These days, everything ought to be considered on the table. That’s right: The Big 12 could poach from the Pac-12 OR the Pac-12 could post from the Big 12. We never know exactly which individual details matter most any given moment of conference realignment musical chairs, but if media markets and recruiting still matter, then the Pac-12 could look to the Lone Star State to attempt to draw Texas Tech or Baylor from the Big 12. So how does this play out? Whichever network offers the Pac-12 the most money will encourage the addition of, say, two to four more schools. Note that ESPN played a major role in breaking up the Big East by encouraging the ACC to add Syracuse and Pitt, for example preserving historic basketball rivalries was really never part of the conversation. In case you weren’t aware already, it’s the TV (technically TV and streaming) giants that really drives conference realignment decisions, and college football realignment in particular will always be king as far as broadcast dollars are concerned. Or perhaps the conversation with TV partners could be much more direct: “it’s in your best interest to save us.” Basically, TV execs know the Pac-12 is exploring expansion, and the conference can say to them something to the effect of “tell us who to add, we will add them, and you will have a better product than whatever comes out of a breakup THAT WILL TOTALLY HAPPEN REALLY SOON.”
The Big 12 could be floating this idea themselves to try and strengthen their position in the new power structure, or the Pac-12 could be putting pressure on the networks. The Pac-12 has started renegotiating its next television and streaming rights deal.
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