![]() The reasons generally circled back to the same three points: mismanagement of the conference by former league commissioner Larry Scott, who left in 2021 lack of local and national penetration for Scott’s Pac-12 Network and continual struggles to win in football, a slump that was compounded by a series of unsuccessful coaching hires. Roughly 1 in 10 CU undergrads hail from California.īut Buffs fans, boosters and alums have often found themselves frustrated and disappointed as members of the Pac-12. On paper, CU and the Pac-12 figured to be a long-term match, given the preponderance of Buffs alums who reside in Colorado, Arizona, Washington and California. Coach Prime has strong pipelines in both states, which also happen to produce some of the largest pockets of high school football talent in the country - regions that will be a part of the new-look Big 12. 9, grew up in Florida and was largely based in Texas in the decades since his playing career ended. CU sold out season tickets in record time, ESPN came to campus to broadcast the annual spring game, and some of the most celebrated recruits in the country visited the Flatirons. ![]() The arrival of Sanders, who had never coached at the FBS level and posted a 27-6 record over three seasons at FCS Jackson State before coming to Boulder, has made an instant impact. The decision to hire NFL legend Deion Sanders as football coach last December brought national attention to Folsom Field, where the Buffs had produced just one winning season in a non-pandemic year since 2006. TCU and West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012 following CU’s departure, while BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston were accepted in September 2021 as replacements for Texas and Oklahoma, both of which announced plans to join the SEC a few months earlier.ĬU’s discussions mark the second time in eight months the Buffs have shaken up the college football world. Even if the Buffs are in the fold, membership next fall will feature only six schools that were part of the league when CU departed: Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. That said, this Big 12 isn’t the one CU left in 2011. The Big 12 reached a media rights deal with ESPN and Fox last fall worth $2.3 billion, according to the Austin American-Statesman, while the Pac-12’s broadcast deals past 2024 have yet to be announced. ![]() Similar to 2010, CU’s move comes amid significant instability in major college athletics brought on by another wave of conference realignment. The Pac-12 held a board meeting Wednesday morning in which commissioner George Kliavkoff offered an update on such negotiations, which Yahoo Sports reported CU representatives attended without mentioning “any intention to leave or that they had a scheduled board meeting” later in the day. CU chancellor Phil DiStefano told The Post only July 19 that he hadn’t seen any revenue numbers from such a deal but was expecting an update before the league’s football media day last Friday in Las Vegas. Privately and publicly, Buffs officials became increasingly concerned over the Pac-12’s repeated delays in formalizing a new broadcast rights contract. Then, as now, the primary reasons behind the university’s discussions are stability and financial security.Ī source familiar with negotiations confirmed reports that CU had met with representatives from the Big 12 on multiple occasions, including league commissioner Brett Yormark, prior to Wednesday. Multiple outlets reported that Big 12 presidents met Wednesday evening, with ESPN’s Pete Thamel tweeting that they voted “unanimously” via conference call to accept the Buffs.ĬU left the Big 12, of which it was a founding member, in 2010 to join an expanding Pac-12, ending an association of 63 straight seasons as a member of the Big 12, Big Eight or Big Seven. Thursday, The Post confirmed, and the posted agenda includes an “action item” regarding athletics, raising speculation of a possible vote to explore or apply for Big 12 membership.ĮSPN reported that joining the Big 12 was discussed during an executive session of the board on Wednesday afternoon. Ralphie could be running right back into the arms of the Big 12.Ī source confirmed to The Post reports that the CU Buffs are “in discussions” to return to the Big 12 Conference, 13 years after leaving that league to join what became the Pac-12.ĬU’s board of regents has scheduled a public meeting at 3 p.m. ![]() Digital Replica Edition Home Page Close Menu
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