conference with just two schools, Washington State and Oregon State, which both the AAC and …

ACC leaders mull adding Cal, Stanford from Pac-12; SMU also under consideration, AP sources say
1 year, 4 months ago

ACC leaders mull adding Cal, Stanford from Pac-12; SMU also under consideration, AP sources say

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! A third person told AP on condition of anonymity that the ACC’s conversations also include the possibility of adding SMU, the Dallas school currently in the American Athletic Conference. “I share concerns about the impact that the recent spate of conference realignment activities will have on …

ACC considering westward expansion, with eye on Stanford and Cal, AP source says
1 year, 4 months ago

ACC considering westward expansion, with eye on Stanford and Cal, AP source says

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! The four remaining Pac-12 schools still aboard for next season — California, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State — have options if they are looking for another conference. The American Athletic Conference also has interest in expanding West and adding all four Pac-12 teams, a person …

For Arizona, the Big 12 offered stability while the Pac-12 was ‘selling candy bars’
1 year, 4 months ago

For Arizona, the Big 12 offered stability while the Pac-12 was ‘selling candy bars’

New York Times  

TUCSON, Ariz. — Dr. Robert Robbins, in his sixth year as president at the University of Arizona, recently talked with athletic director Dave Heeke about the school’s potential move from the Pac-12 to the Big 12. At one point, Robbins and Heeke walked into historic McKale Center, where red Final Four and Pac-12 men’s basketball championship banners hang from the …

The Arrogance and Incompetence Destroying a Cornerstone of College Sports
1 year, 4 months ago

The Arrogance and Incompetence Destroying a Cornerstone of College Sports

Slate  

The Pac-12 Conference, which started in 1915 as the Pacific Coast Conference and donned a bunch of names over a successful century of Western teams playing games with one another, is dead. After USC and UCLA exited for the Big Ten last summer, and after Colorado headed for the Big 12 last month, the conference took on additional water on …

Big Ten grabs Oregon, Washington; Big 12 completes Pac-12 raid with Arizona, Arizona State and Utah
1 year, 4 months ago

Big Ten grabs Oregon, Washington; Big 12 completes Pac-12 raid with Arizona, Arizona State and Utah

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Dealing a crushing combination to the Pac-12 on Friday, the Big Ten announced Oregon and Washington would be joining the conference next August, and the Big 12 completed its raid of the beleaguered league by adding Arizona, Arizona State and Utah. The Big Ten a short …

Oregon and Washington join Big Ten, putting Pac-12 in peril
1 year, 4 months ago

Oregon and Washington join Big Ten, putting Pac-12 in peril

LA Times  

Stanford football coach David Shaw speaks at Pac-12 media day in July 2022. It’s crazy to think that Stanford — the most successful athletic department in the country when it comes to winning championships, having won 26 of the 29 Directors’ Cups honoring the most titles across all NCAA sanctioned sports — would not find a home in one of …

Mandel: Pac-12’s demise is story of 12 years of hubris, apathy, astounding mismanagement
1 year, 4 months ago

Mandel: Pac-12’s demise is story of 12 years of hubris, apathy, astounding mismanagement

New York Times  

On the morning of Nov. 12, 2011, Palo Alto, Calif., was the improbable epicenter of college football. GO DEEPER The superconference that wasn’t: How the Pac-16 plan changed college sports From that point forward, the presidents, led by Scott’s principal champion, Arizona State’s Michael Crow, gave him anything he wanted — and what he wanted most was to launch a …

Arizona, Arizona State, Utah to leave Pac-12 for Big 12
1 year, 4 months ago

Arizona, Arizona State, Utah to leave Pac-12 for Big 12

New York Times  

Arizona, Arizona State and Utah are officially heading to the Big 12. The Athletic reported earlier Friday that the three schools formally applied for membership to the Big 12, and the conference’s board of presidents and chancellors were expected to accept the three new members. The three schools will join Colorado in becoming Big 12 members in 2024 at the …

Pac-12 being pushed to brink as Big Ten joins Big 12 in honing in on West Coast schools
1 year, 4 months ago

Pac-12 being pushed to brink as Big Ten joins Big 12 in honing in on West Coast schools

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! The boards of regents for Arizona’s two biggest universities, along with the University of Washington, had special meetings Thursday night, ramping up speculation that more Pac-12 schools could leave the flailing conference. That payout would be about half what current Big Ten members will receive when …

Pac-12 leaders hear details of media deal, but no vote to accept terms as league future stays murky
1 year, 4 months ago

Pac-12 leaders hear details of media deal, but no vote to accept terms as league future stays murky

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! With speculation swirling about the future of the Pac-12, Commissioner George Kliavkoff presented details of a long-awaited media rights deal to league stakeholders who concluded Tuesday’s meeting without voting on whether to accept the terms, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. ESPN …

Commentary: George Kliavkoff and the new Pac-9 learn a hard lesson. Universities follow the money
1 year, 4 months ago

Commentary: George Kliavkoff and the new Pac-9 learn a hard lesson. Universities follow the money

LA Times  

Tasked with cleaning up Larry Scott’s mess, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff got little help from college presidents, with USC, UCLA and Colorado following the money and leaving the conference. Texas’ decision to stay put and the NCAA’s decision to cripple the Trojans left the Pac-12 without a strong football brand to carry the conference and its ill-conceived Pac-12 Network. While …

Can the Pac-12 survive? Conference of champions faces murky future after Colorado bolts for Big 12
1 year, 4 months ago

Can the Pac-12 survive? Conference of champions faces murky future after Colorado bolts for Big 12

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Colorado’s announcement Thursday that it will return to the Big 12 comes a little more than a year after Southern California and UCLA said they were ditching the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten. “We are focused on concluding our media rights deal and securing our …

Colorado leaving Pac-12 and returning to Big 12 in 2024 following unanimous vote by board of regents
1 year, 4 months ago

Colorado leaving Pac-12 and returning to Big 12 in 2024 following unanimous vote by board of regents

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! BOULDER, Colo. — Colorado is leaving the Pac-12 to return to the conference the Buffaloes jilted a dozen years ago, and the Big 12 celebrated the reunion with a two-word statement released through Commissioner Brett Yomark: “They’re back.” “The landscape of collegiate sports is ever-evolving, and …

Big 12 leaders vote to accept Colorado, clearing the way for Buffs to depart Pac-12, AP source says
1 year, 4 months ago

Big 12 leaders vote to accept Colorado, clearing the way for Buffs to depart Pac-12, AP source says

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Big 12 presidents and chancellors voted unanimously Wednesday night to accept Colorado as a new member, clearing the way for the school to leave the Pac-12 and rejoin the conference, a person with knowledge of the meeting told The Associated Press. Another person familiar with the …

The Pac-12 could have been a disruptor. Now it might be falling to pieces
1 year, 4 months ago

The Pac-12 could have been a disruptor. Now it might be falling to pieces

New York Times  

George Kliavkoff was officially appointed commissioner of the Pac-12 on May 13, 2021. The announcement included a statement by then-Oregon president Michael H. Schill that described Kliavkoff, president of entertainment and sports at MGM Resorts, as “the new prototype for a sports commissioner.” “While George has deep sports experience, his biggest asset is his ability to listen, connect with diverse …

Losing Colorado is a blow, but Pac-12’s future will depend on Arizona schools
1 year, 4 months ago

Losing Colorado is a blow, but Pac-12’s future will depend on Arizona schools

New York Times  

It was always going to be Colorado first. Colorado’s decision to leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12 is a notable move but not a surprising one. If the media rights deal finally comes together and it’s enough for the Arizona schools to stay, the Pac-12 will hang around until the next round of media rights negotiations. But if the …

Colorado plans to join Big 12 in 2024: What’s next for the Pac-12, conference realignment?
1 year, 4 months ago

Colorado plans to join Big 12 in 2024: What’s next for the Pac-12, conference realignment?

New York Times  

The Athletic has live coverage of Colorado’s move to the Big 12. The school would officially become a Big 12 member in the summer of 2024 at the conclusion of the Pac-12’s current media rights deal. pic.twitter.com/UtGgY5WnTf — Big 12 Conference July 27, 2023 The yearlong courtship with Colorado played out while the Pac-12 and its commissioner, George Kliavkoff, attempted …

Arizona president Robert C. Robbins: Pac-12 media deal will be ‘better’ than Big 12’s
1 year, 9 months ago

Arizona president Robert C. Robbins: Pac-12 media deal will be ‘better’ than Big 12’s

New York Times  

In a wide-ranging 50-minute interview Wednesday, Arizona President Robert C. Robbins said he expects the Pac-12 to finalize a media rights deal “within the next couple of weeks,” and that he believes the dollar figure will be “better” than the Big 12’s recent extension with ESPN and Fox worth $31.7 million per school annually. I think we’ll be the third-best …

ASU, Arizona presidents address schools’ Pac-12 futures: What to make of their comments
1 year, 9 months ago

ASU, Arizona presidents address schools’ Pac-12 futures: What to make of their comments

New York Times  

The presidents of Arizona and Arizona State publicly addressed their schools’ futures within the Pac-12 this week as the conference continues to work toward securing a new media rights deal. Said Robbins: “ has done a great job working on the media deal, and I think he’ll bring us something that’s good enough.” Are Crow’s comments surprising? Last week, Yormark …

Is the Pac-12 really this bad? Why the league has no TV deal without USC and UCLA
1 year, 9 months ago

Is the Pac-12 really this bad? Why the league has no TV deal without USC and UCLA

LA Times  

A few days after USC and UCLA forever altered the college sports landscape with their move to the Big Ten Conference last summer, the Pac-12 announced that it would begin its exclusive 90-day negotiating window with ESPN and Fox for its long-awaited next media rights agreement. The move by Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff to begin that process early was meant …

What we’re hearing on Pac-12 expansion, SMU, the Big 12 and more
1 year, 10 months ago

What we’re hearing on Pac-12 expansion, SMU, the Big 12 and more

New York Times  

Editor’s note: The Big 12 and SEC confirmed Thursday night that Oklahoma and Texas will join the SEC in 2024 after an exit agreement was reached. Realignment is back in the news, thanks to continued discussions within the Big 12 about early exits for Oklahoma and Texas, and Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff’s visit to SMU on Wednesday. Today, it’s uncertain …

Pac-12’s Kliavkoff jabs Big 12, touts future after USC, UCLA
2 years, 4 months ago

Pac-12’s Kliavkoff jabs Big 12, touts future after USC, UCLA

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Kliavkoff confirmed the Pac-12 is actively exploring expansion and lobbed several feisty jabs at the Big 12 during an eventful opening speech at his conference’s football media day Friday in the nation’s second-largest media market. While painting a promising picture of the league’s future even after …

New commish: Big 12 open for business amid realignment talk
2 years, 5 months ago

New commish: Big 12 open for business amid realignment talk

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! ARLINGTON, Texas — New Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark declared the league “open for business,” saying that while nothing is imminent all options will be considered as he takes over with conference realignment again shaking college sports. “We are exploring all options and we are open …

Pac-12 facing uncertain future after losses to Big Ten
2 years, 5 months ago

Pac-12 facing uncertain future after losses to Big Ten

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! The lack of success, particularly in football, combined with the conference’s media rights missteps have put the Pac-12 on shaky financial footing, opening the door for two of its marquee schools to jump ship. The lack of success made the Pac-12’s football games maybe-watch TV, which …

Big 12 in ‘serious’ talks with 6 Pac-12 schools: Sources
2 years, 5 months ago

Big 12 in ‘serious’ talks with 6 Pac-12 schools: Sources

New York Times  

The Big 12 is in “serious” talks with six Pac-12 members, sources told The Athletic. Sources expressed optimism that new Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, hired last week, can pull it off. The Pac-12, despite losing two flagship schools in USC and UCLA last week, is “not panicked,” a source told The Athletic. A former Pac-12 administrator put it in …

After Big Ten moves, will conference realignment trickle down to Group of 5 again?
2 years, 5 months ago

After Big Ten moves, will conference realignment trickle down to Group of 5 again?

New York Times  

Here we go again? It’s also not known if Boise State would actually increase the per-school TV payouts in a Power 5 league, though it’s possible any G5 school could take less than a full share as part of a move. The Central Valley makes up one of the biggest TV markets in the country #ForTheV pic.twitter.com/TMnPHnrcyA — Fresno State …

USC and UCLA rock college sports by leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten
2 years, 5 months ago

USC and UCLA rock college sports by leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten

LA Times  

It may be hard to imagine — USC cardinal and gold and UCLA blue and gold blending into the pageantry that permeates through frosty fall Saturdays in America’s heartland. Ultimately, the Big Ten is the best home for USC and Trojan athletics as we move into the new world of collegiate sports.” UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond told The Times, …

The end of USC and UCLA after dark: 7 things to know about the Big Ten move
2 years, 5 months ago

The end of USC and UCLA after dark: 7 things to know about the Big Ten move

LA Times  

USC football coach Lincoln Riley watches his players during a practice session in March. The Big Ten reported more than $768 million in revenue during the 2019-20 fiscal year — the last before the COVID-19 pandemic — compared with roughly $533 million for the Pac-12. According to USA Today, the Big Ten paid its 12 longest-standing members between $43.1 million …

Pac-12 gets football season off to a shaky start
3 years, 3 months ago

Pac-12 gets football season off to a shaky start

Associated Press  

The Pac-12 opened the season with five ranked teams and was expected to have a competitive race to the conference championship, maybe even get a team into the College Football Playoff for the first time in five years. The Pac-12 became the first Power Five conference to lose six games on opening weekend since the SEC in 2016. Expected to …

The Pac-12 won’t expand for now despite interest from schools that want to join
3 years, 3 months ago

The Pac-12 won’t expand for now despite interest from schools that want to join

LA Times  

The Pac-12 will not expand its membership for now, the conference announced Thursday in a statement. “Following consultation with our presidents, chancellors and athletic directors, the Pac-12 Conference has made the decision to not pursue expansion of our membership at this time,” the statement said. It is also grounded in our confidence in our ability as a conference to best …

Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC announce alliance to work together on CFP, NCAA governance
3 years, 4 months ago

Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC announce alliance to work together on CFP, NCAA governance

New York Times  

The Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC officially announced an alliance Tuesday that will see the three conferences work together on multiple fronts, from College Football Playoff expansion to NCAA governance issues and annual football scheduling. "There is turbulence in college athletics," Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren told reporters during a virtual news conference. “The ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 recognize …

Pac-12, Big Ten and ACC near agreement to align in response to SEC expansion
3 years, 4 months ago

Pac-12, Big Ten and ACC near agreement to align in response to SEC expansion

LA Times  

The Pac-12 is set to join forces with the Big Ten and ACC to counter the recent expansion by the SEC. The impending alliance, first reported by The Athletic, comes in response to the Southeastern Conference’s move to add the Big 12 Conference’s two powerhouse programs, Texas and Oklahoma. As college sports faces large looming questions about professionalization, the NCAA’s …

‘Some people ought to be ashamed’: UCLA’s Mick Cronin says experts slept on Pac-12
3 years, 9 months ago

‘Some people ought to be ashamed’: UCLA’s Mick Cronin says experts slept on Pac-12

LA Times  

UCLA guard Tyger Campbell drives past BYU guard Connor Harding during the second half of a first-round game in the NCAA tournament in Indianapolis on Saturday. Basketball fans on the East Coast who miss Pac-12 games because they stretch past the closures of Taco Bell drive-throughs were probably already slumbering when UCLA coach Mick Cronin essentially said experts who dismissed …

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