Talks of the Big 12 and PAC 12 conferences potentially merging have ended, according to multiple reports on Monday.
As first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel , the pair of power conferences had conversations about a potential merger in the days and weeks after USC and UCLA announced their departure from the Pac-12 for the Big Ten. Those talks are now over.
According to the report, a merger between the two would not substantially benefit the Big 12 from a revenue standpoint, which is what’s driving the constant shifting of tides we’ve seen in recent years.
The report also states that the Big 12 reached out to the PAC 12 about combining its leagues over the weekend, with the first point of contact coming Friday. Those talks lasted three meetings over zoom and ended Monday.
The Big 12 is already slated to add four teams to its league next season after Central Florida, Cincinnati, Houston and BYU accepted invites in the aftermath of Oklahoma and Texas’ decision to leave the league for the SEC.
The number of new Big 12 teams in the coming years could still grow to eight with Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah all reportedly still weighing the option of leaving the Pac-12 in order to join the Big 12.
New Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is making a name for himself early, and he’s not taking anything from any party.
