George Kliavkoff, the Pac-12 Conference commissioner, had his vacation cut short when he received shocking news that USC and UCLA were leaving for the Big Ten, just one day short of his one-year anniversary in his position. Although there were 90 text messages on his phone, he was unaware of them due to a lack of reception in the area.
Since then, Kliavkoff has been working to shape the Pac-12’s future amidst the departure of USC and UCLA. The two schools are set to officially leave next year, and the conference is still trying to adjust to this change while considering potential expansion and putting together a new media-rights deal.
Despite the challenges, Kliavkoff remains optimistic and confident in the conference’s future. He stated that a media-rights package will be announced soon, and he believes that the 10 remaining schools, along with any potential expansion teams, will still be together in five years.
There has been speculation about other Pac-12 schools potentially leaving for the Big 12, and rumors that Oregon and Washington could join USC and UCLA in the Big Ten. Kliavkoff addressed these rumors and emphasized that the conference is focused on the future and not overly concerned about media reports or social media discussions.
Meanwhile, USC was chosen by the media as the favorite to win the league and potentially make it to the College Football Playoff, which could create an unusual situation given their impending move to the Big Ten.
The coaches and schools are also grappling with the implications of USC and UCLA’s departure from a recruiting standpoint, as Southern California was a major target for recruiting due to parents being able to watch their kids’ games in Los Angeles. With that pitch soon to be unavailable, coaches will need to adapt their recruiting strategies.
Kliavkoff’s role is to not only keep the Pac-12 intact but also help the conference thrive amid the competition from other conferences like the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference. The expansion of the College Football Playoff is seen as an opportunity to elevate the value of media rights for conferences with automatic bids, potentially shrinking the gap between the Pac-12 and other leading conferences over time.
