Well if the rumors out there are true.. Pac-12 is dead. Some sources are reporting the best media rights deal the conference could wrangle without ucla and usc is $20M per school. That is pathetic, and on par with what we signed 10 years ago when Larry Scott, who single handedly destroyed the Conference of Champions, figured he could take a worse deal from networks and make up for it in creating and owning the pac-12 network.
There is no way the remaining members accept that. Cal is in an interesting position (I will not say good by any stretch) because they could take a 50% share from any other conference and ucla will basically fund some $8-$10M more for their treachery. Heck even the $20M + ucla's kickback will still be more than we were getting previously.
So anyways... there is no Pac 9/10/12 after this year and basically all schools are going to be free agents. Honestly, I think there's even money that Cal doesn't just fold it up after this season. The writing was on the wall, but if the deal is $20M per year, I think Oregon makes more from Phil Knight than that.
Looking forward to the geographical wrangling that the SEC/ACC are going to do to justify admitting PAC XX schools.
That Atlantic coast power California or that southern powerhouse Oregon.
I mean, like the B1G did a long time ago.
ACC can just switch to All Coast Conference and absorb Oregon and the CA schools
Solar Empire Conference.
The true origin story for the 40K universe.
It just means WAR!!!!!!!!
ACC media picks Louisville 8th. Just noting it here so we can discuss at Thanksgiving.
Solar Empire Conference.
The true origin story for the 40K universe.
It just means WAR!!!!!!!!
Sins of a Solar Empire: The Nick Saban Story
After some of the hilarious suggestions I heard today, my suggestion to the PAC-12 is to stream games on Twitch.
You'll probably make more money that way anyway.
Also, big shout out to EDSBS for teaching me about the Florida State Department of Anthropology Strip Mall today.
Big 10 Reportedly in discussions to add 2-4 teams from the PAC 12 10 8 6 ish?
Edit: Oregon and Washington if the Big Ten adds two schools, and California and Stanford if four.
Just call it the BIG.
It is so deeply B1G for the decision makers in that league to
-put the pac-12 on life support
-watch it potentially die
-claim they didn't want to be the one that actually killed it while figuring out what they'll do at the funeral and wake
After some of the hilarious suggestions I heard today, my suggestion to the PAC-12 is to stream games on Twitch.
You'll probably make more money that way anyway.
Not too far from the truth. The deal on the table includes Apple Streaming as a premium service (like MLS is currently). Sounds like IF (and that's a HUUUGE IF), it moves the needle enough on Apple, it can actually be worth more money per school than the B12 deal ($31M per school). I have no idea how far to the right that needle is, but I'm having a hard time believing exclusive Pac12 games is the difference. I'm probably a "target customer" with my demo and of course alumni status, but I only care about 12 games out of a possible 150+ game slate and I will be in person in 6-8 of those, leaving me only 4 games I would want to watch on any service.
Looks like the conference is DOA.
Arizona, ASU, Utah are (or should be) actively being courted by B12
Oregon and Washington can basically sell to the highest bidder as they have national brand recognition
OSU and WSU. I think both of these programs are in pretty risky ground. Not necessarily attractive to other P4 conferences. MWC probably a real possiblity there.
Cal and stanfurd have do-nothing administrations and generally apathetic fan bases . However both are in one of the largest TV markets in the country, and for the conferences that care (B1G and probably ACC), academic brand name that is worth something. I doubt either school will go out of their way to pursue a deal though, and will just wait to see what will happen. Will probably accept the Apple deal because a) stanfurd has unlimited money anyways b) Cal adminsitration doesn't care
I'm going to miss you, PAC-12 After Dark. Your games were glorious monuments to football incoherence.
I'm going to miss you, PAC-12 After Dark. Your games were glorious monuments to football incoherence.
And Bill Walton calling hoops. Amazing mix.
Prederick wrote:I'm going to miss you, PAC-12 After Dark. Your games were glorious monuments to football incoherence.
And Bill Walton calling hoops. Amazing mix.
Solar Empire Conference.
The true origin story for the 40K universe.
It just means WAR!!!!!!!!
How am I the first person to like this, four days later? This is gold, Jerry!
I can't be the only one here that wants the SEC to gobble up Cal and Stanford.
I can't be the only one here that wants the SEC to gobble up Cal and Stanford.
Can we put them in a division with Vandy? SEC Nerds?
Can we put them in a division with Vandy? SEC Nerds?
GOD yes.
While I probably should be worried that Cal/stanfurd aren't mentioned at all in the recent Oregon/Washington discussions, the real answer is there's no reason to be. Whether you call it elitism (we don't need athletics, we're an academic institution), apathy, or just plain stupidity both schools are content to just wait it out. I still think the B1G will come knocking at a significant discount at the end of this season. The Big 10's worst offer is probably on par with the Pac-##'s best.
IMO, the same elitism I mention above basically means Cal and stanfurd would rather not have football than pulled into a conference with lesser academic profiles, so honestly Cal football in 2024 is either going to be B1G, or "dead".
If PAC teams join the B1G then every week is the Rose Bowl right? 
If PAC teams join the B1G then every week is the Rose Bowl right? :D
Well if fUCLA moved the B1G and Cal stayed as Pac-whatever, then the almost certain OOC game Cal@UCLA would kinda be that right?
Cal to the Ivy League, obvs.
Honestly, if there were a few more west coast schools that could fit that profile I wouldn't say no.. Cal Tech and Claremont McKenna football doesn't sound very fun though.
So what we're saying is the best of Oregon State, Wazzu, Cal, furd, and Arizona should represent the Pac-12 in the Rose Bowl?
FYI, former ESPN head John Skipper and former Marlins President David Sampson have a great convo about the PAC-12 over at LeBatard's YT channel:
Be honest, can, years ago, you tell me that a big-time conference is going to collapse, the PAC X wouldn’t have been my first or second guess
If you read all the articles of incompetence and arrogance the conference leadership exhibited over at least the say last 3-5 years, then it starts to become clear. If you told me "Do you think a big time conference is going to collapse" maybe I say no.. if you say "it's a given a big time conference is going to collapse", then yes I probably would have put Pac-12 in my top 2.
I follow a lot of Cal and west coast writers, and any sort of joking, even anger has basically tuned into melancholy.. including myself. It may sound stupid but this morning I woke up just sad that something that has given me such joy for over 30 years of my life may come to an abrupt end. Yes wins and Axes are great..the forever hope of a Cal Rose Bowl something to dream about every year... but actual sport aside, Cal football has given me an opportunity to visit places I would never have visited myself, its a great conversation starter with anyone with any remote interest in sports, it allowed me to reconnect with friends, when I lived in NYC it was a gathering point for scattered alumni. Yes we all went to the greatest public university in the world, and nothing will change that, but being able to all cheer for something for 3 hours 12 saturdays of the year, listening to the band... basically being Thanos snapped away.
We by choice have no children, as we choose to fill our lives with fun experiences and Cal football has been one of them. This void is not something that will easily be filled.
I've met a lot of people from other schools, and they almost always say they don't get how a team that has been so bad for so long has such a dedicated fan base. I know for a fact the vast majority of Cal alum have never set foot in Memorial stadium or even know where it is. However for those of us that are we embrace it as a passion.
#Pac12ForeverDark
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