The Pac-4 schools have made a dramatic shift in the latest conference realignment rumor — with the remainder of the Pac-12 now in talks with the Big 12 to join Colorado, Arizona, ASU, and Utah after previously talking with the ACC.
“Multiple reports have the Big 12 conference showing interest in Stanford, Cal, Oregon State and Washington State,” college football insider Jim Williams reported. “Reports have Stanford telling the ACC they need an answer this week.” KMJ’s Christopher Gabriel added that he can see the Pac-4 joining the Big 12 due to the facilities and potential media revenue.
“It wouldn’t be a stretch to see Oregon State and Washington State land in the Big 12,” Gabriel said. “Facilities and cities (Corvallis, Pullman) match up well with the conference. So does the media revenue that would come their way being more in line with what they’ve been used to in the Pac-12. Toss in Arizona, Arizona State, Utah and Colorado already there and it actually makes sense… or as much sense that can be made these days.”
Half of the Pac-4 was plotting an exit to join the ACC along with SMU
It seemed as though Cal and Stanford were headed towards joining the ACC along with SMU — the latter of which was willing to forego payouts for up to seven years in order to make the money work for the former two programs.
“The potential additions of Cal, Stanford and SMU to the ACC are again under serious consideration by the ACC,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on August 23. “A small group of ACC presidents met Wednesday morning to discuss financial models that would come with the additions.”
With that possibility now on hold, the Big 12 absorbing more of what was the Pac-12 seems to be the most realistic outcome for the future of college football.