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The Massive Ten was reportedly “evaluating the worthiness” of including a quartet of Pac-12 groups (Oregon, Cal, Stanford and Washington) into the convention, however Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports activities reported that curiosity has since cooled down:
“After the anxiousness prompted final week concerning additional Massive Ten growth, trade sources have indicated the Massive Ten is now not as curious about including California, Oregon, Stanford and Washington. Rightsholders had been balking at paying the identical quantity for these colleges because the 16 Massive Ten colleges going ahead ($80 million-$100 million).
“Whereas these 4 packages could ultimately have choices, the Massive Ten is concentrating on its new deal in 2023 whereas making an attempt to lure Notre Dame, which has an open invitation. Increasingly stakeholders now consider the Preventing Irish will finally keep impartial.”
The Massive Ten at the moment has 14 establishments, however the conference is adding USC and UCLA into the fold in 2024.
The Massive Ten finds itself able of nice energy by including two powerhouse faculty sports activities packages in California, increasing the convention’s footprint to the West Coast. The league does not essentially need to develop any additional after choosing up USC and UCLA, though the Notre Dame rumors nonetheless persist.
The Massive Ten and SEC, which can even have 16 groups after Oklahoma and Texas be part of the combo in 2025, finally will stand as a pair of superconferences in a couple of years time.
The most important query is what’s going to change into of the Pac 12 with out two of its most recognizable packages. The convention has already revealed that it is trying into expansion, though that information comes as different convention colleges are linked to different leagues.
Dodd notably reported that Oregon alum and Nike founder Phil Knight was calling different leagues on his alma mater’s behalf.
There was discuss of the Massive 12 and Pac 12 becoming a member of forces, however the former reportedly walked away from the desk on that entrance, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Because it stands now, the Pac 12 could have 10 groups in a pair years’ time except the convention realignment carousel continues to maneuver. The Massive 12 already efficiently added 4 colleges (Houston, UCF, Cincinnati and BYU), and it stays to be seen if the Pac 12 can engineer the same growth as effectively.
