Pac-12 gets torn apart with 8 schools set to leave in the next wave of Big Ten expansion and Big 12 conference realignment: Reports

The Pac-12 has been dealing with a massive wave of teams potentially leaving the conference. With Big Ten expansion and Big 12 conference realignment, there are many options for teams that are looking to switch conferences.

College football insider Greg Swaim is reporting that there could be as many as eight teams leaving the conference, to the point where there is not much left.

The Conference of Champions has been trying to stave off destruction with the other conferences looking to add programs. It will be an interesting few weeks to see how this all plays out and if any more teams officially exit the Pac-12.

Does a Pac-12 media deal fix any of the issues?

The old adage "sorry doesn't fix the lamp" seemingly applies to the conference right now. If they were to announce a media rights deal, it could prevent a few programs from leaving, but it could be too little, too late.

Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff has struggled to find a deal to keep its top talents after the 2023 season.

The Big Ten is taking away the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins, while the Big 12 will be adding the Colorado Buffaloes. Those are arguably the three biggest pillars that the Pac-12 could have built upon, and they will be difficult to replace.

Can Apple save George Kliavkoff from the Pac-12 collapse?

Even with a TV deal, there are still going to be issues. The Apple TV proposal is going to be difficult to swallow, as the teams in the conference are not going to be happy with the money they receive compared to other Power Five conferences.

The biggest issue seems to be with the streaming aspect of things, as Apple TV does not provide linear television, and all but a single game a week will be behind a paywall.

In a world where multiple cable networks have games on throughout a Saturday, asking people to pay for college football seems like something that could stunt the growth of the conference.

There are reports that the deal could secure $30 million for each team but that is still lagging behind most Power Five conferences.

When other programs can see that the grass is greener in other conferences, they will bolt for the exit. The lack of stability is what Colorado cited when they decided to leave, and right now, it is a bit of a mess for the remaining teams in the Conference of Champions. Signing a media rights deal does not solve the problem, it just puts a bandage on a gunshot.