Report: Pac-12 and ESPN 'having no substantive talks' regarding conference's media rights

"Things can always change & maybe the Pac-12 can figure out a creative way to get ESPN involved, but right now that seems very unlikely.”

Where will fans be able to watch Pac-12 football games in 2024?

As of Monday, it doesn't look like it will be on ESPN, according to New York Post sports media columnist Andrew Marchand. In his newsletter released Monday morning, Marchand wrote:

“ESPN & the Pac-12 are having no substantive talks at this time. ESPN passed on Big Ten, Sunday Ticket, Premier League, Champions League & MLS, so the idea it will be completely out on the Pac-12 is not in the least bit surprising. Things can always change & maybe the Pac-12 can figure out a creative way to get ESPN involved, but right now that seems very unlikely.”

Two weeks ago on their show The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, Marchand and fellow reporter John Ourand discussed how Amazon wasn't likely to partner with the Pac-12 either. 

So what happens next? 

The Pac-12's current TV deal expires in 2024 and the conference — after months and months of negotiations — is still in the process of trying to land a new one. Without ESPN and Amazon in the picture, Apple could potentially partner with the conference to air football games, but that would take the Pac-12's marque games off of cable. ION Television was another rumored partner. 

Last week, the Pac-12 announced record distributions of $37 million per member university from the 2021-22 fiscal year, but that figure still lagged behind other Power Five conferences. 

Here are the other average annual payouts, per USA Today Sports. 

- Big Ten $58.8 million 

- SEC $49.9 million 

- Big 12 $42-$44.9 million 

- ACC $37.9-$41.3 million 

- Pac-12 $37 million

If the Pac-12's next TV deal continues to put its member schools at a disadvantage financially compared to other conferences, realignment buzz will only grow stronger and stronger.