The University of Colorado’s decision to return to the Big 12 next year was the latest shockwave sent through the college sports world.
The move effectively put the Pac-12 behind the other Power Five conferences, and rumors of other member schools jumping ship are swirling.
Despite the rumors, the Pac-12 said it would continue to explore options for expansion, and Sports Illustrated reported the conference has heard from schools interested in joining.
“The Pac-12 is comprised of world-leading universities and athletic programs who share a commitment to developing the next generation of leaders, supporting student-athletes’ academic and athletic excellence, and broad-based athletic success,” Pac-12 said in a statement, CBS Sports reported. “We remain committed to our shared values and to continuing to invest in our student-athletes. Today’s decision by the University of Colorado has done nothing to disrupt that commitment.”
“We are focused on concluding our media rights deal and securing our continued success and growth. Immediately following the conclusion of our media rights deal, we will embrace expansion opportunities and bring new fans, markets, excitement, and value to the Pac-12,” the organization added.
Shortly after Colorado announced its decision, the Big 12 revealed it would seek to add a 14th team for the same season, according to the Action Network, which mentioned UConn, UNLV, San Diego State, and Memphis as potential targets.
Rumors of Florida State potentially leaving the ACC also surfaced, mainly driven by reports from the team’s site, which is affiliated with 247Sports.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips told ESPN he is considering his conference’s options for expansion.
“The ACC has been and remains highly engaged in looking at anything that makes us a better and stronger conference,” he told the network. “We’ve spent considerable time on expansion to see if there is anything that fits. We have a tremendous group of institutions but if there was something that made us better, we would absolutely be open to it.”
“You have to understand what’s going on across the country,” Phillips added. “Maybe you preempt [another league’s expansion], maybe you don’t, maybe there’s a first thing that has to happen before you make a move. There’s a variety of ways you attack this.”
The Big 12 and ACC are competing for third place, with the SEC and Big Ten standing out as the nation’s two premier athletic conferences as the landscape moves closer to a superconference formula.
***
Extra Points
— Former University of Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt was hired to coach junior high basketball and serve as a high school P.E. teacher in Alabama.
— A fifth former football player is now suing Northwestern over hazing allegations.
— Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, younger brother of former Alabama standout Tua Tagovailoa, said he was offered money to transfer to the SEC but chose to stay at Maryland.
— 247Sports released its “All-Name Team” for the 2023 season.
— Oregon gave football head coach Dan Lanning a contract extension through the 2028 season. The Ducks went 10-3 in Lanning’s first season, including a win over North Carolina in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl.