Discover the potential demise of the Pac-12 Conference and its implications for Cal in this thought-provoking piece, and explore the uncertainty surrounding its future and how it could impact the college sports landscape.
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Is The Pac 12 Dead?
Today, on August 4, 2023, history might mark the end of the Pac-12 Conference, which had a remarkable 108-year run. Reports emerged from credible media sources on Friday morning, indicating that negotiations were in their final stages for Oregon and Washington to join the Big Ten. With USC and UCLA already committed to the Big Ten next year, Colorado making its move to the Big 12, and Arizona seemingly inclined to do the same, the Pac-12 is hanging on by a thread with dwindling hopes of survival.
Pete Thamel of ESPN later reported on Friday that Arizona State and Utah are ready to follow Colorado and Arizona to the Big 12, leaving Cal, Stanford, Oregon State, and Washington State among the Pac-12 schools uncertain about their future.
Yahoo’s Dan Wetzel and Ross Dellenger commented on the unfolding scenario. The situation has been dynamic for days, with Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff’s inability to secure agreement from the remaining nine conference presidents on a media rights proposal involving an Apple TV streaming deal, which triggered a whirlwind of activity.
The reporting portrayed the situation as rapidly changing on Friday. Initially, it seemed certain that the Ducks and Huskies were departing, but then there were reports suggesting Oregon might not be fully committed to the move.
It appears that the final step to dissolve the Pac-12 merely awaits signatures from the key parties on the necessary paperwork to formalize the change. As of now, there has been no response from Cal officials, who must be scrambling to devise their Plan B . . . or C or D or E . . .
What Happened Pac-12?
Cal has issued a statement addressing the state of affairs within the Pac-12. The university’s chancellor and athletic director assert their proactive approach, stating that they are actively exploring various options to ensure the continued success of their student-athletes. Only Oregon State’s response remains pending.
Stanford and Washington State have also shared their thoughts on the recent departures from the Pac-12. The Cougars’ president and athletic director expressed disappointment with the decisions made by some of their Pac-12 peers. Meanwhile, Stanford’s president and athletic director acknowledged Washington and Oregon’s intended departure and conveyed optimism about Stanford’s athletic future, reaffirming their commitment to achieving excellence in college athletics.
Adding to the exodus, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah are preparing to jump ship from the Pac-12. According to Brett McMurphy of Action Network, these three schools are expected to join the Big 12 within the next 24 hours, subject to conference approval. This development leaves only four schools — Cal, Stanford, Oregon State, and Washington State remaining in the struggling Pac-12.
The Big Ten has made its official announcement, stating that Washington and Oregon will become part of the athletic conference starting from the 2024-25 academic year. After a week of uncertainty surrounding the future of the Pac-12 conference, the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors voted to admit these two schools.
Reports indicate that the Pac-12’s tumultuous week might have met its demise on Friday morning. Multiple sources claim that Washington and Oregon will be heading to the Big Ten, leaving the conference with just seven teams, while Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah seem to be potential candidates for a move to the Big 12. Although the Big Ten deal is not yet final, both Washington and Oregon have communicated their intentions to leave the Pac-12, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
The week witnessed a roller coaster of events. On Thursday night, the Pac-12 seemed destined for collapse, with ESPN reporting that Arizona was on the verge of joining the Big 12. However, hope was momentarily restored on Friday morning when a new grant of rights was close to being signed by the Pac-12 presidents, possibly keeping the conference together.
But as the presidents gathered for their meeting, Oregon raised further concerns about the Apple streaming deal, ultimately leading to the unraveling of the Pac-12. Should Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah indeed make the leap to the Big 12, only Cal, Stanford, Oregon State, and Washington State will remain, while Cal and Stanford’s potential inclusion in the Big Ten seems uncertain.
The Pac-12’s downward spiral began in the previous summer when USC and UCLA left for the Big Ten. The departure of these Los Angeles teams left Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff struggling to secure a lucrative television contract similar to those enjoyed by the Big Ten and SEC. Even though Oregon and Washington would receive only partial profit-sharing in the new Big Ten, they would still earn millions more in TV revenue than the Pac-12’s Apple deal offered.
Colorado had already made its decision, opting to join the Big 12 before Kliavkoff presented the Apple deal. Similarly, this move promised the Buffaloes significantly higher TV earnings than they would have had in the Pac-12.
The Pac-12 was potentially offered around $20 million annually through the Apple deal, although it remains uncertain if this offer still stands with the reduced number of schools in the conference. In stark contrast, the Big Ten and SEC schools earn substantially more from their media deals.
As for Cal and Stanford, their fate remains uncertain if Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah proceed to the Big 12. Earlier reports suggested the Big Ten’s interest in including them, but recent indications show that this prospect is less likely.
Yahoo reported that “Big Ten broadcast partners… have balked at moving to 20 teams and bringing in Cal and Stanford,” despite the conference presidents’ positive views on the association with elite institutions and the prospect of expanding into a populous, affluent, and tech company-rich region. It appears that the decision-makers favor a different outcome for now.
Is The Big 12 Or Any Other Conference Expected To Take In Pac-12?
Amid the ruthless reshuffling of college sports, a silent agreement seems to be in place: while it’s acceptable to witness the systematic collapse of a century-old athletic conference, no one is eager to claim responsibility for it.
The tragic demise of the Pac-12 reflects this delicate dance, as all parties involved seek to avoid blame for unraveling the once-respected “Conference of Champions.” Last week, Colorado departed for the Big 12, and now, Oregon and Washington have dealt the biggest blow by heading to the Big Ten, carefully choosing to act together to diffuse culpability. The Big 12 has already approved Arizona, with Arizona State and Utah following suit.
The Pac-12, as we knew it, is now all but gone. The powerhouse conference that boasted legends like John Wooden, Reggie Bush, and Bill Walton is now a shadow of its former self, left to grapple with the aftermath of a rapidly changing landscape.
However, don’t expect anyone to take responsibility for this upheaval. Negative publicity could tarnish the image of those involved, especially when decades of tradition and achievement are being laid to rest.
Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah agonized over their decisions, but in this fast-paced technological world, such deliberation only lasted a week. As soon as the Pac-12 lost Colorado, the Big Ten saw an opportunity and engaged with Oregon and Washington, having reversed their previous stance on expansion.
It’s essential not to point fingers at the Big Ten; the Pac-12’s fate was likely sealed long before. The writing was on the wall when the Pac-12’s media rights negotiation failed, causing instability and hastening the realignment process. With the conference teetering on the edge, the Big Ten saw a chance to step in.
The TV broadcasting giants had already made up their minds. The Pac-12’s best offer from Apple for a new media rights deal was significantly lower than other power conferences, leaving them in an unsustainable position. Schools like Stanford and Cal faced declining attendance numbers, and realignment was quick to exploit these vulnerabilities.
Now, the Big Ten and SEC are poised to expand further, creating a new landscape in college sports. Brands and money dictate the moves, and Texas and Oklahoma’s decision to join the SEC speaks volumes about their pursuit of stronger competition.
USC and UCLA have always held leverage, and the former Pac-12 commissioner’s decision to equalize revenue-sharing only heightened tensions among the schools. USC even entertained the idea of becoming an independent entity, much like Notre Dame, in search of greater value.
In the wake of this monumental shift, the implications are vast. Rivalries like Michigan-Oregon, USC-Ohio State, and UCLA-Penn State will take on new significance in the reshaped college sports landscape.
The fallout continues for schools like Stanford, which may have no option but to consider independence. Oregon State and Washington State may become sought-after targets for conferences like the Mountain West and the AAC. Meanwhile, Arizona may find itself playing games far from home in Orlando, Florida, and two other former Pac-12 schools will now venture to Rutgers to enrich the Big Ten experience. The Big One has made its mark, and the consequences will reverberate across college sports for years to come.
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Categories: General
Source: HIS Education