Report: Big 12, Pac-12 to discuss future realignment options
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby will meet with Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff on Tuesday to discuss options for the two conferences to work together during college sports' new phase of realignment, sources told The Athletic's Max Olson.
Among the options is a scheduling alliance, Olson notes. Merging with another conference is also reportedly a possibility.
"I think there are options for us to partner with other conferences," Bowlsby said Monday. "There may be opportunity for mergers. There may be opportunities to add members. There may be other opportunities that are currently unforeseen."
Bowlsby began looking for options for the Big 12 after the conference lost Texas and Oklahoma. The Longhorns and Sooners will join the SEC when their grants of media rights with the Big 12 expires in 2025. Bowlsby recently said his conference could see the value of its TV deal cut in half once the two powerhouses leave, according to Acacia Coronado of The Associated Press.
The Pac-12's media rights deal with ESPN and Fox Sports ends in 2024.