September 15th 2024.
During a recent phone conversation, I had the pleasure of speaking with Bob Thompson, the former president of Fox Sports Networks and co-founder of the Big Ten Network. As we chatted before the Rocky Mountain Showdown, Thompson shared his first pro tip with me: if the Pac-12 commissioner starts making big promises, don't get too starry-eyed, or you may end up disappointed.
Thompson emphasized that even though CSU is now part of the new-look Pac-12 conference, it's important to remember that they are a different family with different relatives. The landscape has changed, and Thompson knows firsthand how easy it is for new members to fall into the same traps that CU did when they joined the league 14 years ago.
When I asked Thompson how CSU can avoid these pitfalls, he responded with a laugh and a simple answer: have a strong conference office. We both chuckled at the truth in that statement.
The downfall of the Pac-12 as we knew it was caused by many factors, with former commissioner Larry Scott being at the center of it all. The promised TV viewership never materialized, and the payouts were far below expectations. Unlike other conferences, the Pac-12 Network was unable to secure a partnership with an established network like ESPN or Fox.
As a result, CU found themselves playing in front of more alumni and aligning more with academic peers, but they also lost their identity and swag. The Buffs became just another Berkeley in a league that already had one, and their football team disappeared from TV screens outside of Wyoming.
Now, as CSU joins the Pac-12, they are facing different expectations and a different tax bracket. Former Big 12 and Big Eight commissioner Chuck Neinas believes the move is a positive one for the Rams, as being left behind would have been disastrous for the program. Plus, they will now be in good company with the best of the rest.
Neinas wasn't at the Rocky Mountain Showdown, but he did attend the opening game at Canvas Stadium in 2017. He remembers being amazed that the stadium was completed under budget and on time, which is almost unheard of in the world of college football.
When it comes to the credit for CSU's invitation to the Pac-12, Neinas believes it's a combination of the Denver market and the university's commitment to football with the construction of Canvas Stadium. However, this move to the Pac-12 is not without its caveats. While CSU is stepping up to join the best of the Group of 5 leagues, there is still a possibility that TV executives could change the game once again in 2031.
Thompson believes that the Pac-12's move to add CSU, San Diego State, Boise State, and Fresno State will elevate the conference above the AAC, but it's not quite at the level of the "A" conferences yet. The TV payouts will also depend on who else joins the conference, and whether they can secure a deal that pays out $10 million per school like the AAC.
In the end, the Pac-12 that CSU is joining is a different one from CU's. It will be a smaller conference with different challenges and opportunities, and only time will tell how it will all play out. But for now, CSU can celebrate being part of the Pac-12 family and the potential for growth and success in this new landscape.
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