By Jordan Long
The University of Colorado may be headed back to the Big 12. The presidents and chancellors of the BIG 12 voted unanimously on a conference call to accept Colorado back in. This could happen as early as 2024 for the 2024-2025 football season.
The University of Colorado was in the conference for 63 straight seasons as a member of the Big 12, Big Eight, or Big Seven before leaving the conference ahead of the 2011 season. The biggest money maker at the university is football. The University of Colorado won the BIG 12 Conference Football Championship Game in 2001 when they knocked off Texas 39-37. The Buffs also earned a spot in 2002, 2004, and 2005 in the title game but lost in those seasons.
Colorado was hoping a switch to the PAC-12 would help the school receive more exposure. Colorado hasn’t been relevant in football. In the PAC-12 conference, Colorado had one winning season, 2016 when they finished 10-4 and 8-1 in PAC-12 conference play. Colorado even went to the PAC-12 Championship Game. Colorado was drummed by Washington by a score of 41-10.
Colorado is seeing the writing on the wall as the PAC-12 Conference is falling apart. The current PAC-12 TV deal runs out on July 1, 2024. The conference is already anticipating the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans leaving on that day. There hasn’t been any news on which network will air the games after that.
The Big 12 has a better deal. The conference has a contract with ESPN and FOX for their networks to air football games. This deal runs through the 2030-31 season. That will be plenty of exposure for the team.
Colorado knows a move to the BIG 12, if approved by the school, is the right move. This is a conference they know well. It should help them recruit, especially since their games will be on one of the biggest networks on TV.
The move needs to be approved by the University of Colorado Board of Regents who are holding a public meeting at 3 p.m. Mountain Time today. The speculation is they will approve the move to the BIG 12. It looks like a return to the BIG-12 is Colorado’s key to be more successful financially. It could be done as early as today. Once it is done, Colorado most likely will be back in the conference for the 2024 season.
Leave a Reply