Colorado Ready to Commit to Join Big 12 ‘Soon’: Report
As we await for the next domino to fall in the game of conference realignment, all eyes have long been on Colorado as the most likely to be that domino. And according to a new report from The Oklahoman’s Berry Tramel, a Big 12 source told him that Colorado is ready to commit to joining the Big 12 “soon”.
Colorado has denied its interest in a return to its former conference every chance they can publicly, however there is more than enough smoke to suggest the Buffaloes have been strongly considering this move for quite some time.
And it makes sense given the roadblocks the Pac-12 has continuously run into, most notably their inability to get a new television deal, which becomes more concerning with each passing day. Most recently, a report came down from The New York Post’s Andrew Marchand, who has been covering the Pac-12 media rights blunder as well as anyone.
“ESPN and the Pac-12 are having no substantive talks at this time, according to sources,” Marchand writes. “ESPN passed on the Big Ten, Sunday Ticket, Premier League, Champions League, and MLS, so the idea that it will be completely out on the Pac-12 is not in the least bit surprising. Things can always change, and maybe the Pac-12 can figure out a creative way to get ESPN involved, but right now that seems very unlikely.”
This is the latest in a long list of bad news and reports from Pac-12 Country. Also this week, the Washington State President froze “all current and future vacation positions”, plus “a pause on non-essential travel, purchases & new professional development” because of “significant decrease in Pac-12 revenue distribution as result of overpayments from one of the conference media partners that must be resolved. Relocation of the Pac‑12 headquarters out of San Francisco exceeded budget projections as well. Additionally, WSU projects that Cougar Athletics exceeded its expenditures for the year due to inadequate documentation of revenues and expenses.“
Needless to say, the Pac-12 has had itself a brutal week thus far. And to think it’s only Tuesday.
