Big 12’s Triumph: The Pac-12 has been viewed by the Big 12 like Hannibal Lecter views his dinner guests: ravenously. Feast on the wounded enemy. The Big 12’s aggressive commissioner, Brett Yormark, seems to enjoy his opponents’ poor performance. One wonders if the dinner will leave any meat on the bone.
Colorado joining the Big 12 hurts the Pac-12 and its commissioner, George Kliavkoff. The league, once safe, is now in an existential crisis.
Given their poor football record and little national profile, losing Colorado may not seem like a big problem. Despite the hype surrounding first-year coach Deion Sanders, the Colorado Buffaloes are not a realignment prize.
Colorado marks the end of the Big 12-Pac 12 turf conflict, which has been brewing for years.
The Big 12 nearly collapsed in 2021 after Oklahoma and Texas joined the SEC. The Big 12 is reveling in victory in 2021. The conference’s swagger and prominence were restored by Yormark’s clever media contract and rearranging.
Losing Colorado affects more than sports programs. Since USC and UCLA shocked everyone by entering the Big Ten a year ago, the Pac-12 has been in trouble.
The league strives to maintain its power conference status despite Oregon, Washington, and Utah’s football success and Arizona basketball’s March banner. The Pac-12’s absence from the College Football Playoff since 2016 reveals the reality. Losing UCLA and USC has tarnished the league’s brand.
Kliavkoff wanted a substantial TV deal to help the other schools compete financially with the Big 12 and ACC. He desired steadiness. Getting third was crucial since the SEC and Big Ten are the best. Falling to sixth renders a league vulnerable.
For months, the Pac-12’s media arrangement promised competitive financial benefits and big-network exposure. Kliavkoff failed to deliver.
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ESPN and Fox didn’t want to invest in Pac-12 rights, so the TV agreement wasn’t disclosed until early summer. The Pac-12 claimed that delaying talks attracted new bidders. Kliavkoff was optimistic about losing schools.
Colorado caught on. Who could hate them?
Las Vegas nightlife didn’t prepare Kliavkoff for collegiate sports’ cutthroat environment. He was ignorant and disrespected in the Pac-12. After he suggested a written contract wasn’t needed to prevent athletes from transferring leagues, his “Alliance” with the ACC and Big Ten was questioned. After USC and UCLA left, the Pac-12 lost bargaining power.
The Big 12 prevailed due to Kliavkoff’s approach and Yormark’s savvy deal-making. Colorado’s well-planned transfer to the Big 12 assured the school a full $31 million share each year, which the Pac-12 couldn’t accomplish.
In the midst of this change, Pac-12 schools remain crucial. If Big 12’s coast-to-coast plans fail, Yormark could find other valuable sites. Arizona, Utah, and Oregon schools may be considering their options. If additional colleges quit the Pac-12, the league may be over.
The narrative degrades college athletics. The only West Coast Power Five meeting is unlikely to disappear. Bad judgments and sad occurrences have made it a grim reality. Colorado may be the “canary in the coal mine,” signaling trouble ahead.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Who is in the Big 12 Championship Game 2023?
In a showdown between the top two teams in the conference standings, the Texas Longhorns faced off against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Texas was eyeing their fourth Big 12 conference title, while Oklahoma State was aiming for their second. This highly anticipated game pitted the first and second ranked teams in the conference against each other.
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How many Big 12 teams are there?
The Big 12 Conference is a Division I Subdivision FBS with a current 14 teams (16 in 2024). Its headquarters are located in Irving, Texas, and it spans across 8 different locations.
What conference is Texas Tech in?
In Austin, Texas, Texas Tech pulled off a 78-67 victory against No. 20 Texas in their Big 12 opener at the Moody Center. Pop Isaacs led the way with 21 points, while Warren Washington and Joe Toussaint contributed 15 points each.