Why other conferences should keep an eye on struggling Pac-12

With the Pac-12 floundering as it searches for a TV deal, the conference seems to be in a death spiral. Other conferences looking to expand should take notice.

UCLA and USC — the most important schools in the Pac-12 — announced plans to join the Big Ten in August 2024. The stunning decision by those schools came as the Pac-12 was aiming to find a new TV deal. 

The 2024 departure of USC and UCLA, however, has crushed interest in a Pac-12 deal for the major TV networks. TV deals are the lifeblood of collegiate athletics, as they can funnel millions of dollars into a school's bank account. 

Per Sports Business Journal, a rumored Pac-12 partnership with The CW Network — which televises LIV Golf — has “little chance” of moving forward. The CW Network is new in the sports world and not well known by most sports fans.

College football has traditionally appeared on the major networks and ESPN. The Worldwide Leader has some interest in the Pac-12, but the parties are reportedly far apart on a deal. CBS and WarnerBros have dropped out, and NBC, CBS and Fox Sports are probably no longer fits because of their deals with the Big Ten. 

The Pac-12 might have to find a streaming partner, such as Amazon or Apple, as its featured home — a move that would be the first for a major sports league. A move to streaming could also put the Pac- 12’s future into further question. 

That is why any conference looking at expansion should look west.

Geography no longer matters in conference alignment as it did a decade ago. The Big Ten could solidify itself on the West Coast by adding Oregon and Washington. The ACC could add Stanford and Cal to keep up with the growing Big Ten and SEC. The Big 12, meanwhile, could poach Arizona and Arizona State to make up for the loss of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC.

Current Pac-12 schools must be antsy seeing the latest TV deal fall apart. It puts their future into question and will likely cause them to jump at the first opportunity for a more secure financial future.