Colorado finalizes move to Big 12

Colorado finalizes move to Big 12

The University of Colorado has officially agreed to leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12, according to Amanda Christovich of Front Office Sports. The Colorado Board of Regents unanimously voted to join the conference and will begin competition in the 2024-2025 season.

That's it, folks.

The University of Colorado Board of Regents has voted UNANIMOUSLY to join the Big 12.

— Amanda Christovich (@achristovichh) July 27, 2023

Colorado made the decision to switch conferences for a variety of reasons. One of the most crucial factors was the stability of the Big 12 conference in comparison to the uncertainty of the Pac-12, according to Brett McMurphy of Action Network. Additionally, Colorado will receive $31.7 million from media rights deals.

Colorado leaving Pac-12 to return to Big 12 in 2024, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. CU will receive full Big 12 share ($31.7M) from ESPN/Fox media deal. Buffs left because of Big 12 stability & Pac-12’s uncertainty, sources said. Announcement Thursdayhttps://t.co/IOo8LWAuTF pic.twitter.com/4Ilq91C0EO

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 26, 2023

Colorado was previously a part of the Big 12 from 1996 to 2010. In 2011, the university left the conference in favor of the Pac-12. Now, 12 years later, they are heading back. It still has some formal paperwork for the move to be completed; the University must officially inform the Pac-12 of its departure and apply to join the Big 12.

In the quickly changing landscape of college football, Colorado’s move is representative of the growth of the Big 12 and the dive of the Pac-12. The Big 12 lost Texas and Oklahoma but has rebounded with the addition of Colorado, Houston, Cincinnati, UCF and BYU. Meanwhile, the Pac-12 lost USC and UCLA to the Big Ten without adding any new members.

The Big 12’s addition of Colorado is a high-upside long-term play. If head coach Deion Sanders can build a winner in Boulder, the team will be a great addition to the conference. Furthermore, in the short term, Sanders and the Buffaloes will be a team that fans will likely love to watch. That is a positive considering the ever-present role of media rights in college football.

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