SDSU, SMU still waiting on Pac-12 Media Rights deal decision

With Colorado leaving the Pac-12, the conference is looking at only having nine member schools. Because of that, the conference is looking to expand quickly with San Diego State and SMU among the schools mentioned most frequently.

During an appearance on Andy Staples On3, Pac-12 reporter John Canzano explained why San Diego State and SMU are both still waiting on a media rights deal.

“I talked with a number of prospective expansion candidates in the last few days and San Diego State is still sitting there going, ‘We’re waiting for them to get their media rights deal done,” Canzano said. “And I think the $34 million balloon that has been caused by missing that deadline, July 1, is a hangup.”

Canzano is referencing San Diego State’s Mountain West buyout, which went up to $34 million when the Aztecs didn’t give notice they were leaving before July 1, 2023.

“But, for me, it’s not a hangup if you say do what the SEC did with Texas and Oklahoma. We’re adding you. It’ll be effective, you know, July 1, 2025, not 2024. You’re in. You’re a full member. Here’s what you’re getting, but in the interim you pivot to SMU,” Canzano said.

“And you go, hey, you’re gonna be member 10 right now. Grab that Dallas-Fort Worth market, 2.9 million households, and make that happen. Yeah, you’re right. We’re all sitting here going, ‘What is the hold up with expanding,’ but I think they’re in that position as well, and I think there are a lot of interested parties, particularly the Arizona schools that are now looking, going okay, what is happening this week. What’s going to happen early this week?”

For months, the Pac-12 has remained confident in getting a new media deal soon, though it hasn’t come yet. Still, Commissioner George Kliavkoff is expected to finally present a media rights deal to presidents soon.

Could Phil Knight help keep the Pac-12 together?

It looks like there is a chance that the Pac-12 falls apart soon. However, as John Canzano explained on Andy Staples On3, Oregon Ducks booster Phil Knight might be capable of keeping the conference together.

“I keep thinking about Phil Knight. He is a legacy guy. It matters to him. Does the Pac-12 matter to Phil Knight? I’m trying to get that answer. It could just be as simple as Phil Knight coming in and going, ‘Okay. How do we solve this problem?’ because they need that kind of thinking. They need a guy that has built a company in the room, they need a guy who’s a visionary in the room,” Canzano said.

“I think, if I’m George Kliavkoff, that’s a phone call that I’m making. Have a conversation with Phil Knight. And go, ‘What do you think here?’ because he may have a solution that nobody’s thinking about. Or he may be able to write a check that nobody expects.”