Paul Finebaum declares Pac-12 'will no longer be a power five conference' after 2023

Losing Colorado to the Big 12 has experts diminishing the Pac-12's status

Now that Colorado is officially going to the Big 12 and the Pac-12 is set to be at nine teams in 2024 unless they are able to expand, the future for the conference out west is looking bleak.

In fact, it is looking so bleak that ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum even went as far to question if they can be considered a Power 5 conference. Something he expressed while joining Mike Greenberg on ESPN's Get Up.

“You may as well administer the PAC 12 its last rites,” Finebaum said. 

“I mean it’s over. And I’m not talking about this year. I’m talking about next year when they lose USC when Deion goes to the Big 12 There’s really nothing left and you can argue ‘Oh, there’s quality games.’ But this league has no what no longer has any relevance on the national stage without USC and losing Colorado and by the way, they may lose more

“So they can continue playing football – good for them but they will no longer be a power five conference in my opinion.”  

The Pac-12 as of right now will have nine members heading into the 2024 season, and will need to not only make sure no one else leaves but they also need to figure out what their next move is expansion wise. Something that based on a release by the conference yesterday, they don't seem to be privy about doing anytime soon.