SALT LAKE CITY – The Pac-12 issued a positive joint-statement on the conference’s future Monday afternoon. This comes on the heels of reports last week that the conference was struggling to make any headway on their media rights negotiations.

“The 10 Pac-12 universities look forward to consummating successful media rights deal(s) in the very near future. Based upon positive conversations with multiple potential media rights partners over the past weeks, we remain highly confident in our future growth and success as a conference and united in our commitment to one another.“

Since it was announced last summer that USC and UCLA were planning to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in 2024, rumors and reports abound from outside sources have predicted perpetual doom for the Conference of Champions. Interestingly, the remaining 10 conference members along with commissioner George Kliavkoff have sung a completely different tune when they’ve decided to speak on the matter which has not been often.

Joint statement from the 10 Pac-12 Conference Board Members:#BackThePac pic.twitter.com/NN5sk0TmMl

— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) February 13, 2023

Conflicting Schools Of Thought

While difficult to know for sure what is happening with the Pac-12 and its negotiations since they have kept pretty mum on the subject, the clear line in the sand between what the conference itself is saying and everyone not affiliated with them could not be starker.

In fact, it drew the ire of commissioner Kliavkoff who came out swinging to start Pac-12 Media Day last summer. 

Despite Kliavkoff and the Pac-12 continuing to refute all claims that there is trouble in paradise, the headlines have continued to sing the conference’s swan song and pit them against the Big 12.

What Does It All Mean?

One day we may become privy to who has been truthful throughout this process, but in the here and now it’s tough to take much out of the statement from the Pac-12 other than they have never once waivered from their position publicly since this whole ordeal started despite crazy amounts of pushback.

With any luck however, this joint statement is hopefully a sign that resolutions are on the horizon, and we can all move on from this topic one way or another.

Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports

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