Brett Yormark Reportedly Beat Out the ACC to Land More Pac-12 Schools
Friday was one of the most transformational days in the history of college football. Oregon and Washington left the Pac-12 for the Big Ten while Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah left the Pac-12 for the Big 12. Those five defections delivered the final blows to the century-old Pac-12, at least as we know it today. It was also the final chapter of Brett Yormark's year-long pursuit of the "four-corner schools." Big 12 leaders believed that if they could convince Colorado to join the conference, the Pac-12 would collapse - and they were right.
Once Oregon and Washington left for the Big Ten, Brett Yormark acted quickly, offering the Pac-12 schools full revenue shares upfront. His forward thinking and premeditated plan made the difference as Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah joined the conference.
On the other side of the country, the ACC was reacting to the news and "seriously exploring" adding Pac-12 schools according to Ross Dellenger.
Westward ACC expansion would have threatened the Big 12's long-term plan to position itself as the third best conference behind the Big Ten and the SEC. But that didn't happen. Instead, Brett Yormark maintained his undefeated record and reeled in three more schools to stabilize the future.
Brett Yormark and the Big 12 were proactive. The ACC was reactive and that made all the difference.
Despite their grant of rights that extends well into the next decade, the ACC's top schools are actively trying to leave the conference already. It's not a matter of if schools leave the ACC, but when. In fact, those were the exact words used this week in Tallahassee when Florida State's board of directors discussed the Seminole's future in the ACC.
Beginning in 2024, the SEC will have 16 schools, the Big Ten will have 18 schools, and the Big 12 will have 16 schools. When the ACC defections begin, the Big 12 will be well positioned to scoop up some ACC schools and cement themselves as the third power conference behind the Big Ten and the SEC.
That's quite the comeback story considering the Big 12's precarious position two years ago. The Big 12 was on the verge of collapse in 2021 when Texas and Oklahoma shocked college football and left for the SEC. But the Big 12 survived after it quickly added BYU, Houston, UCF, and Cincinnati. The Big 12 leapfrogged the Pac-12 on its way to a media deal with ESPN and Fox. Beginning in 2024, the Big 12 will be the only Power Five conference featured on both ESPN and FOX in college football. That decision to leapfrog the Pac-12 will go down as one of the most impactful decisions in college football history.
Brett Yormark has officially been the commissioner of the Big 12 for one year. If the past 12 months have taught us anything, it's that nobody should bet against Brett Yormark.
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