What didn’t happen is the Big 12’s latest development in college sports realignment
.JPG "Incoming Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark speaks during a news conference opening the NCAA college football Big 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)")
The latest realignment news involves schools not changing conferences.
The Big 12 is not interested in a partnership with the Pac-12, according to ESPN. The conferences had explored the idea over the past few days under the notion they could be worth more at the bargaining table together than apart.
The Big 12 apparently believes there could be a better deal out there.
At Big 12 Media Days last week, incoming commissioner Brett Yormark said the Big 12 “was open for business,” and that could have meant targeting specific Pac-12 schools for expansion. Schools most often mentioned are Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.
That business could also mean a deal with another network. CBSSports.com reported that Notre Dame could remain independent if it can secure a $75 million annual deal with longtime media rights holder NBC. How does that impact the Big 12?
According to CBSSports.com reporter Dennis Dodd, NBC would feel more comfortable increasing Notre Dame’s revenue if the network could air “shoulder programming,” games either before or after a Fighting Irish broadcast. Notre Dame’s current network deal expires in 2025, the same year as the Big 12’s.
The Pac-12 was rocked last month with the announcement that USC and UCLA were leaving in 2024 to join the Big Ten.
The Big 12 went through a similar upheaval a year earlier when Texas and Oklahoma said they would join the SEC by 2025. The Big 12 responded by adding Houston, Cincinnati, Brigham Young and Central Florida.
The Pac-12 is currently in an exclusive 30-day negotiating window with ESPN and Fox. Its current media rights deal expires after the 2023-24 school year.
“We will leave no stone unturned to drive value for the conference,” Yormark said last week.
The Pac-12 has its football media day on July 29.
This story was originally published July 19, 2022 at 9:47 AM.