Pac-12 commissioner says he doesn't expect any more teams leaving for Big Ten, Big 12

play

The commissioner of the Pac-12 doesn't think there will be any more teams leaving for the Big Ten or the Big 12.

The conference is unified despite rumors of additional Big Ten expansion and the Big 12's aggressive pursuit of members.

USC and UCLA announced in June that they were leaving the Pacific-12 for the Big Ten in 2024, leading to speculation that other schools could follow.

"If schools left for the Big Ten, they would have left for the Big Ten already," he said. I'm focused on things that are in my control.

In July, he doubled down on his promise that no Pac-12 schools would leave for the Big 12. The administrators from those schools are still committed to the conference.

I talk to our presidents and chancellors and athletic directors all the time. I take people's word that they are committed to working together to get a great grant of rights.

The USC and UCLA departures caused the conference to open its media rights negotiations earlier than expected. The 10 remaining members will sign a grant of rights agreement if the right agreement is put in front of them.

The league's media deal is about to end.

The media rights deal has always been a balancing act. Revenue is at the top of the priority list but we have to balance that against distribution. We want our fans to be able to see what we have to offer. I want our content to be on any piece of glass connected to the internet.

After the media rights agreement is finalized, there will be a possible expansion of the Pac-12. As the University of California regents discuss the impact on Bruins athletes and on California, he weighed in on UCLA's challenges to leave the conference.

The review of UCLA's move won't rule out the school remaining in the league, according to the conference's president.

The regents have the right to overturn UCLA's decision to leave the conference, according to the general counsel of the regents. Increased travel to league games can cause problems for athletes and their families.

To get to the average Big Ten athletic budget, we did back-of- the-envelope calculations on the negative impact of UCLA expenses. The additional money they're going to receive from the Big Ten media rights deal will be more than offset by additional expenses, according to us. It goes to airlines and charter companies when you take that money. It's not going to support the student-athletes.