Six Pac-12 Schools in Talks with Big 12

Six schools could follow USC and UCLA out of the Pac-12 as the college football landscape reshapes in real time.

Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah are reportedly in discussions to join the Big 12. Oregon and Washington could also follow the same path. With USC and UCLA leaving for the Big Ten in 2024, a prospective mass exodus presents a dire scenario for the Pac-12.

• If all six schools depart, the Pac-12 would have only four full members remaining.
• 10 schools have reportedly reached out to Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren since Thursday.
• The Pac-12 is reportedly exploring its options, which could include bringing in more teams or seeking a merger with the Big 12.

TV Ties

Conference realignment in the coming months will prove an especially high-stakes question for the Pac-12, whose deals with Fox and ESPN expire in 2024. 

In fiscal 2020, which reflects the last college football season unaffected by the pandemic, the Pac-12 distributed an average of $33.6 million to its member schools. The Big Ten, meanwhile, gave out $54.3 million to each of its members except Maryland and Rutgers, which joined in 2014.

The Big Ten’s next set of media deals were expected to top $1 billion prior to USC and UCLA joining the conference.