Colorado to rejoin Big 12 Conference, per sources

The Buffs will end a rocky relationship with the Pac-12 after more than a decade

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The University of Colorado Board of Regents will vote on a move back to the Big 12 Conference on Thursday. A transition for the school after a brief 13-year stint as a member of the Pac-12, who has recently faced a number of hardships, including a significantly reduced media rights deal.

Colorado will receive a full share of  $31.7 million from ESPN/Fox media deal via the Big 12, according to Brett McMurphy.

Colorado spent 62 years within the Big Eight/12 conference before leaving in 2010. While the university’s move to the Pacific-based seemed to make a lot of sense over a decade ago, it has become increasingly frustrating with a lack of business movement in the past five years. The Pac-12 conference has also struggled to support their own television network with a DirecTV blackout that still remains strong today.

Outside of that, CU is the third school to vacate the Pac-12 with USC and UCLA, respectfully heading to the Big Ten next year. Rumors have been swirling about the possibility of Oregon and Washington heading to the mid-eastern conference as well, which would all but signal the end of the Pac-12 as we know it. Also, anything short of an 11th-hour miracle might not keep doors open for too much longer.

The college football expansion and conference realignment process is now starting to shape up even further with Colorado’s move back to the Big 12. A monumental move for Coach Prime who’ll be positioned for better recruiting efforts with a majority of his future opponents in his adopted home state of Texas.

The Big 12 has been public in its attempt to expand west, along with increasing its exposure in the Pacific media markets. Now, the Pac-12 faces a void to fill with only nine members on the books going into 2024. Many have speculated if schools such as San Diego State, Nevada, or Boise State would make the jump to a power five and would be geographically positioned to help the Pac-12.

Only time will tell if the Pac-12 can survive the long haul. As of now, Colorado puts themselves in a bigger conversation within the NIL era of college athletics. The Big 12 was the most profitable conference last season ahead of Big Ten and SEC.