There has been nonstop reports and rumors about Pac-12 schools looking for pathways out of the conference. Well, it sounds like those projections and predictions about who will go where can be put on hold. The ten remaining Pac-12 schools won’t be jumping ship any time soon according to one Pac-12 writer.
The Mercury News’ Pac-12 Hotline writer Jon Wilner is as plugged in as it gets with the conference. He reported USC’s and UCLA’s departure from the Pac-12 first. He’s hearing now that the remaining members will let the 2022-23 season play out before making a significant decision.
Source: Unless #Pac12 schools make a panic move, "I wouldn't be surprised if they go the whole season" before future of conference is resolved. "There is no rush."
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) July 13, 2022
This report would back up the Pac-12’s recent statements about the ten remaining members wanting to move forward together. If all ten schools are truly in “no rush” to make a move, it’s a huge, temporary sigh of relief for Commissioner George Kliavkoff. He essentially has a year to create a compelling reason for everyone to believe the conference’s future is prosperous.
“Panic Move” is Possible, but Unlikely
Of course, the possibility of a “panic move” is still out there, as Wilner’s source noted. The Big 12 is reportedly looking to poach Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Oregon, Utah and Washington in an effort to turn itself into a megaconference. In fact, new Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark didn’t shut down the idea of poaching those schools at Big 12 Media Day.
“We are exploring all options and we are open for business,” Yormark said when asked about the Pac-12. “I think it’s fair to say I’ve received a lot of phone calls, a lot of interest. Nothing is imminent.”
The good news for the Pac-12 is Yormark echoed the same lack of urgency as Wilner’s source did. Plus, the Big Ten is waiting on Notre Dame before making another realignment decision. It got its fill by snatching USC and UCLA. Meanwhile, there are no significant reports of the ACC or the SEC looking to acquire Pac-12 schools.
Money has been a driving force behind conference realignment. It’s why Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC and why USC and UCLA joined the Big Ten. There’s a large financial benefit to join one of those conferences. The same cannot be said for the other two. ESPN’s deal with the ACC runs until 2036 and there’s no guarantee adding Pac-12 schools would result in a reworking of the contract. The Big 12 has potential, but there’s not a lot of rumblings about how lucrative its new media deal will be yet.
Honestly, if a Pac-12 school isn’t being pursued by the Big Ten or the SEC, that school’s best option is to wait. The remaining members should make exploratory calls, but ultimately, there is no immediate move that benefits one member quickly. The last thing an university should do is make a reactionary move that puts itself in a worse position than before.
For More Great Football Content
Follow us on Twitter at @GridironHeroics for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Football news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
