Big 12 Members Vote to Include Arizona Following Colorado's Departure from the Pac-12 Conference
The University of Arizona might follow Colorado's lead and join the Big 12 conference, potentially triggering a wave of other Pac-12 schools looking to switch conferences. This phenomenon is due to the SEC and Big Ten's forceful growth, resulting in the formation of two dominant power conferences, nicknamed the Power 2.
The Big 12 has embraced this expansion plan after the SEC lured away two of its original members, Texas and Oklahoma, who will be joining the SEC in 2024. Cincinnati, Houston, BYU, and UCF joined the Big 12 this season, and the conference currently consists of 14 teams.
The Big 12 is also interested in other Pac-12 teams from the four corner states, including Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah. While the Big 12 will lose Oklahoma and Texas next season, they could keep their roster at 14 teams if Arizona joins.
Pac-12 Under Threat: Losing USC, UCLA, and Colorado
The current Pac-12 deal is set to expire at the end of the upcoming season. Without a new agreement in sight, UCLA and USC left the Pac-12 last year to join the Big Ten for financial reasons. Colorado also left the Pac-12 for the Big 12 due to similar motivations.
The Big Ten is considering expanding into the West, targeting four additional Pac-12 schools, such as Washington, Oregon, Stanford, and Cal Berkley.
Pac-12 officials are striving to prevent the conference's dissolution. However, they may struggle to compete monetarily with the Big Ten's lucrative $8 billion deal with its network partners and the Big 12's $2.2 billion extension with ESPN and Fox in 2020.
Colorado Departs, Arizona dilemma: Will Arizona Join the Big 12, and What about Arizona State?
After Colorado became the first Pac-12 team to join the Big 12, the Pac-12 is left with nine original members after USC and UCLA left for the Big Ten. The Pac-12 is now weighing its options as Arizona could be the next to leave.
Big 12 officials and school chancellors voted on Thursday to approve Arizona's admission into their conference. Arizona wants to join the Big 12, but Arizona State prefers for both schools to remain in the Pac-12 to maintain their intrastate rivalry status.
Arizona State is loyal to the Pac-12, but the current situation might change their mind if the Pac-12 suffers further losses and financial instability.
Utah is uncertain about its future position and needs to choose a side before the East's schools make their pitches. Oregon State, Washington State, and the Big 12 could also become a likely destination for these Pac-12 members.
ACC's Struggles with TV Deals and Possible Expansion
The rise of the Power 2 has created numerous issues for the other Power Five conferences. The Pac-12's predicament is particularly pressing, with several members considering departing for more lucrative offers.
The ACC, consisting of 14 teams, has a TV deal with ESPN through 2033, which provides approximately $400 million annually. However, this revenue isn't enough for some of the top schools in the conference, such as Florida State, Clemson, and Miami, who would prefer to be a part of the SEC.
Richard McCullough, the president of Florida State University, stated that they love the ACC but are unsatisfied with the current situation. Major changes in revenue distribution within the ACC are necessary for them to remain competitive.
North Carolina is another potential departure to the SEC. If that happens, the ACC might attempt to recruit Notre Dame to replace them. However, this is a longshot, as the ACC could lose three powerhouse schools in Florida if they stay in the SEC.
The Pac-12 is currently facing a precarious situation, so a partnership between the ACC and Pac-12 is being considered to potentially save the conference from further losses.
Big 12 UT and OU's Final Days
University of Texas and Oklahoma are scheduled to leave the Big 12 at the end of the 2024 season. The end of an era for these two schools is approaching as they head to the SEC.
The Big 12 Championship game is expected to be won by Texas and Oklahoma, who are the top-favored teams at odds of +100 and +340 respectively. These two teams will be leaving the conference to join the SEC. Texas Tech, Kansas State, TCU, Baylor, UCF, and Kansas have lower chances with odds of +1200, +500, +1600, +1800, +3500, and +3500 respectively.
However, Iowa State is a massive long shot to win the conference title with odds of +8000. This is primarily due to the absence of starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers, who has left the team after being charged in a sports betting scandal.
As for the national championship, Texas is considered to have a better chance with +2200 odds. They are ranked ninth on the futures board by DraftKings. Oklahoma also has a slim chance with +6000 odds, and have been ranked #16 on the futures board.
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Source: www.casino.org
