HEADLINE

Reports: Big 12, Pac-12 meet to discuss partnership

Field Level Media

August 04, 2021 at 12:56 am.

The Big 12 and Pac-12 commissioners met Tuesday to discuss a range of partnership opportunities, from a scheduling alliance to full-out merger, The Athletic first reported.

Bob Bowlsby of the Big 12 and new Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff met a day after Bowlsby floated potential opportunities at a Texas Senate committee meeting.

“I think there are options for us to partner with other conferences,” Bowlsby said Monday. “There may be opportunity for mergers. There may be opportunities to add members. There may be other opportunities that are currently unforeseen.”

The talks come in the aftermath of Texas and Oklahoma accepting formal invitations to join the SEC beginning in 2025.

The Big 12 is facing a new TV rights deal that could be shaved in half with the exodus of the Longhorns and Sooners.

Kliavkoff, too, said last week he’s doing a lot of listening since taking over as the league’s new commissioner on July 1.

“We’re, on purpose, not reaching out and trying to poach any schools, but my phone has blown up — absolutely blown up over the last five days,” Kliavkoff told ESPN. “And I’ve got lots and lots of calls from probably every school you would imagine and probably a few you’d be surprised by. We’re listening to all inbound inquiries, because it seems like the smart thing to do.”

ESPN also reported Tuesday’s meeting.