Pac-12: Big 12 poaching teams ‘not a concern’

• Heather Dinich, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterJul 21, 2023, 01:42 PM ET

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  • College football press reporter
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of Indiana University

LAS VEGAS– Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff said Friday that he’s not worried about the Big 12 trying to poach any teams, which he hasn’t taken part in any public debate over the narrative of uncertainty around the league since he understands “the reality.”

“It’s not a concern,” he said at the Pac-12 media day, resolving the topic publicly for the very first time this year. “Our schools are devoted to each other and the Pac-12. We’ll get our media rights deal done, we’ll announce the deal. I believe the adjustment that’s going on in college athletics will pertain to an end for this cycle.”

While the Pac-12 has remained silent on the subject previously, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has actually been outspoken about his desire to add more teams if it makes good sense and produces worth for his conference. Kliavkoff hinted that any idea of his league’s demise has originated from the Huge 12, stating he “type of knows where the sources of that are originating from.”

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“I discount that due to the fact that I know the fact,” Kliavkoff stated. “I might have invested all of in 2015 entering into a he said-he stated on each and every single rumor that’s been passed about our conference. We decided to take the high roadway and concentrate on the future of the conference. That’s why we have not engaged.”

Kliavkoff said his larger issue about not openly defending the league was the effect it may have on recruiting, however it’s “never been stronger.”

“That kind of strengthened our choice to not engage and stick with the high road,” he said.Last week,

a Pac-12 source informed ESPN the league’s new media rights offer is likely to consist of a mix of streaming and direct choices and is expected to be on-par with the ACC and Huge 12. For the Pac-12 to stay undamaged after the departure of USC and UCLA to the Huge 10 in 2024, the 10 remaining presidents and chancellors need to sign the grant of rights, which will depend on their fulfillment with the new deal. The 10 schools in the conference have actually pre-negotiated the grant of rights offer and agreed on the terms, consisting of how the profits would be divided, which signifies a commitment to the conference– a minimum of tangentially. The length of the grant of rights will mirror the regards to the television contract.Kliavkoff stated getting the right deal has actually constantly been more important to the board than” getting the expeditious one. “Kliavkoff stated he has actually constantly updated the presidents and chancellors and thinks “they’re passionate”about the media offer.” What we have actually seen is that the longer we wait for a deal, the better our choices get, “Kliavkoff stated.” I think our board understands that. There’s a hidden shift in the media market that’s occurring and we’re long-lasting benefiting from that, but short-term may have offered some hiccups.”

The unpredictability in the Pac-12 has been amplified by the Huge 12’s unabashed interest in the possibility of more conference growth and its six-year, $2.2 billion television deal with ESPN and Fox that runs through 2031. The Huge 12 opened its negotiations early and completed its arrangement prior to the Pac-12, even though the Pac-12’s present tv offer ends a year earlier.Kliavkoff said that

adjustment in college football generally corresponds the expiration of television offers, but he hasn’t dismissed adding more teams to his own conference.”Let’s get our media rights offer done, get our

grant of rights signed and after that we’ll think about growth,”he said.The Pac-12 has never ever wavered from this timeline

. According to sources, the Pac-12 board months ago narrowed its scope to a handful of schools. Nevertheless, since the broadened, 12-team College Football Playoff will reward the six-highest ranked conference champions in 2024, some schools in the league believe there will be an advantage to being in a conference of 10 rather than 16. Leaders throughout college sports have been paying attention to the Pac-12 and waiting for months to see how– if at all– the brand-new deal could even more impact conference realignment. The speculation has surrounded Arizona, Arizona State, Utah and Colorado, however Utah athletic director Mark Harlan declared his schools commitment Friday.” We are a happy member of this conference and anticipate its future success,”he said.The most significant flight

risk, according to sources, has been Colorado, and it stays to be seen if the administration there has

the patience to await the brand-new offer prior to making a major choice that could have a tidal bore of effects.” [Colorado’s] objective is to stay within the Pac-12 and have a media offer turning up soon,” Colorado chancellor Phil DiStefano informed the Denver Post today.”That’s our goal. And I believe the presidents and chancellors of the Pac-12 are together on that.”Kliavkoff informed ESPN his self-confidence in the commitment of current member schools comes from his discussions with possible media partners.” The tone has actually altered because room,”

he said.Kliavkoff stated he began to feel more comfy with the direction of the negotiations over the previous 3 or 4 weeks.”It was a slow turn because we

were really battling the fight,” he stated.

“… For me it’s been a balance between stability in the conference and persistence.”