Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff says losing members to Big 12 is 'not a concern'

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff speaks at the NCAA college football Pac-12 media day Friday, July 21, 2023, in Las Vegas. Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff brushed aside the potential threat of conference members being poached away by other leagues, even withadding a lingering layer of uncertainty to the conference's future.

Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah have been the four Pac-12 schools most commonly linked to the Big 12. Colorado in particular has had contact with the Big 12. In Utah’s case, athletic director Mark Harlan was firm in the Utes’ commitment to the Pac-12 on Friday. “I see the commitment all of our schools have to each other. I also kind of know where the sources of that is coming from,” Kliavkoff said. “I discount that because I know the truth.”

Once a media rights deal is reached, the remaining 10 Pac-12 presidents and chancellors have to sign a grant of rights to keep the league intact. Of course, schools signing on would depend on their satisfaction with the new deal, though Kliavkoff said Friday the grant of rights has “already been negotiated.” But if the deal is not comparable to other Power Five conferences, namely the Big 12, defections are certainly possible.

The Pac-12 has had expansion discussions of its own. Kliavkoff said the conference office completed its due diligence on possible candidates “many months ago,” with the focus narrowed down to a select number of schools. But expansion cannot move forward until the media rights deal is in place.Last month, SDSU sent the Mountain West a letter announcing its intention to withdraw from the league.

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