Welcome to the sixth installment in a Hotline series on the future of the Pac-12. Links to previous articles are below …
But step back, assess the landscape from 50,000 feet, and it’s clear the conferences are far more alike than different:— Both are far behind the enhanced versions of the SEC and Big Ten competitively and financially. “The best thing would be to figure out something with the Big 12 and negotiate with ESPN and create a channel,” said Patrick Crakes, who operates Crakes Media consulting and is a former Fox Sports senior vice president for programming, research and content strategy.the benefits of a strategic alliance between the Pac-12 and Big 12Bob Bowlsby, the Big 12 commissioner at the time, suggested a partnership was “not far-fetched,” but nothing materialized.
His broad perspective is shaped by the confluence of four events that will catapult college football into its next chapter:2025: The Big 12 begins a new media contract cycle2026: The first season on an expanded CFP And in that scenario, Washington and Oregon might feel compelled to come along, thereby giving the Big 12 eight new members and decimating the Pac-12.