Arizona, Arizona State and Utah are officially heading to the Big 12. The conference’s presidents and chancellors voted unanimously to admit the programs, the Big 12 announced Friday.
The Athletic reported earlier Friday that the three schools formally applied for membership to the Big 12, and the conference’s board of presidents and chancellors were expected to accept the three new members. ESPN initially reported that Arizona State and Utah had applied for membership.
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The three schools will join Colorado in becoming Big 12 members in 2024 at the conclusion of the Pac-12’s current media rights contract, turning the Big 12 into a 16-member conference and leaving the Pac-12 with Cal, Oregon State, Stanford and Washington State as its four remaining members.
“Today’s news is incredibly disappointing for student-athletes, fans, alumni and staff of the Pac-12 who cherish the over 100-year history, tradition and rivalries of the Conference of Champions,” the Pac-12 said in a statement Friday. “We remain focused on securing the best possible future for each of our member universities.”
Oregon and Washington deciding Friday morning they’ll leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten forced a change of heart for leadership at the three schools after their efforts to stick together and save the conference and opened the door for the Big 12 to pursue agreements with all three.
After convincing Colorado to leave the Pac-12 and join the Big 12 last week, commissioner Brett Yormark and the Big 12 continued their determined pursuit of Arizona, Arizona State and Utah. The Big 12 has been focused on westward expansion since last summer, after the Pac-12 lost USC and UCLA to the Big Ten, and is expected to stop at 16 future members for now after it lands all of the so-called “Four Corners” schools.
“The conference is gaining three premier institutions both academically and athletically, and the entire Big 12 looks forward to working alongside their presidents, athletic directors, student-athletes and administrators,” Yormark said in a statement Friday.
Big 12 Conference Adds Arizona, Arizona State and Utah pic.twitter.com/Or4ypfW7d8
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) August 5, 2023
Arizona has long been a priority target for the Big 12, but Arizona president Robert C. Robbins needed to see the terms of a proposed Pac-12 media rights deal before making a decision about his school’s future. Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff reportedly presented league members with a number of media rights deal options Tuesday, including a primarily subscription-based deal with Apple, according to ESPN. The Big 12’s board voted to approve Arizona as a new member during a meeting Thursday, sources familiar with the discussions said.
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Arizona State president Michael Crow and university leadership have consistently expressed loyalty to the Pac-12 and no interest in changing leagues, and Utah athletic director Mark Harlan reaffirmed his commitment to staying in the conference during the Pac-12’s media day in Las Vegas on July 21.
Oregon and Washington bolting for the Big Ten ultimately left them with no alternatives. A move to the Big 12, which will deliver members an average of $31.7 million per year from its media rights deal with ESPN and Fox, would offer more stability and financial security.
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(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)