SALT LAKE CITY – ASU President Michael Crow went on record with ASU’s student paper, The State Press, on Pac-12 media rights saying they are close to a deal.

“We’re close to knowing where we’re going to be, and I think we’re close to a deal,” Crow said. “I think that the Pac-12 media rights became more complicated with the departure of USC and UCLA. The media rights became more complicated also, as things always do because markets go like this. They’re up and down, up and down. But, we have fabulous sports teams and the remaining teams, we’re going to get a good offer. We’re in the final stages of that process.”

Breaking Down The Recent Drama Of Pac-12 Media Rights

Crow’s words come on the heels of reports from other outlets that ASU, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah have recently become more engaged with the Big 12 in conversations about potentially joining the conference because the Pac-12 is on the verge of implosion.

However, The State Press’ interview, along with a recent article from John Canzano getting the Colorado AD Rick George on record saying they aren’t moving to the Big 12, as well as our own opinion piece with sources around the Pac-12 saying ASU, Colorado, and Utah have been leading the meetings around media rights paints a very different picture.

Another key piece worth noting is Utah AD Mark Harlan quote tweeting one of the alleged reports saying, “Give me a break” and ASU Senior Associate AD of Media Relations Doug Tammaro following it up with, “Waking up today and this remains my favorite tweet past two days.”

Give me a break https://t.co/R3FM73ud1k

— Mark Harlan (@MarkHarlan_AD) March 10, 2023

Waking up today and this remains my favorite tweet past two days. https://t.co/kxVI0aH6y6

— Doug Tammaro (@DougTammaro) March 11, 2023

Basically put, it is looking less, and less likely the so-called “Four Corner” schools are as interested in leaving the Pac-12 as some reports throughout this process have led people to initially believe.

As we continue to round the corner on this chapter of conference realignment and media rights negotiations, continue to pay attention to those involved in the negotiation room and take your cues from them. They are talking and hinting at how things will go.

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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