NEWS BRIEF PAC IT UP

CU athletics continues building momentum with conference change

BY WILL MATUSKA

The University of Colorado has found its seat in the current game of musical chairs between colleges and conferences in the NCAA.

After 13 years in the Pacific-12 Conference (Pac-12) and hot off the heels of hiring fan-favorite Coach Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, the school announced on July 27 it will transition back to the Big 12.

“[This is] a great win for the University of Colorado,” CU Athletic Director Rick George said at a press conference.

It’s not a dramatic break-up, rather a move CU administrators say will bring more stability and recognition to both athletics and the entire school.

The Buffs will finish the upcoming 2023-24 season in the Pac-12 and make the transition at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. Jesse

Mahoney, head volleyball coach, says the Pac-12 has been a great home for the volleyball program, but the Big 12 will keep the program moving in a positive direction.

“I’m excited to see what [the Big 12] holds,” Mahoney says. “It’s a Power Five conference with a lot of storied traditions in their sports. We’re gonna go in and look to compete right away, and we’ll play whoever is on the other side of the net.”

The decision, made unanimously by the CU Board of Regents, comes at a time when universities across the nation are engaging in “conference realignment,” as sports experts are calling it. Hallmark schools with rich athletic traditions, like UCLA, University of Texas (UT), University of Oklahoma (OU) and University of Southern California (USC), will all join new conferences by 2024.

Conference hopping is normal for college athletic programs. Admins at CU Boulder say re-joining the Big 12 (which the university withdrew from in 2011) will bring more money to the program and expand the school’s reach to new areas of the country.

“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,” said Chancellor Philip DiStefano and athletic director George in a joint statement. “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.”

Money is a significant factor. Last fall, the Big 12 secured a $2.3 billion media rights deal with Fox and ESPN through the 2030-31 athletic season. Teams in the conference, including Colorado when the realignment is finalized, will earn nearly $32 million annually from the networks as part of the deal.