The college sports conference realignment is out of hand. USC and UCLA recently announced that they’re leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in 2024, and it was reported earlier on Tuesday that six Pac-12 schools could join the Big 12.
Well, then came a report on Tuesday that the now-desperate Pac-12 is considering a “loose partnership” with another conference.
And on Tuesday night, more details of a possible “loose partnership” emerged, via Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports.
CBS Sports has confirmed the ACC and Pac-12 have discussed a ‘loose partnership' that could include 'championship game' in Las Vegas as a way to get ESPN to pay more — https://t.co/Do0GY2YbwU https://t.co/Xvy6VyQdxM
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) July 6, 2022
Dodd reports that the ACC and Pac-12 “have discussed what has been termed a ‘loose partnership’ that could end the season with the conferences playing a ‘championship game’ in Las Vegas.
He adds that the idea is viewed as a way “for the conferences’ common rightsholder, ESPN, to increase the value of their current media rights contracts.”
The concept, believed to have been proposed by the ACC, is seen as a way for the conferences’ common rightsholder, ESPN, to increase the value of their current media rights contracts.
It’s not likely this proposal would have much impact considering ESPN has cost certainty with the ACC in a contract that lasts through 2036. The Pac-12 is trying to survive after the loss of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten in 2024. Rights for Pac-12 teams without the California powers are now worth about $30 million annually, down from approximately $42 million per program with the Trojans and Bruins in the fold.
Dodd adds that the proposal is viewed as a “strength in numbers” play for the ACC and Pac-12.
Sources indicate the proposal is viewed as a “strength in numbers” move. While the 24 combined ACC and Pac-12 teams wouldn’t have nearly the clout of the 32 programs combined in the SEC and Big Ten, it would be something to combat the growing financial gap between those burgeoning superconferences and everyone else.
Here’s a peek at how college football fans are reacting to the “loose partnership report:
This is all gonna be a glorious mess. https://t.co/kzuKPtYDI2
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) July 6, 2022
The only way this would be worth it is if the conferences merged then went bold as hell and adopted Premier League-esque promotion/relegation. Split it in half. Top table's bottom four go down, bottom's top four move up. Yearly swaps. Real stakes beyond postseason. Do it, PACC-24 https://t.co/5kYcCbDBiE
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) July 6, 2022
a loose partnership is an open relationship so this is just swinging https://t.co/na4p6iD1wl
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) July 6, 2022
i need the acc and pac-12 to merge and then name the two divisions atlantic and coastal
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) July 6, 2022
The Pac-12 is reportedly considering another scheduling “alliance” with the ACC pic.twitter.com/oxTw2U7Bjz
— Gamblin' Gauchos 🎙️ (@GamblinGauchos) July 6, 2022
The best part is that you know the first year of this loose partnership that Las Vegas game will be, like, Wake Forest vs. Arizona State.
— Sean Keeley (@SeanKeeleyIsMe) July 6, 2022
“The Alliance” becoming “The Loose Partnership” in like 5 minutes is the defining college sports story of the year. https://t.co/ubUVEZuv6K
— Mike Rutherford (@CardChronicle) July 6, 2022
Nobody will remember:
– Your salary
– Your fancy title
– How ‘busy’ you were
– How stressed you were
– How many hours you workedPeople will remember:
– the ‘loose partnership' between the ACC & PAC-12 that could include 'title game' in Vegas as a way to get ESPN to pay more— Bucky’s 5th Quarter (@B5Q) July 6, 2022
The reported "loose partnership" between the Pac-12 and ACC sounds brutal, complete with a "championship game" in Vegas.
— Josh Newman (@Joshua_Newman) July 6, 2022
