College football expansion: Pac-12 school reacts to new Big 12 rumors
The speculation around college football expansion and conference realignment refuses to die down as rumors swirl with the Pac-12 looking to confirm a new media deal and the Big 12 waiting to see if it can poach any of that league's members. And up to now, Pac-12 teams have been putting on a solid front of support.
Arizona president Robert Robbins cleared the air somewhat when speaking with reporters, outlining where his school lies in all the conversation, especially as regards his in-state rival Arizona State.
"We don't have to do the same thing," Robbins told reporters, adding that he is close with ASU's president. "I think it'd be unlikely that we'd be split up. Right now with 10 schools, we control a very nice 20 percent of solidarity."
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But that solidarity depends on what kind of deal the Pac-12 can get, and while insiders say there is some positive movement on that front, Robbins admitted that a new contract with the exact numbers has not been shown to him yet.
"My prediction is that we're all going to stay together," Robbins said, but added that he remains hopeful the deal will be "good enough to keep us together."
Which can't help but mean that there isn't yet a consensus that the deal will be good enough and some Pac-12 schools are keeping their options open.
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Pac-12 members announced this week that they verbally agreed on a grant of rights agreement which, while it still technically allows schools to leave the conference if they want to, there would be some penalty if they did.
Colorado remains the subject of intense speculation after two notable reports emerged connecting the school with the Big 12, but CU officials have stated publicly that they remain committed to the Pac-12.
And it's not just the Big 12 that remains interested in any potential Pac-12 schools: the Big Ten has made contact with Oregon and Washington to informally discuss the matter, and that league has vetted up to 10 teams nationwide for possible expansion.
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