It hasn't been the best year for the Pac-12 Conference, which learned it will lose two of its premier brands, USC and UCLA, to the Big Ten starting in 2024, and the league is still working on a new media rights deal that is yet to be announced, all while rumors continue to swirl around college football expansion with the Big 12 reportedly interested in adding whatever Pac-12 schools it can.
There is some hope that the Pac-12 can re-gain some lost market share by adding San Diego State or SMU, both of which have been connected to that league in recent reports, but Paul Finebaum isn't optimistic that there's a way through for the Pac-12.
Asked if the Pac-12 will be around by the 2026 football season, Finebaum responded: "I don't believe so. I don't know how it can," when speaking with WJOX in Birmingham.
"The situation is so fragile right now," he added. "The leadership is better than it was. It's still not very good. And, you know, I think you give the new commissioner, George Kliavkoff, a pass because maybe a year, a year and a half ago, his predecessor literally ran this thing into the ground. But he's had enough time and I think you have to give him a failing grade."
Looking across the college football landscape, it appears the major conferences have pressed pause on making any big moves, but the Big 12 has been open about being interested in expanding further in the future.
Big 12 officials have targeted the two Arizona schools in addition to Colorado as part of their latest expansion plans, according to insiders.
And representatives from Oregon and Washington have already been in contact with Big Ten decision makers about a speculative merger, though none of these interests have materialized into any formal offers.
All of which could spell doom for the Pac-12, according to Finebaum.
"Ultimately, as much as big conferences don't really want to expand at the moment," he said, "I think they'll be forced to take the cream of the crop out there, whether it's the Big Ten going after the Northwest schools, whether it's Colorado or Arizona or somebody else just deciding to go to the Big 12. I do not believe the Pac-12 can exist."
(WJOX)
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