For Pac-12, all options will be considered
New commissioner says expansion not ‘required’
New Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff said Tuesday that expansion is not “required” for the conference to thrive but all options will be considered in the wake of Texas and Oklahoma applying for membership in the SEC.
In his remarks at Pac-12 media day, Kliavkoff said disruption within the Big 12 would serve to strengthen the Pac-12’s strategic position with its dominance of the western half of the country.
“We do not believe expansion is required to continue to compete and thrive,” he said.
The conference has received “significant inbound interest” from other schools, he added, and will evaluate its options “in a very timely manner.”
Asked specifically about the Pac-12’s current configuration, with the SEC likely going to 16 teams and the ACC and Big Ten having 14 members, Kliavkoff noted:
“We don’t think there’s any risk to staying at 12 teams.”
Added Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens: “We have a strong 12.”
Kliavkoff called the potential for a scheduling alliance — the Big Ten is the obvious option — an “interesting opportunity” that has been discussed in preliminary fashion.
He also described as fodder and speculation all the media reports about Big 12 schools (and maybe others) possibly joining the Pac-12 in the wake of their conference’s collapse.
“We feel very comfortable with our current membership,” he said.
Kliavkoff addressed a slew of issues during his remarks and a question-and-answer session with the media:
• Notably, he addressed football topics before praising the Pac-12’s Olympic sports, a telling departure from the approach taken by his predecessor, Larry Scott.
“The Pac-12 will be hyper-focused on greater success in football and men’s basketball,” he said.
• He confirmed the Pac12 favors expansion of the College Football Playoff, which could officially approve the 12-team format this fall.
• In his view, the Pac-12’s media rights will become more valuable with the consolidation of the Power Five.
The contracts with ESPN and Fox expire in the spring of 2024, with negotiations likely to begin 18 months before that point.
• He emphasized that changes to the football conference schedule (moving from eight games to nine) and the possibility of eliminating the divisions are “on the table for discussion.”
• Kliavkoff reiterated what he said previously: Eight Pac-12 football teams have achieved an 80% vaccination rate and four have reached 90%.
The conference will decide next month whether any games canceled because of COVID will be declared forfeits or no-contests.
• He paid tribute to former UCLA coach Terry Donahue, who passed away earlier this month after battling cancer for two years.
• Kliavkoff announced the formation of a football strategic planning group designed to mirror the basketball subcommittee that played a key role in the Pac12’s success last season.
• As part of the increased focus on football, the conference has hired Shonna Brown, an associate commissioner from Conference USA.
She will work will Merton Hanks, the Pac-12’s chief of football operations, on strategic and operational matters.