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The Pac-12 Conference is a collegiate athletic conference in the Western United States that participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level for all sports. In 2021, the Pac-12, ACC, and Big Ten announced the formation of a historic alliance regarding the future evolution of college athletics and scheduling. Despite this, in 2022, UCLA and USC announced their departure from the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, with Oregon and Washington following suit, signalling a potential end to the Pac-12 as a power conference. This has sparked discussions about the future of Pac-12 basketball, with questions arising about the status of the remaining members and the impact on the landscape of college basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of announcement | June 30, 2022 |
| Schools leaving Pac-12 | UCLA, USC, Oregon, Washington |
| Destination conference | Big Ten |
| Pac-12 schools remaining | Oregon State, Washington State |
| Pac-12 schools joining Big 12 | Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, Colorado |
| Pac-12 schools joining ACC | California, Stanford |
| Pac-12's issues | Media rights contract, lack of success in football and men's basketball |
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What You'll Learn
UCLA and USC depart for the Big Ten
On June 30, 2022, UCLA and USC announced their departure from the Pac-12 Conference, revealing they would be joining the Big Ten Conference starting in the 2024-25 academic year. The move was a unanimous decision by the Big Ten presidents and chancellors and was made official two years later.
The departure of UCLA and USC from the Pac-12 had a significant impact on the conference. It lost the Los Angeles market, which complicated its media rights negotiations. The Pac-12 was already facing challenges, with other member schools also considering their options. The year after UCLA and USC's announcement, eight more teams left the Pac-12 for other conferences, leaving only two teams in the conference: Oregon State and Washington State. This led to questions about the future of the Pac-12 as a power conference and even its survival as a conference.
The decision by UCLA and USC to join the Big Ten was not a spur-of-the-moment choice but rather the result of months of quiet work by administrators. The move sent shockwaves through the sports world, as it was not a typical realignment and involved two powerhouse programs. The addition of UCLA and USC to the Big Ten expanded the conference to 18 member institutions.
The impact of this move on college basketball was significant. The Pac-12's value in college basketball had already been declining, and with the departure of UCLA and USC, its status as a major basketball conference was in jeopardy. The Big Ten, on the other hand, benefited from the addition of these schools, enhancing its position in college basketball alongside the SEC. The realignment of conferences aimed to maximize revenue, with the goal of making as much money as possible.
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Oregon and Washington join the Big Ten
The Pac-12 Conference is a collegiate athletic conference in the Western United States that participates at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level for all sports. In recent years, the conference has struggled to maintain its value in college basketball, and several member schools have departed for other conferences.
On June 30, 2022, UCLA and USC announced their departure from the Pac-12 for the Big Ten Conference, effective from the 2024-25 academic year. This was a significant blow to the Pac-12 as these schools were major revenue generators for the conference, particularly in the Los Angeles media market. As a result, the Pac-12's media rights negotiations became much more complicated, and the conference's future was thrown into uncertainty.
Following the departure of UCLA and USC, it was announced that Oregon and Washington would also be leaving the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten. This marked a significant shift for these schools, as they had been members of the same western-based conference for over 100 years, along with UCLA and USC. With these departures, the Pac-12 was reduced to just two remaining members: Oregon State University and Washington State University.
The moves by Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten are expected to have a positive impact on their athletic programs, particularly in competitive sports like football and basketball. The increased competition and exposure from joining a larger conference could boost their success and attract top recruits. Additionally, the Big Ten gains valuable members, strengthening its position in the highly competitive world of college sports and media rights negotiations.
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Arizona, Arizona State and Utah leave for the Big 12
The Pac-12 Conference is a collegiate athletic conference in the Western United States that participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I for all sports. In August 2021, the Pac-12, along with the ACC and Big Ten, announced the formation of a "historic alliance" to bring their member institutions together on a collaborative approach to college athletics and scheduling.
However, this alliance was short-lived as, in June 2022, UCLA and USC announced their departure from the Pac-12 for the Big Ten Conference. This was followed by a wave of realignments, with Oregon and Washington also leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, and Colorado departing for the Big 12.
On August 5, 2023, it was announced that Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah would be leaving the Pac-12 for the Big 12, effective in 2024. This decision was influenced by the failure of the Pac-12 to secure a media rights deal, which was a concern for Arizona State and Utah, who were initially less keen on leaving the conference. With these departures, the Pac-12 was reduced to only four schools: Cal, Oregon State, Stanford, and Washington State.
The president of the University of Arizona, Robert Robbins, commented on the move, stating that it positions the university well for long-term success and secures a bright future for its student-athletes, fans, and the university community. Similarly, ASU President Michael Crow expressed excitement about joining a premier athletic conference and bringing their programs, traditions, and the Phoenix media market to the Big 12. Utah President Taylor Randall highlighted the importance of joining their peers from Colorado and Arizona in the Big 12 and renewing their historic rivalry with Brigham Young University.
The departures of Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah from the Pac-12 have significant implications for the conference's future and the landscape of college sports. The Pac-12's value in college basketball has declined in recent years, and with the loss of several prominent schools, its status as a major basketball conference is in question. However, the Big 12 is expected to benefit from the additions, strengthening its position in men's college basketball.
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Pac-12's value in college basketball declines
The Pac-12 Conference is a collegiate athletic conference in the Western United States that participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level for all sports. The Pac-12 has a rich history and has won more NCAA national championships in team sports than any other conference. However, in recent years, the value of the Pac-12 in college basketball has declined, and the conference has faced several challenges that have contributed to its decline.
One of the main challenges has been the departure of several member schools to other conferences, such as the Big Ten and the Big 12. In 2022, UCLA and USC announced their departure from the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, dealing a significant blow to the conference. These two schools were major revenue drivers for the Pac-12 and their departure complicated the conference's media rights negotiations. Soon after, Oregon and Washington also left the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, further reducing the number of members in the conference. Additionally, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah left for the Big 12, while Colorado's departure for the Big 12 was another blow to the Pac-12.
The loss of these members weakened the Pac-12's bargaining power for lucrative media and television contracts. The conference struggled to secure a media rights deal, with negotiations stalling and other conferences jumping ahead in line. This further contributed to the decline in the value of the Pac-12 in college basketball. The departure of member schools also impacted the competitiveness of the conference. The Pac-12 had already been struggling to earn the biggest prizes in men's basketball, with no Pac-12 team winning a national title in recent years. The loss of top schools only made it more difficult for the Pac-12 to compete with other powerhouse conferences.
The decline in value and competitiveness of the Pac-12 has had repercussions for its basketball programs. The realignment of conferences caused a significant number of players to enter the transfer portal, with star players parting ways with their schools. It remains to be seen how the remaining members of the Pac-12, currently Oregon State and Washington State, will adapt to these changes and try to restore the conference's value in college basketball.
While the future of the Pac-12 in college basketball is uncertain, it is clear that the departure of key members and the resulting impact on media rights and competitiveness have contributed to its decline. The Pac-12's ability to secure lucrative contracts and attract top talent will be crucial in determining its future success and value in college basketball.
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Pac-12's media rights negotiations complicated
The Pac-12 Conference is a collegiate athletic conference in the Western United States that participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level for all sports. The conference currently comprises two members, Oregon State University and Washington State University.
The Pac-12's media rights negotiations have been complicated and prolonged due to various factors. Firstly, the conference's value in college basketball has declined in recent years, with the league not winning a national championship since 1997 and only two Final Four appearances in the past 15 years. This has resulted in a lower negotiating power for the Pac-12 when compared to other conferences.
Additionally, there has been internal turmoil within the Pac-12 Conference, with several member schools leaving for other conferences. In 2022, UCLA and USC announced their departure for the Big Ten Conference, and in 2023, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah left for the Big 12, while Oregon and Washington also joined the Big Ten. This loss of prominent programs and the Los Angeles television market has further complicated the media rights negotiations for the Pac-12.
The Pac-12's negotiations with ESPN also fell through due to differences in valuation. ESPN offered $30 million per school for media rights, but the Pac-12 board countered with a demand of $50 million per school, which ESPN considered too high and walked away from the deal. The Pac-12's negotiations with Apple also did not materialize, leaving the conference with limited options for media exposure.
The Pac-12's media rights negotiations are further impacted by the actions of other conferences, such as the Big Ten and Big 12, who are also actively negotiating their media rights deals and adding new member schools. The Pac-12's exclusive 30-day negotiating window with ESPN was prolonged due to the complex nature of the discussions and the involvement of multiple conferences and media partners.
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Frequently asked questions
The Pac-12 Conference is a collegiate athletic conference in the Western United States that participates in Division I sports at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) level.
Several members left the Pac-12 due to concerns about the conference's media rights contract and a lack of success in football and men's basketball. UCLA and USC, in particular, left for the Big Ten Conference for more money and exposure.
UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington left the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.
Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah left the Pac-12 for the Big 12, while California and Stanford joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Pac-12 is currently operating as a two-team conference through the 2025-26 academic year, with members Oregon State University and Washington State University.
