The Pac-12 will be holding a meeting tomorrow where numbers for a TV media rights deal will finally be presented. In addition, the Arizona Board of Regents suddenly announced they are holding a previously unscheduled meeting from 3:30-4:00.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Sources indicate to WildcatAuthority the Pac-12 will hold a meeting tomorrow. Numbers will be presented, but there is pessimism within the conference.
This could be George Kliavkoff’s last stand in keeping the conference together.
— Jason Scheer (@jasonscheer) July 31, 2023
People are about to go crazy, so I will get it out of the way.
There is an Arizona Board of Regents meeting scheduled for tomorrow. It was not scheduled previously. There is no clear agenda for it as of now and I don't know what it is regarding yet.
— Jason Scheer (@jasonscheer) July 31, 2023
Both were first reported by 247 Sports Wildcat Authority’s Jason Scheer.
The wording of the Arizona Board of Regents Meeting makes it sound like it is not realigment related as of now, but that could change.
As of now, this is the agenda and that implies it is not realignment related https://t.co/joy6kgFra6
— Jason Scheer (@jasonscheer) July 31, 2023
In terms of the Pac-12 meeting, this will be the first time that numbers are presented since the conference announced they were starting negotiations for a new media rights deal on July 5, 2022. Their current deal ends in 2024.
The Buffaloes made the move away from the conference last week, as they felt the stability in the Big 12, which has an agreed-upon media rights deal through 2031, was better than in the future of the Pac-12.
What the meetings could mean
Arizona could be headed to the Big 12. They have been skeptical about the numbers. and there is a good chance what is presented tomorrow will not be better than the Big 12’s deal.
Arizona State on the other hand has not been openly skeptical, but rather committed to the Pac throughout the time they have been negotiating. However, their stance could have changed with the recent departure of Colorado. President Michael Crow and AD Ray Anderson have always stayed loyal to the conference, so their view very well could still remain the same.
The reported most likely targets for the Big 12 to poach are Arizona, Arizona State and Utah.
Could Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff present a deal good enough for most schools to reaffirm their commitment to the conference? Yes, but it should need to be every school for ASU to remain committed.
In the case that Arizona does join the Big 12, it makes no sense why ASU wouldn’t follow. That could be what is transpiring.
Going off this, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that if a departure were to happen, Arizona, ASU and Utah would all three likely leave at the same time.
What's next in realignment?
✅Huge meeting tomorrow for alleged P12 TV clarity
✅Look for AZ, ASU and Utah to band together in solidarity.
✅Where does the uncertainty leave ORE/WASH?
✅What's latest from FSU and ACC? https://t.co/SlH6xBbDRb— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 31, 2023
Here is a good thread on why ASU should leave the broken conference if something remarkable isn’t presented tomorrow:
Including ASU, any Pac school without an open-ended B10/B12 invitation is playing Russian Roulette with 5 bullets in the resolver if they were relying on the other members to all stick together after USC/UCLA.
So why would ASU wait for a Colorado and Arizona to pull the trigger?
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) July 31, 2023
So many question marks are flying around, but it is good to have some meetings finally set. The future of the conference, however? The biggest question of all.
ASU coach Kenny Dillingham and TE Jalin Conyers comment on Colorado’s move to the Big 12
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Brendan Mau is a college sports insider and general assignment reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on Twitter via @Brendan_Mau
