Pac Ten expansion will alter the entire college sports landscape

Pac Ten expansion is causing an upheaval in the college sports landscape that will make it unrecognizable as we know it. The Big-12 and Big-10 conferences will both be affected by the aggressiveness of the Pac Ten expansion. The objective of Pac Ten expansion is enhanced revenue from television contracts. Probably the most sought after prize in the college conference tug of war is Texas, with its huge legion of fans and nationwide television ratings draw.

Resource for this article: Pac Ten expansion will alter the entire college sports landscape

Pac Ten expansion buying list

Pac Ten expansion plans were shared with conference athletic directors at a June 6 meeting in San Francisco. ESPN reports that a full merger with the Big-12, taking six current Big-12 schools, adding just Colorado and Utah or maintaining the status quo were the scenarios discussed within the meeting. A lucrative Pac Ten TV network is also on the table in discussions about conference expansion. Large 12 schools on the Pac Ten purchasing list includeTexas, Texas A and M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado .

Television revenues drive Pac Ten expansion

Pac Ten expansion is being discussed as the Big-12 conference has found itself under siege from both the east and west. The Big-12 hasn't kept up with other major conferences in the race for TV dollars, despite having large name schools like Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Missouri. The Big-10, a conference with its own TV network that doled out $22 million in TV revenues to each of its members last season, has made overtures to Nebraska and Missouri. Television revenues for Big-12 schools last season ranged from $7 to $12 million. The leader of all conferences, as outlined by the Sports Business Journal, is the Southeast Conference, which rakes in $205 million a year from ESPN and CBS. The Pac Ten’s contracts with ABC/ESPN and Fox are worth $45 million.

How the Pac-16 could work

No one is expecting Pac Ten expansion anytime soon, but Orangebloods.com reports that Pac Ten commissioner Larry Scott will invite Texas, Texas A and M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Colorado and Oklahoma State to join the Pac Ten this week. With so numerous schools, the Pac-16 could form two leagues. The six newcomers, plus the two Arizona schools, which made the Pac-8 the Pac Ten would form one league. The original eight schools within the conference would form the other.

Is the Big-12 facing oblivion?

The San Jose Mercury News reports that the Big 12 has reportedly given Nebraska and Missouri an ultimatum: commit to the conference by Friday, June 11 — with the assumption being that if they don't, everybody will go their separate ways. If that scenario comes true, the Big-12 would be left with Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. To remain viable, the Big-12 could gather in Texas Christian and Southern Methodist and perhaps convince Colorado and Utah to join the league. But would the Little-8 stand a chance against the bigger, richer conferences encroaching on the east and west?. And its doubtful that the conference expansion spree is a good thing for college sports fans.

Additional details at these websites

sports.espn.go.com

sportsbusinessjournal.com

blogs.mercurynews.com