With the latest round of realignment having slowed to a crawl after a tumultuous two years, it appears as it may be close to picking up steam again. Colorado has been in "substantive" talks with the Big 12 about possibly joining the growing league, a source with knowledge of the discussions tells CBS Sports.
While a move out of the Pac-12 is not assured, Colorado is performing due diligence to determine whether to return to the conference it once called home. The Buffaloes, like the rest of the Pac-12, remain in wait-and-see mode regarding a new media rights deal that has yet to be solidified.
Colorado and the Big 12 have met face-to-face while involved in consistent talks over a period several months, according to multiple sources. It was made clear that a move to the Big 12 would not be made without the support of football coach Deion Sanders.
CU's rumored Big 12 interest was the talk of the Fiesta Summit earlier this month in Scottsdale, Arizona, with several sources speculating in the hallways. It became more public last week when the Oklahoman's Berry Tramel reported, "Colorado is ready to commit joining the Big 12 'soon.'"
"I have no comment other than what I said last week," Colorado athletic director Rick George told CBS Sports while not exactly shooting down the Big 12 talks. "We are proud members of the Pac-12. In a perfect world, we'd love to be in the Pac-12, but we also have to do what is right for Colorado at the end of the day."
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff had no comment, while a representative for Sanders did not respond to CBS Sports' request.
It is expected that Colorado would receive an equal media rights share ($31.7 million, beginning in 2025) to join the Big 12, making the move even more attractive. The league's contract with ESPN and Fox is believed to guarantee an equal share for any expansion teams so long as they are currently Power Five members.
Big 12 schools are expected to get an update about expansion prospects this week during conference spring meetings in West Virginia. There remains the feeling out there that, should Yormark can get one Pac-12 school to defect, it would create a domino effect leading to the other Four Corners schools -- Arizona, Arizona State and Utah -- fleeing for the Big 12 as well.
Adding those four programs would satisfy part of Yorkmark's desire to become the only conference with teams in all four time zones.
The Pac-12 remains in flux not knowing what kind of media right deal it will make. The Big 12 figure has become the base line for comparison; anything close to $31.7 million per team enhances the league's chances of moving forward with its 10 current members and potentially expanding with San Diego State and SMU considered strong candidates.
The Pac-12 continues to expect that a deal will be announced in the late spring or early summer. CBS Sports reported earlier this month that the conference remains confident it will land a media rights deal with a major carrier.
Colorado is a Big 12 legacy program having played in the old Big Seven, Big Eight and Big 12 from 1948-2010. It won a share of the national championship as a Big Eight member in 1990. The Buffs are coming off an 1-11 season with one winning campaign since 2005, though they have been the talk of the college football offseason due to the hiring of Sanders.
FAQs
Colorado has been in "substantive" talks with the Big 12 about possibly joining the growing league, a source with knowledge of the discussions tells CBS Sports. While a move out of the Pac-12 is not assured, Colorado is performing due diligence to determine whether to return to the conference it once called home.
Why would Colorado leave Pac-12? ›
All media rights deals must be approved by the conference's board of Presidents and Chancellors, which includes ASU President Michael Crow. Apprehension over the Pac-12's media rights future was likely a key factor in the defections of USC, UCLA and now Colorado to conferences with long-term media rights security.
Will Colorado rejoin Big 12? ›
Arizona, Arizona State and Utah will all join Colorado in the Big 12 starting ahead of the 2024-25 athletic season, the conference announced Friday night. In adding three more Pac-12 teams, the Big 12 in 2024 will swell to 16 programs, the largest membership in league history.
What will happen to the Big 12 and Pac-12? ›
Which Teams Are Leaving The Pac-12? USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington have decided to go to the Big Ten, and Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah have chosen to head to the Big 12. Then news broke that Cal and Stanford would be going to the ACC in 2024. That leaves just two teams left in the Pac-12.
Is Colorado in the Pac-12 or Big 12? ›
Colorado's move to the Big 12 is a significant one for college basketball in the conference. The Buffaloes have a rich history in the sport, having won the national championship in 1930. They have also been a regular participant in the NCAA Tournament, making the field 27 times since 1986.
Why are schools leaving the Pac-12? ›
The move comes after much concern about a lack of a new media contract or interest from broadcast networks. But the Big 12 welcomes back its former conference member; after losing Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC, the Big 12 commissioner, Brett Yormark, has been very clear that his conference is ready to make offers.
Will Oregon State leave Pac-12? ›
Oregon State and Washington State have finalized a settlement over financial distributions with the 10 schools leaving the Pac-12.
Will Arizona leave the Pac-12? ›
Editor's note: This story was first published on Aug. 4, 2023, after Arizona State and Arizona agreed to join the Big 12 and depart the Pac-12. The Arizona State Sun Devils and Arizona Wildcats play their final Territorial Cup as members of the Pac-12 on Saturday before departing for the Big 12.
What conference will the Colorado Buffaloes be in 2024? ›
BOULDER – For the first time since 2010, a Big 12 Conference football schedule will include the Colorado Buffaloes, as the conference released its 2024 schedules on Tuesday.
Why is CU moving to Big 12? ›
After careful thought and consideration, it was determined that a switch in conference would give CU Boulder the stability, resources, and exposure necessary for long-term future success in a college athletics environment that is constantly evolving.
Oregon State and Washington State are the only schools that will remain in the Pac-12 starting with the 2024-25 academic year. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are set to join the Big 12. UCLA, Oregon, USC and Washington will move to the Big Ten.
Who will be in the Big 12 in 2024? ›
The Big 12 will compete as a 16-team conference for the first time in 2024. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah will become members in the summer of 2024 joining Baylor, BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia.
Who are the new Big 12 teams in 2024? ›
The 2024 season will mark the debut of Arizona, Arizona State and Utah as Big 12 Conference members, and the return of Colorado to the league. Big 12 programs will continue to play nine league games without divisions. Regular season league play concludes over Thanksgiving weekend with a full slate of eight games.
Is CU Boulder in the Big 12? ›
Today, by official vote of the University of Colorado Board of Regents, the University of Colorado Boulder will join the Big 12 Conference effective for the 2024-25 academic year. A decision like this impacts the entire campus in myriad ways and requires careful and thoughtful consideration.
Is Oregon moving to the Big 12? ›
Washington and Oregon will officially join the Big Ten on Aug. 2, 2024 and will begin playing football in the conference in the 2024 season.
Is Colorado moving to the Big 10? ›
Colorado plans to join Big 12 in 2024: What's next for the Pac-12, conference realignment? The Athletic has live coverage of Colorado's move to the Big 12. Colorado is planning to exit the Pac-12 to join the Big 12 in 2024, the school officially announced Thursday afternoon.
When did Colorado decide to leave the Pac-12? ›
July 27, 2023: Colorado's board of regents voted unanimously to approve a move to the Big 12 and CU announces its intentions to leave the Pac-12 after the current academic year.
Which school will be leaving Pac-12 by 2024? ›
In July 2022 the two Los Angeles-based colleges, Southern California and UCLA announced they would be leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in 2024. Last month, Colorado announced they would be returning to the Big 12, a conference they had left in 2011.
What teams are moving out of the Pac-12? ›
On June 30, 2022, amid the broader early-2020s NCAA conference realignment, UCLA and USC announced plans to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten Conference starting in 2024. In 2023, Colorado announced it would re-join the Big 12 starting in 2024.
What happens to Pac-12 in 2024? ›
Oregon State and Washington State are the only schools that will remain in the Pac-12 starting with the 2024-25 academic year. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are set to join the Big 12.
