Desmond Howard predicts the end of the Pac-12 following Colorado's expected move to Big 12

Colorado shocked the college sports world on Wednesday, as their intention to leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12 was revealed.

Evidently, Desmond Howard believes losing the Buffaloes signals the beginning of the end for the Pac-12. Joining Mike Greenberg on ESPN’s Get Up, the College GameDay analyst elaborated on his point, and explained why Colorado is headed back to the Big 12.

“Well it’s a big deal Greeny, because I think when Colorado went to the Pac-12, it seemed like an arranged marriage. It seemed like it was forced. They were never really accepted in the Pac-12, and there was always some type of, it was like a strained relationship, a strained marriage,” explained the former Heisman winner. “So you have the Big 12 in the corner, giving Colorado the eye talking, ‘Hey, remember us? Why don’t you guys come back over here?’ And you just saw Deion Sanders, Coach Prime. He’s given that program so much added value. And don’t forget, the Big 12 is about to lose Oklahoma and Texas, two of their cowbells.

“So now they bring in a valuable brand, with Colorado and Coach Prime. So it makes perfect sense.”

Continuing, Howard is of the opinion that while everyone has their eyes on the SEC and the Big Ten when it comes to conference realignment, a move like Colorado signals the Big 12 could be that much needed third major conference moving forward.

“Greeny, it seems like everything is headed in that direction right now,” responded Howard, asked if we’re seeing the demise of the Pac-12 in real time. “They’re going to have to pull off something pretty incredible that no one sees coming if they’re going to stay in existence, because it seems like it’s going to be the SEC, the Big Ten, and it’s going to be a third conference. A lot of people said it’s going to be a two-conference system. I don’t believe that at all. It’s just too much, too many college football teams to just be two conference. It’s going to have to at least be three. It just may be the Big 12.

“So I don’t know what’s going to happen to the Pac-12. People are coming in there and just poaching their teams, poaching their programs, and they might cease to exist, about ten years from now.”

Time will tell what becomes of the Pac-12, but it’s easy to see why Desmond Howard believes losing Colorado is such a huge blow for the conference. The Buffaloes are getting off the ship before it sinks, and now the question is who will follow.