College athletics took a momentous leap towards realignment on Friday, as five schools altered their affiliations, leaving the future of one major conference uncertain. The day began with hopes that the Pac-12 would secure a new television deal, ensuring the unity of the league for the duration of the contract. However, these hopes were dashed when the deal fell through, resulting in five member schools departing the conference. Oregon and Washington will join the Big Ten, while Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah will join the Big 12.
The new affiliations will take effect at the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year. In addition to the departure of USC, UCLA, and Colorado after this season, the Pac-12 will now only have four members beyond this year: Stanford, California, Oregon State, and Washington State.
The Pac-12 expressed its disappointment in a statement, stating that the news was disheartening for everyone who valued the conference’s long history, tradition, and rivalries. However, the conference remains dedicated to securing a prosperous future for its member universities.
The addition of Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten will result in an 18-team conference, adding two programs with notable recognition and substantial media markets. The presidents of both universities expressed their enthusiasm for the move, highlighting the opportunity for their student-athletes to compete at the highest collegiate level and for their alumni and fans to represent their schools across the nation.
The Big 12, on the other hand, will expand to 16 schools, spanning from Florida to Arizona. The commissioner of the Big 12 expressed excitement over welcoming Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah, and emphasized the academic and athletic excellence these institutions will bring to the conference.
The vulnerability of the Pac-12 is largely due to its lack of a media rights deal beyond the current academic year. The proposed deal centered on the Apple TV Plus streaming service, rather than traditional television networks like ESPN or Fox. However, this deal would offer significantly less financial compensation to Pac-12 members compared to other conferences. As a result, many schools decided to position themselves better in the college sports landscape, which is increasingly influenced by television money.
While reports suggest that Oregon and Washington may not initially receive a full share of the Big Ten’s television revenue, they will still earn more than they would have in the Pac-12. The hope was for the Pac-12 to announce a new television deal and grant-of-rights arrangements that would secure the current members’ commitment to the conference. Unfortunately, an agreement could not be reached, leading to the departure of Oregon and Washington.
The Big 12 approved Arizona’s application on Thursday, with Arizona State and Utah receiving approval on Friday. The two Arizona schools have been members of the Pac-12 since 1978, while Utah joined in 2011. They view the move to the Big 12 as an opportunity to enhance the university’s profile, expand their reach, and provide more resources for their student-athletes.
Stanford and Washington State expressed their reactions to the news. Stanford’s focus is on evaluating their options and making the best decisions for the university and their student-athletes. Washington State acknowledged the disappointment and the possibility of these developments while working diligently to determine the next steps for their athletics program.
In conclusion, college athletics experienced significant realignment as five schools changed affiliations, causing uncertainty for one major conference. The affected schools are looking to position themselves strategically and achieve better financial compensation in a college sports landscape influenced by television money.
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