The Athletic is out with a new piece on Pac-12 expansion. There are some interesting nuggets in the article.
Basically, the Pac-12 hasn’t done a new media rights deal yet because it hasn’t found anyone willing to pay what they think they’re worth. I will note (or brag - depending on your point of view), I wrote multiple articles this summer outlining all of the reasons why I thought the Pac-12 would struggle to find a good deal. So now the conference is probably going to sign away most of its deal to a streaming partner…hence the interest in SMU and San Diego State.
I do believe the fact that Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff is so publicly visiting expansion targets means they are close to expanding. I also believe that it means a new media rights deal is close too. You don’t add those schools if you don’t know exactly what kind of value they add in any new deal.
Finally, the article also talked about UT and OU’s Big 12 departure but they basically repeated exactly what @Anwar Richardson has been reporting…that talks for a 2024 departure continue.
theathletic.com
Basically, the Pac-12 hasn’t done a new media rights deal yet because it hasn’t found anyone willing to pay what they think they’re worth. I will note (or brag - depending on your point of view), I wrote multiple articles this summer outlining all of the reasons why I thought the Pac-12 would struggle to find a good deal. So now the conference is probably going to sign away most of its deal to a streaming partner…hence the interest in SMU and San Diego State.
I do believe the fact that Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff is so publicly visiting expansion targets means they are close to expanding. I also believe that it means a new media rights deal is close too. You don’t add those schools if you don’t know exactly what kind of value they add in any new deal.
Finally, the article also talked about UT and OU’s Big 12 departure but they basically repeated exactly what @Anwar Richardson has been reporting…that talks for a 2024 departure continue.
What we're hearing on Pac-12 expansion, SMU, the Big 12 and more
The latest on why the Pac-12 might need to add schools such as San Diego State and SMU and what the Big 12 needs to do to move forward.
theathletic.com
