New PAC-12 Forming

[huskymedic]

-> JohnCanzano.com’s eponymous publisher is being told by sources to “keep an eye on Warner Bros. Discovery as a possible player as the new-look Pac-12 Conference’s media rights packages,” adding: “TNT Sports (TNT, TBS, truTV, and Max) will air more than 65 regular-season Big East basketball games starting next season. I asked a long-time media-world executive what he thought of marrying some Pac-12 basketball to that deal. He said, ‘Big East/Pac-12 doubleheaders would be a good combo.’” Canzano also points out that WBD “recently lost the NBA rights. It hasn’t traditionally played in the college space, other than the NCAA Tournament. It now has some college football games, NASCAR, professional wrestling, and some regular-season MLB games. I’m told that WBD and the Pac-12’s media consultant, Octagon, have been in discussions.” Canzano also reports that St. Mary’s officials “have been told by the Pac-12 that possible basketball additions will be considered after it finalizes the addition of at least one more full-time member and inks the media rights deal.” Meanwhile, Canzano is “cooling my jets on the ESPN front. The network grabbed two Oregon State football games as part of the 2025 TV deal. I’ve wondered for a while if ESPN might come in with some regular ‘Pac-12 After Dark’ games in 2026 and beyond, but that late-night inventory is likely to land with another partner, per a source.” (link) <-

 

[UConnTrumbull]

-> JohnCanzano.com’s eponymous publisher is being told by sources to “keep an eye on Warner Bros. Discovery as a possible player as the new-look Pac-12 Conference’s media rights packages,” adding: “TNT Sports (TNT, TBS, truTV, and Max) will air more than 65 regular-season Big East basketball games starting next season. I asked a long-time media-world executive what he thought of marrying some Pac-12 basketball to that deal. He said, ‘Big East/Pac-12 doubleheaders would be a good combo.’” Canzano also points out that WBD “recently lost the NBA rights. It hasn’t traditionally played in the college space, other than the NCAA Tournament. It now has some college football games, NASCAR, professional wrestling, and some regular-season MLB games. I’m told that WBD and the Pac-12’s media consultant, Octagon, have been in discussions.” Canzano also reports that St. Mary’s officials “have been told by the Pac-12 that possible basketball additions will be considered after it finalizes the addition of at least one more full-time member and inks the media rights deal.” Meanwhile, Canzano is “cooling my jets on the ESPN front. The network grabbed two Oregon State football games as part of the 2025 TV deal. I’ve wondered for a while if ESPN might come in with some regular ‘Pac-12 After Dark’ games in 2026 and beyond, but that late-night inventory is likely to land with another partner, per a source.” (link) <-

St. Mary’s to the PAC12 makes sense. The WCC is cooked.

 

[WrenchFan69]

St. Mary’s to the PAC12 makes sense. The WCC is cooked.

I could see St. Mary's being quite happy as the "big dog" in the WCC. Easier path to an auto bid, in a conference that will support them and travel that makes sense. Outside men's basketball, essentially only under Randy Bennett who is getting up there in age, they're a very small-time athletic department. They can still play Gonzaga yearly in the OOC.

 

[Vowelguy]

Texas St officially added to PAC

Time for another round of backfills!

Rumor has it that LaTech is front runner for the SunBelt. This seems dumb. For years CUSA added the existing programs while the SunBekt went after motivated FCS schools like Coastal, AppSt, and JMU. Result was that the SunBelt became almost on par with the American and MW whileCUSA was roadkill quality.

Sunbelt should be thinking about Sam HoustonSt or maybe MTSU, not another rural LA school that has nothing in the last 40 years.

Whichever CUSA school goes to the SB, does CU backfill with more FCS like McNeese or Tarleton to get above 10?

 

[WrenchFan69]

Texas St officially added to PAC

Not official yet but I'm guessing it will be tomorrow

 

[Drew]

 

[Blades]

The New PAC-

 

[huskymedic]

Good read by Vannini:



-> While this round of conference realignment nears its end, we might be only a few years away from the next round, when Power 4 media rights deals begin to come up. Schools that joined the new Pac-12 have acknowledged this move isn’t about setting up the next 20 years. It was about positioning themselves for five years from now and whatever the next change in college sports looks like. We have a Big Ten with 18 teams and an ACC on both coasts.<-

Shortcut <<

 

[UConnTrumbull]

The Oregon State reporter is saying that Texas State is likely to only receive a half share until 2031. An interesting point considering they will be a a full-member.

 

[Kolumbo]

If they stay at 8 football programs they will each need to schedule 7 OOC games. That might benefit UConn in terms of scheduling games. Looks like Texas State is a winner, now joining OSU, WSU, Boise St, Colorado State, SDSU. Nice little upgrade for the kids from San Marcos.

 

[Vowelguy]

If they stay at 8 football programs they will each need to schedule 7 OOC games. That might benefit UConn in terms of scheduling games. Looks like Texas State is a winner, now joining OSU, WSU, Boise St, Colorado State, SDSU. Nice little upgrade for the kids from San Marcos.

14 regular season games?

dont you mean 5 OOC?

west coast teams will likely play
1-2 former PAC
1-2 MW
1-2 other

 

[Kolumbo]

14 regular season games?

dont you mean 5 OOC?

west coast teams will likely play
1-2 former PAC
1-2 MW
1-2 other

Yes, I meant 5. I was typing that they'd have 7 conference games but I guess I was looking at it half empty instead of half full.

8 programs x 1-2 other gives UConn some opportunity there.

For anyone overly interested in TXST and PAC:

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Not official yet but I'm guessing it will be tomorrow

Monday, previously unscheduled TX State alumni board meeting to officially accept invitation from new PAC n.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Vowelguy]

MW will have 9 FB and 10 non-FB. They should add a couple more to shore up stability.

NMSU, SacSt, Sam Houston, Tarleton should be under consideration

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Get ready to learn FBS Independent buddy

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

NMSU, SacSt, Sam Houston, Tarleton should be under consideration

Undoubtedly, media decision makers must drool all over each of those 4 schools and their enticingly tasty athletic brands.

 

[Rufus]

Lots of good Q & A about the new PAC 12 in this article.

Texas State’s ceiling and impact in rebuilt Pac-12 and more | Mailbag

Texas State can bring value to the Pac-12 without turning into a phenomenon. So, what's a realistic ceiling? Jon Wilner answers that and more in his mailbag.

www.seattletimes.com

 

[uconnyankee]

I think if PAC could get side deal with BE to park all sports, Memphis, UConn and Temple would be interesting FB only adds.
I’d throw in USF, but not sure BE would want that BB. JMU athletics have been on an upswing and is a great FB school.

I think something to get BE some exposure would be a good And Temple and Memphis would be decent adds to add some depth for BB.

PAC could be Pacific-Atlantic Conference if they could get an eastern pod of 4 schools.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I think if PAC could get side deal with BE to park all sports, Memphis, UConn and Temple would be interesting FB only adds.
I’d throw in USF, but not sure BE would want that BB. JMU athletics have been on an upswing and is a great FB school.

I think something to get BE some exposure would be a good And Temple and Memphis would be decent adds to add some depth for BB.

PAC could be Pacific-Atlantic Conference if they could get an eastern pod of 4 schools.

I can't see the ten BE schools that don't play FBS football having any desire to add Memphis or Temple.

 

[Jimdish255]

I’m not familiar with BE exit fee rules
but why would there be exit fees for moving football? FB isn’t in the Big East.

B12 (any P4) is clearly the goal but Uconn has to get an invite first. And at this point, I think showing FB commitment by winning in a top G5 is what they need to make the case for a P4 invite. Demonstrated success there should clearly position UConn ahead of Memphis, Tulane, UNLV, WSU, SDSU, USF for an invite. Otherwise, some will have the FB edge over UConn.

I don’t expect UConn to get a PAC invite anyway, but if they do and can negotiate low or no exit fees, it may be the opportunity to definitely prove they’re next in line.

It's not a great fit based on geography but I'm sure they're aware of the benefits of adding UConn which would be significant for the conference.

 

[jostar1]

I think if PAC could get side deal with BE to park all sports, Memphis, UConn and Temple would be interesting FB only adds.
I’d throw in USF, but not sure BE would want that BB. JMU athletics have been on an upswing and is a great FB school.

I think something to get BE some exposure would be a good And Temple and Memphis would be decent adds to add some depth for BB.

PAC could be Pacific-Atlantic Conference if they could get an eastern pod of 4 schools.

I've read a lot of posts on message boards where people seem to think that any school can just park their basketball and Olympic sports in the Big East, no problem.

It doesn't work that way. Adding UConn was a unique situation for the Big East---a long-time member of the Big East, a championship program, in the conference footprint, familiar rivalries, and bringing a guaranteed crowd to MSG.

Not saying that the Big East couldn't add another football-playing school, but it's not as easy as some people think.

 

[uconnyankee]

I've read a lot of posts on message boards where people seem to think that any school can just park their basketball and Olympic sports in the Big East, no problem.

It doesn't work that way. Adding UConn was a unique situation for the Big East---a long-time member of the Big East, a championship program, in the conference footprint, familiar rivalries, and bringing a guaranteed crowd to MSG.

Not saying that the Big East couldn't add another football-playing school, but it's not as easy as some people think.

My comment didn’t weigh how hard or easy it would be.
I just stated that the Big East needs to do something. Leveraging their BB brand to grow with a few BB schools that play football could be an option. Especially if the FB is in another conference and if said conference was willing to work with Big East.
It’s worked for UConn. I realize Uconn is very unique and was a grand slam for the Big East.

Not everything has to be a grand slam though. Adding some decent BB programs without watering down overall product could be a great opportunity.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

My comment didn’t weigh how hard or easy it would be.
I just stated that the Big East needs to do something. Leveraging their BB brand to grow with a few BB schools that play football could be an option. Especially if the FB is in another conference and if said conference was willing to work with Big East.
It’s worked for UConn. I realize Uconn is very unique and was a grand slam for the Big East.

Not everything has to be a grand slam though. Adding some decent BB programs without watering down overall product could be a great opportunity.

The seven members that left the then BE a dozen years ago (yes, they left the football members) left almost entirely because they didn't want football ruling the conference.

I realize that many fans (and a few talking heads) are speculating that the BE needs to do something, but I am not sure that the member schools (who plan on remaining in the BE forever) feel they need to add members just for the sake of having a larger conference with more middle of the pack basketball programs.

If they do add any members it will be like minded schools.

 

[Rufus]

Texas State Joins the Pac-12, Decades After First Flirtation | Deadspin.com

The Pac-12 adds Texas State, finally expanding into Texas after decades of failed attempts and flirtations. A new media deal and momentum could revive the historic conference.

deadspin.com