Thamel’s adjustment buzz: Newest on Pac-12, Huge 12 and ACC

• Pete Thamel, ESPNJul 31, 2023, 06:00 PM ET

Nearly 2 months back in Washington, D.C., University of Arizona president Bobby Robbins sat on a panel with NCAA president Charlie Baker at an occasion Arizona arranged about the future of college sports.Little did Robbins understand that within a couple of weeks, he ‘d be a central figure in identifying the real landscape of how college sports is currently constructed.With Colorado revealing its departure for the Big 12 last week, the future of the Pac-12 doubts. Commissioner George Kliavkoff has actually long informed prospective tv partners he ‘d need clearness on what a tv deal could appear like by July 31.

The Pac-12 presidents are anticipated to meet Tuesday to finally obtain from Kliavkoff what they hope is a strong vision of what the league’s tv offer will look like.

“The expectation is these schools desire clearness and information on a number and that a deal is going to eventually get done,” stated a market source. “They would like to know, ‘What are our offer alternatives?'”

Arizona has been at the forefront for a potential transfer to the Huge 12, as it had the most comprehensive talks with the league prior to the Colorado departure. A move by Arizona to the Big 12 would considerably weaken the Pac-12, putting an unstable league on the verge. And nobody realizes this more than Robbins.

“He knows the gravity,” said an individual knowledgeable about Robbins’ thinking. “He does not wish to be the one to break apart the Pac-12.”

That’s why sources say Arizona, Arizona State and Utah– the Pac-12’s staying three of the so-called Four Corner schools– are anticipated to lump their futures together.As another market source explained:”I do not see any of them having the fortitude to break up the Pac-12 themselves. They’ll break as 3. It’s either going to be all 3 leave, or none leave.” Will they stay? Will they go?It all depends

on what Kliavkoff provides on Tuesday

as he looks to convince them there’s a handle sufficient cash and direct exposure to remain together.The Pac-12’s deal ends after the upcoming school year, which would imply every school might walk without paying any kind of exit charge. Just like USC, UCLA and now Colorado are doing.Given the complexities of any additional relocations, and the deliberate speed at which universities tend to run, there’s most likely

not going to be any unalterable decisions on Tuesday night. However the start of this week is going to set the table for the Pac-12’s stability and practicality going forward.What would it look like in the Big 12 if Arizona, Arizona State and Utah all signed up with the conference? Sources have shown the Huge 12 would deal with its media partners to determine a method to make the economics work.Much of this winds up on Robbins ‘plate due to the fact that he’s the most established of the presidents involved in the three remaining corner schools.The tenor has changed from what Robbins said 2 months ago:”I

‘m not nervous about this, “he stated in Washington, D.C.”I know it is essential. I have full confidence we’re going to get where we need to be.

“How could things unfold from here? As always with adjustment, there are myriad possibilities with major causal sequences for the Pac-12, Huge 12, ACC and beyond.What’s next for the Pac-12?