Colorado leaves Pac-12 for Big 12, further weakening fabulous West Coast College Athletics League

July 27, 2023 8:45 p.m.

Colorado leaves the fragile Pac-12 conference to join its old friend the Big 12, a decision that knocks out another West Coast Athletic Conference leg.

UCLA and USC have already announced that they are leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in 2024. This latest departure following the expiration of a television rights contract for the Pac-12 raises further questions about the future status of the league. The Pac-12 is now reduced to nine members.

Colorado left the Big 12 in 2011 to join the Pac-12.

The Pac-12 said Thursday night that it plans to "seize expansion opportunities" once he finalizes his new media rights deal. This deal had been promised for some time, but did not materialize and was likely a factor in Colorado's departure.

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff said during the conference media day last Friday in Las Vegas that the league needed to complete its media rights deal before it could begin exploring its own expansion opportunities. The current agreement expires in July 2024.

"We are focused on getting our media rights deal done and securing our success and our growth," the statement said. said. "Immediately following the conclusion of our media rights agreement, we will seize opportunities for expansion and bring new fans, markets, excitement and value to the Pac-12."

Expansion candidates for the Pac-12 include San Diego State and SMU. Meanwhile, teams like Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, Washington and Oregon are worried about what their future holds.

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