Pac-12 commish George Kliavkoff doubles down on effort to halt UCLA move to Big Ten

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff has made his opinion clear on UCLA joining the Big Ten. Last month, Kliavkoff sent a three-page letter to the University of California Board of Regents explaining why they should block the Bruins’ move and keep them in the Pac-12.

The commissioner appeared in front of reporters Wednesday as the Pac-12 held its basketball media day, and the first question he received was about that letter. Asked how he would expect to maintain a good relationship with UCLA leaders if the block was successful, Kliavkoff stood firm in his stance.

“We’re not thwarting anyone’s wishes,” he said. “It’s not our choice. It’s up to the regents, and we’re just providing information as requested.”

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Kliavkoff then took it a step further by saying all of the people at UCLA whom he has spoken with are against the move to the Big Ten. The commissioner claimed he has had multiple conversations with Bruins coaches and athletes who say they prefer to stay in the Pac-12.

“I think saying hundreds would be an exaggeration; dozens, more than a hundred,” he said. “And I have yet to talk to anyone in the UCLA and USC community who’s in favor of the move. I will say that I probably hear from folks who are not in favor, not surprisingly.”

In the letter to the UC Board of Regents, Kliavkoff claimed that neither UCLA nor USC considered the financial ramifications of joining the Big Ten. He cited multiple factors, including travel time and how travel costs could soar to as much as $23 million if UCLA continues to charter flights.

“That letter was written at the request of the regents,” Kliavkoff said Wednesday. “We wrote it. We did not leak it. Someone leaked it. But we believe between the travel and the coaches’ salaries and some of the other expenses you incur when you join the Big Ten, the small delta in the media rights deal will be more than offset. We stand by those numbers. Some of them are in there. Obviously we didn’t provide all of our homework, but the regents know the numbers.”

In addition to the money, he also added that increased travel time could impact athletes’ academic performance and make it more difficult for their families to see them play.

Even with all this, Kliavkoff is still preparing to lose UCLA and USC in 2024. The commissioner has a plan to ensure the Pac-12 can not only survive that transition, but try to make up for lost ground with the Big Ten and SEC.

“I think it’s a couple of things,” he said. “I think, first, we’re going to do a media rights deal here in the near future, which will close the gap between us and the Big Ten and the SEC. That’s a first step. Eventually we’ll catch those guys. It will take a couple of steps, but we’re going to take a step towards closing that gap. Then we’re going to be looking at expansion. We’re going to be looking at schools that make sense for us.”