What’s Next For The PAC-12 If The CW Deal Falls Through?

Overtime Heroics Editorial

878 days ago

Reports throughout the offseason have given us a vision of the troubles that the PAC-12 is facing with the upcoming television deal. PAC-12 was dealt a huge blow to their conference when their two big name universities (USC and UCLA) announced they were leaving the PAC-12 and going to the Big Ten conference in 2024. It not only hurt their credibility but it hurt their stream of money that those two schools offer. With those two universities leaving other schools may follow their lead as well.

The Importance Of Television Deals

Television deals are the lifeblood of all college sports conferences. It’s there main source of revenue and it also allows other "Non-Rev" sports to get some shine in households where it wouldn’t typically be. The hope is to penetrate markets where they aren’t typically seen. So, for the PAC-12 this could be the Midwest and East Coast. With exposure comes interest and with interest comes money. This money has been funneled to the conference, then the individual schools and now we are seeing it help fund NIL initiatives so the student athletes can now get their taste. Like the professional sports leagues the athletes hope to showcase their talents in, its all become a business now.

LIV Golf and Pac 12 football. What a dynamic duo for the CW https://t.co/pfA3X3hQZU

— Rugby Kobi 🇺🇲 (@KobiRugby) April 7, 2023

Weak Interest For PAC-12

As mentioned above, the PAC-12 will be losing USC and UCLA starting in the 2024 season to the Big Ten as that conference has expanded their grip on college sports. To give some scope to how far apart the PAC-12 is to the Big Ten and SEC, here are some stats. In 2021, the Big Ten Network brought in $583 Million in revenue and the SEC Network brought in a whopping $833 Million. The PAC-12 Network brought in just north of $37 Million. The new TV Deal for the Big Ten Network that will span across 4 networks (Fox, CBS, NBC, BIG Network) will take them into 2030 with a $7 Billion dollar contract. The SEC also signed a 10 year/$3 Billion Dollar contract with ESPN/ABC. All other conferences have deals with major television networks as well with the exception of The Big 12.

Next Realignment Cycle Upcoming

With the movement of USC and UCLA, it’s inevitable that we will see some new schools in new conferences. The PAC-12 is still considering expansion by offering invites to such schools as San Diego State, BYU and SMU. All three would bring more credibility to the conference but don’t match what USC and UCLA brought to the table. Could we see the PAC-12 remnants merge with another conference such as the Big 12 or even the ACC? Or could we see a "death blow" delivered to the conference with pillar universities such Oregon, Washington, and Stanford joining the Big Ten to further increase their majority in college sports?

PAC-12 Future

While nobody likes to admit defeat and/or failure, it appears that the PAC-12 will not have the option to make their own bed. They will be forced to seek out a new television deal (again) or stick to streaming (as most are doing with Apple TV and Amazon). A merger with the Big 12 would be their best option right now and allow them to hopefully get some discussions with a network that has more clout than The CW or ION. They will be in good shape for the upcoming season with the current television deal but if the PAC-12 doesn’t survive they will be left out of the hierarchy beginning to take place in college athletics with Super Conferences and plenty of money for everyone to share.

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