The Pac-12 officially issued a response hours after Colorado announced that it would be leaving the conference for a return to the Big 12 in 2024.
In the statement, the Pac-12 noted it is focused on “expansion opportunities” and the ongoing negotiations for a media rights deal the conference has been trying to work out for some time now.
“The Pac-12 is comprised of world-leading universities and athletic programs who share a commitment to developing the next generation of leaders, supporting student-athletes’ academic and athletic excellence, and broad-based success,” the statement read. “We remain committed to our shared values and to continuing to invest in our student-athletes. Today’s decision by the University of Colorado has done nothing to disrupt that commitment.
“We are focused on concluding our media right deal and securing our continued success and growth. Immediately following the conclusion of our media rights deal, we will embrace expansion opportunities and bring new fans, markets, excitement, and value to the Pac-12.”
Statement from the Pac-12 Conference: pic.twitter.com/up5hjSD1ek
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) July 28, 2023
The conference’s presidents and chancellors reportedly voted unanimously to accept Colorado on Wednesday. Then, the Buffaloes’ board of regents officially approved the move on Thursday.
Colorado was one of the original members of the Big 12 back in 1996 before the school left for the Pac-12 in 2011.
One of the hot topics of this offseason has been the Pac-12’s media rights deal, or lack thereof. Commissioner George Kliavkoff said last week, “The longer we wait, the better our options get, and I think the board [of directors] realizes that.” The current deal expires in 2024.
