A New Home Where Buffalos Roam: Colorado Leaving Pac-12 For Big 12
Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 08:44PM By Barry Janoff
July 26, 2023: The University of Colorado, a member of the Big 12 Conference from 1996-2010 before joining the Pac-12, is moving back to the Big 12.
Colorado's Board of Regents said today they voted unanimously to leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12 after the 2023-24 season.
The following statement was released today by the Big 12 Conference, through its commissioner Brett Yormark, regarding the University of Colorado Buffalos: “They’re back.”
“After careful thought and consideration, it was determined that a switch in conference would give CU Boulder the stability, resources, and exposure necessary for long-term future success in a college athletics environment that is constantly evolving,” chancellor Philip DiStefano and AD Rick George said via the university.
“The Big 12's national reach across three time zones as well as our shared creative vision for the future we feel makes it an excellent fit for CU Boulder, our students, faculty, and alumni.”
The move comes amid significant changes for both the Big 12 and Pac-12.
The Big 12 added four members July 1: BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF.
Texas and Oklahoma are moving from the Big 12 to the SEC on July 1, 2024. The league will have 14 teams this coming season, then 13 in 2024.
USC and UCLA are leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten Conference on July 1, 2024.
“The Pac-12 is comprised of world-leading universities and athletic programs who share a commitment to developing the next generation of leaders, supporting student-athletes’ academic and athletic excellence, and broad-based athletic success," the Pac-12 said via its board of regents. "We remain committed to our shared values and to continuing to invest in our student-athletes.
“Today’s decision by the University of Colorado has done nothing to disrupt that commitment.
“We are focused on concluding our media rights deal and securing our continued success and growth. Immediately following the conclusion of our media rights deal, we will embrace expansion opportunities and bring new fans, markets, excitement and value to the Pac-12.”
Colorado, which signed Deion Sanders as head coach this past December, joins the Big 12 as the conference is in the midst of other major moves, coming since Yormark was named commissioner In June 2022.
The Big 12 last year signed an agreement with ESPN and Fox on a six-year extension that runs through 2030-31, valued at more than $2 billion, according to industry analysts.
In June, calling it a “natural extension to the Big 12 footprint,” the Big 12 Conference unveiled plans for the Big 12 Mexico, the Conference’s first international extension, which initially will see Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball, women’s soccer and baseball games held in Mexico, with future plans for a college football bowl game.
“I want to thank the Pac 12 Conference for the home it has provided to CU athletics for more than a decade,” University of Colorado president Todd Saliman said via the school.
“We look forward to maintaining the many partnerships developed with our Pac 12 colleagues. The landscape of collegiate sports is ever-evolving, and the University of Colorado Boulder has determined the Big 12 is the best future fit for our athletic teams.
“The move is good for our student-athletes and the university. It will help advance our commitment to supporting CU student-athletes in their academic and athletic pursuits in future years.”
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