The Pac-12, now known as the Pac-2 after its epic collapse over the past few seasons, is on life support. Due to conference realignment, poor media deals, a brutal TV contract, and other internal and external factors, most of the conference’s programs have moved on, leaving only the Oregon State Beavers and Washington State Cougars in the fold. In the fallout of the “Conference of Champions” nearly dissolving, the Pac-12 and commissioner George Kliavkoff have parted ways after three seasons.
Pac-12 has parted ways with Commissioner George Kliavkoff. pic.twitter.com/barq9d8nEy
— John Canzano (@johncanzanobft) February 16, 2024
Kliavkoff replaced longtime conference commissioner Larry Scott in 2021 after the latter spent more than a decade in the position. Scott, like Kliavkoff, received criticism for his dealings as commissioner. Scott’s biggest criticisms revolved around shifting the Pac-12’s offices to a multi-story building in San Francisco costing a ludicrous $92 million in rent over 11 years.
George Kliavkoff: Out as Pac-12 Commissioner
Kliavkoff’s reign as the Pac-12’s commissioner will end after February. The Boston University product took over a conference with brutal television rights revenues due to the hard-to-obtain Pac-12 Network while struggling to compete in the highest-grossing college sport, football. He also took over when his predecessor, Larry Scott, made the highly controversial move to transition the league’s offices to a costly area of San Francisco. Kliavkoff shifted to remote work for their employees in 2022. However, Kliavkoff also tried to form an alliance between his conference, the Big Ten, and the ACC, but it fell through after poor planning and the exit of multiple programs from the Pac-12
Before realizing “The Alliance,” powerhouses USC and UCLA announced their departure from the Big Ten. Kliavkoff tried to stabilize the conference with a new TV deal, but the lack of signing of the grant of rights nor a media-right proposal resulted in another school, Colorado, darting for the Big 12. Kliavkoff later proposed a subscription-based Apple streaming deal, which received negative feedback from the remaining nine schools.
With the Pac-12 close to finally signing a grant-of-rights contract in early August, Oregon and Washington departed for the Big Ten. Arizona, ASU, and Utah followed to the Big 12 shortly after. Kliavkoff and the Pac-12 issued a statement the same day, saying its new focus is “securing the best possible future for each of our member universities.” California and Stanford left for the ACC one month later.
Pac-12: Two Team Conference in 2024
The Pac is now down to two teams, the Oregon State Beavers and Washington State Cougars. The two teams have made a scheduling deal with the Mountain West for 2024. However, Oregon State and Washington can only play in the MWC Championship after playing mainly schools from that conference. The partnership is currently football-based.
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