CU analyst’s unique metaphor for Oregon’s Dan Lanning defending Pac-12
The Colorado football analysts over at Buffs Beat had a unique metaphor regarding Oregon head coach Dan Lanning’s recent shot at CU for leaving the Pac-12 for the Big 12: comparing the Ducks HC to a patron on the Titanic for defending a clearly dying conference and ignoring the clear signs of imminent downfall.
“With Colorado making an exit from the Pac-12 next year, everyone seems to have an opinion on where Oregon will be in 2024,” the Buffs Beat staff prefaced before saying, “However, it sounds like Dan Lanning might be content staying on the titanic while the band continues to play.” This was in response to Lanning’s insinuation that Colorado isn’t much of a loss to the Pac-12.
“I’m trying to remember what (Colorado) won to effect this conference when they were part of it, I don’t remember,” Lanning snarkily said.
Oregon and Washington ‘hold all the cards’ to the Pac-12 after Colorado football departure
According to Buffs Beat, Oregon and Washington are now the power brokers of the Pac-12 who will essentially determine if the conference will even survive the next round of realignment.
“Oregon and Washington hold all the cards to the Pac-12 with USC and UCLA heading to the Big Ten next year,” Buffs Beat’s staff prefaced before saying, “Colorado made the decision to leave after the conference failed to construct an adequate media rights deal.”
CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah reports that the conference will be sharing its media rights offering within the first week of August.
“Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff is expected to present a potential media rights deal to member institutions within the next 48 hours, according to multiple reports,” Jeyarajah wrote. “News of the expected presentation comes four days after Colorado abruptly defected from the conference to head back to its former home in the Big 12 amid the uncertainty surrounding the league and its media rights future.”
If Oregon or Washington ends up following USC and UCLA to the Big Ten or follows Colorado to the Big 12, the Pac-12 runs the risk of existing as a Power Five conference in 2024 and beyond.