Andrew Pace
The Pac-12 Conference has been a staple of college athletics for over a century, but its future is now uncertain. The conference has undergone significant changes in recent years, with several schools departing for other conferences and the Pac-12 struggling to secure a media rights deal. The league's demise has been attributed to various factors, including declining performance, TV rights deals, and the lack of a central governing body. The Pac-12's final basketball tournament took place in March 2024, marking the end of an era for the conference. So, is Pac-12 basketball dead, or can it be revived?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for extinction | Realignment of teams to other conferences |
| Teams that have left | Colorado, UCLA, USC, Oregon, Washington |
| Teams that might leave | Arizona, Arizona State, Utah |
| Remaining teams | Stanford, California, Oregon State, Washington State |
| Possible future | Recruiting new teams from other conferences, e.g., Mountain West or West Coast Conference |
| Impact on college basketball | Changes to rivalries, increased travel for athletes, potential changes to Division I NCAA tournaments |
| Performance | No national basketball championship since 1997 |
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What You'll Learn
The Pac-12's decline in performance
One of the main issues contributing to the Pac-12's decline is the loss of member schools to other conferences. In 2022, UCLA and USC announced their departure from the Pac-12, dealing a significant blow to the conference as they were two of its most prominent programs. This was followed by a wave of departures, with Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, and Colorado joining the Big 12, and Oregon and Washington moving to the Big Ten. The loss of these schools not only weakened the Pac-12's athletic prowess but also impacted media rights negotiations and the league's ability to attract viewers, especially on the East Coast.
The Pac-12's failure to secure media rights deals further exacerbated its problems. The league's TV network struggled to attract viewers, and its games were often televised too late for East Coast fans. This resulted in declining viewership and revenue, making it difficult for the Pac-12 to compete with other conferences that had secured lucrative TV deals.
Additionally, the Pac-12's performance on the court also contributed to its decline. The league has not won a national basketball championship since 1997, despite billing itself as the "Conference of Champions." This lack of success, combined with the dominance of other conferences like the Big 12, further diminished the Pac-12's reputation and appeal.
The decline of the Pac-12 has also been attributed to a lack of effective leadership and poor decision-making. Critics have blamed commissioners and university presidents for their inability to adapt to the changing landscape, their pretentiousness, and their failure to capitalize on expansion opportunities.
As a result of these factors, the Pac-12 has struggled to remain relevant in college athletics, and its decline in performance has led to speculation about its potential extinction as a power conference.
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Realignment of conferences
The Pac-12 Conference has undergone significant changes in recent years, with several schools departing and new members joining. This realignment has had a notable impact on the conference's basketball programs, leading some to question the future of Pac-12 basketball.
In 2021, UCLA and USC announced their departure from the Pac-12, intending to join the Big Ten Conference in the 2024–25 academic year. This move complicated the conference's media rights negotiations, as UCLA and USC were two of the conference's flagship programs, and they brought the Los Angeles television market with them. The University of Washington attempted to prevent these schools from gaining full control of the conference for the 2023–24 academic year, but their efforts were ultimately overturned by the Washington State Supreme Court.
Amid these changes, several other Pac-12 members also explored realignment options. Colorado left the Pac-12 for the Big 12, effective in the 2024–25 school year. Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah also appeared poised to join the Big 12, further reducing the number of teams in the Pac-12. Meanwhile, Oregon and Washington announced their move to the Big Ten, joining UCLA and USC in that conference.
With these departures, the Pac-12 was left with only four remaining schools: Stanford, California, Oregon State, and Washington State. There were discussions about the possibility of recruiting new members from other conferences, such as the Mountain West or West Coast Conference. However, it was speculated that the Mountain West Conference might attempt to lure these remaining Pac-12 schools instead.
In an effort to rebuild, the Pac-12 added Texas State as its eighth football-playing school. They also added basketball powerhouse Gonzaga, a non-football school, and explored the idea of affiliate members like Saint Mary's basketball. Additionally, the Pac-12 announced a media rights package with CBS as its primary TV partner, signalling a new direction for the conference.
While the Pac-12 has undoubtedly undergone significant changes and faced challenges in recent years, some believe it is not dead but evolving. The realignment has created opportunities for new members and a re-evaluation of the conference's strategy. However, the impact of these changes on the competitive landscape of college basketball, including the rivalry games and the balance of power between conferences, remains to be seen.
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The rise of the Big 12
The Big 12 Conference is a group of 16 universities that compete in the NCAA Division I level. The conference was formed in 1994 and began conference play in 1996. The Big 12 is considered the leader of men's college basketball, having finished first in KenPom's conference ratings in eight of the past ten years. The Big 12 has also captured two of the past three national championships.
The Big 12's status as the sport's kingpin was strengthened when it gained Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah in the realignment, with Houston also on its way. The Big 12 Conference has historically sponsored championship competition in 10 men's and 15 women's NCAA-sanctioned sports. Basketball, football, and golf are the only men's sports with full participation by the entire conference.
In recent years, the Big 12 has maximized creative sponsorships. In 2023, the conference announced a partnership with the legendary Rucker Park for a community engagement event, including men's and women's summer exhibition games. In July 2025, the conference announced a sponsorship deal with PayPal worth about $100 million over three years.
The Big 12 Conference has also secured lucrative media rights deals with ESPN and Fox Sports. The value of the contract is set to increase by about $125 million per year with the additions of Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah.
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The Pac-12's failure to secure media rights deals
The Pac-12 Conference's failure to secure media rights deals has had a significant impact on its future. The conference, once a major player in college sports, is now facing an uncertain future with the potential departure of several member schools.
In June 2022, UCLA and USC announced their decision to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, dealing a significant blow to the conference. This move not only resulted in the loss of two prominent programs but also the entire Los Angeles television market, which complicated the conference's media rights negotiations. The Pac-12's existing media rights deals with FOX and ESPN were set to expire in 2024, and the conference began negotiations in July 2022. However, the process was marred by missteps and delays, with the conference failing to secure a new deal by the end of that year.
The Pac-12's pursuit of a media rights deal was described as a disaster and an embarrassing failure. The conference was criticized for its lack of urgency and poor negotiation strategies, which ultimately led to the breakdown of potential deals. The conference's dysfunction and inability to act promptly resulted in a loss of leverage, leaving member schools with no choice but to consider other options.
The failure to secure a media rights deal had a domino effect, with Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah also announcing their intentions to leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12. Oregon and Washington joined the list of departures, further diminishing the Pac-12's stature.
The Pac-12's inability to finalize a media rights deal in a timely manner contributed to its decline and the potential departure of member schools. The conference's future now hangs in the balance, with only a handful of schools remaining committed. The once-powerful Pac-12 is facing an uphill battle to rebuild and regain its prominence in college sports.
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The Pac-12's inability to adapt to modern college football
The Pac-12 has been a staple of college athletics for over a century, but its inability to adapt to the modern landscape of college football has led to its downfall. The league has struggled to keep up with the rapidly changing media environment, which has been a crucial factor in its demise.
The Pac-12's failure to secure a media rights deal has been a significant contributing factor to its struggles. In the modern era of college football, media rights deals are essential for generating revenue and attracting viewers. The league's inability to adapt to this new reality has resulted in a loss of appeal and financial difficulties.
Additionally, the Pac-12 has faced challenges due to its geographical location. The West Coast time zone has made it difficult for the league to secure prime television slots and attract a wider audience. This has further impacted their ability to negotiate favourable media rights deals and has likely influenced the decision of several schools to leave the conference.
The inability of the Pac-12 to keep up with the modern college football landscape has also been evident in its performance on the field. The league has not won a national football title in over three decades, with their last championship coming in 1991. The lack of success on the field has only exacerbated the issues surrounding media rights and revenue generation.
The Pac-12's downfall has had a significant impact on college athletics, and its demise serves as a reminder of the importance of adapting to the ever-changing landscape of college football. The league's struggles have resulted in a mass exodus of schools, with only two remaining as of 2024. The inability to adapt to modern college football has ultimately led to the end of a historic conference.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Pac-12 is dead as a power conference. It may survive as a conference with a lot of weaker teams.
The Pac-12 billed itself as the "Conference of Champions", but its performance declined in the two major sports, namely football and basketball. The Pac-12 has not won a national basketball championship since 1997. The league's demise was ultimately sealed in boardrooms, but it was not helped by its declining performance on the field.
The remaining Pac-12 schools could try to rebuild by recruiting from the Mountain West or West Coast Conference. However, it is more likely that the Mountain West will attempt to lure them instead.
