Any discussion about schools leaving the league is premature, according to University of Arizona President Robby Robbins, unless Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff provides the conference’s executives with specific figures regarding a potential media rights deal.
The day before the institution conducted a Future of College Athletics Summit not far from Capitol Hill, Robbins addressed a small group of reporters on Wednesday.
When asked about a timeline for when the Pac-12 schools would be given a new broadcast contract, Robbins declined, stating he merely expected Kilavkoff to deliver an agreement “soon.”
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On September 26, 2021, in Palo Alto, California, a high angle shot of the Pac-12 logo on the field at Stanford Stadium during an NCAA Pac-12 college football game between the Stanford Cardinal and the UCLA Bruins. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
The current Pac-12 agreement will end after the 2023–24 academic year.
We haven’t seen a contract, according to Robbins. “That is what we lack if we see a working paper that provides us with numbers. No one can make an informed decision until we have it because we won’t have the information.
Robbins referred to the constant stream of speculative media headlines that claim the Pac-12 is about to disintegrate as “propaganda.” Although not lately, he admitted that he had spoken with Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark.
Yormark has stated that he wants the Big 12 to grow in the West and add more universities in the Mountain and Pacific time zones.
“He’s hostile. For the Big 12, he has ambitious intentions. I wish him luck. “The media rights deal is what all 10 of us are focused on,” Robbins added.
With their victory in the NBA Finals, the Nuggets tandem “put on their greatest performance.”
View of the Pac-12 logo in greater detail from a high vantage point during the Utah Utes vs. USC Trojans Pac-12 Championship football game on December 2, 2022 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Late last year, the Big 12 leaped ahead of the Pac-12 and agreed to a six-year extension to its current contract with Fox and ESPN, though neither party has made that official announcement.
The Big Ten secured a historic set of agreements with three networks earlier in 2022 that will be worth more than $7 billion over seven years. These agreements were with CBS, NBC, and Fox. ESPN has agreements with the Southeastern Conference totaling more than $7 billion over a ten-year period.
“We won’t sign a Big Ten contract. We won’t close a deal with the SEC, said Robbins. But if we get third in this competition, I never considered taking home the bronze medal to be a very admirable ambition. But I believe we would all celebrate success if we took home a bronze medal.
Robbins stated that keeping the current 10 institutions together is his desire and the consensus among his Pac-12 colleagues.
In his own words, Robbins was “cautiously optimistic.”
If a new television agreement includes an equal amount for possible new members and does not reduce what the current members earn, Robbins said, that will determine whether the Pac-12 expands.
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Helmets worn by UCLA Bruins players on October 1, 2016 in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California for the team’s matchup with Arizona Wildcats. (Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Robbins stated that it would be preferable for the Pac-12 to have a presence in Southern California after USC and UCLA transfer to the Big Ten in 2024. He suggested San Diego State as a potential match and suggested possibly expanding to Texas. The Dallas-based SMU was visited by Kilavkoff earlier this year.
According to recent sources, Colorado might be the first Pac-12 school to accept the Big 12’s invitation. But according to Robbins, any additional conference reconfiguration at the top level of college football is likely on wait until Kilavkoff can demonstrate to the Pac-12 presidents the financial benefits of a new broadcast arrangement. Robbins quoted a line from the film “Jerry Maguire” to make this point.
The Pac-12 institutions will each do their own independent analysis, according to Robbins. “I think the Pac-12 will continue to be a cohesive group of teams. Currently, there are ten of us. I’m hoping the agreement will be solid enough to keep us together.
