Utah and Arizona State are unanimously elected to the Big 12 to bring the league’s number to 16 … and effectively kill the Pac-12 – which has only FOUR schools left

Arizona State and Utah were unanimously elected to the Big 12 to bring the conference count to 16 teams, with just four universities remaining in the depleting Pac-12.

Both schools were introduced with Arizona, which gained membership on Thursday. The additions will come into effect from the 2024-25 academic year.

“We are thrilled to welcome Arizona, Arizona State and Utah to the Big 12,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement Friday. “The Conference wins three top institutions both academically and athletically, and the entire Big 12 looks forward to working alongside their presidents, athletic directors, student-athletes and administrators.”

Utah and Arizona State were both approved after applying for membership earlier this year and before this week’s vote, according to ESPN. Applying for membership is a necessary first step for schools to be allowed to change leagues.

The change in hierarchy in American college sports comes after two Pac-12 schools – Oregon and Washington – left for the Big Ten.

Utah, Arizona and Arizona State will receive about $30 million a year for its first six years in the Big 12

Arizona and Arizona State will maintain their Big 12 rivalry at the start of the 2024-25 season

A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that the Ducks and Huskies will receive about $30 million a year for their first six conference years, with annual escalations and the ability to draw on future payouts.

The Pac-12 is now down to four members beyond this year: Stanford, California, Oregon State and Washington State.

The Big Ten’s latest take from its conference partner Rose Bowl comes just over a year after joining the University of Southern California and UCLA. The moves give the sprawling Big Ten 18 member schools, including four on the West Coast.

As a result, The Big Ten became the largest major college sports conference, spanning 15 states from New Jersey to Washington.

“The Big Ten is a thriving conference with strong athletic and academic traditions, and we are excited and confident to compete at the highest level on the national stage,” Washington President Ana Mari Cauce said.

Colorado will also join the Big 12 in 2024.

Pac-12 Clerk. George Kilavkoff will have to recruit new schools to keep the league alive

All of this has left the legendary Conference of Champions that dates back more than a century to the brink of extinction.

Pac-12 leaders met early Friday to determine whether its remaining schools, which at the time included Oregon and Washington, would accept the potential media rights deal with Apple that Commissioner George Kilavkoff outlined earlier. early this week.

“Today’s news is incredibly disappointing for Pac-12 student-athletes, fans, alumni and staff who cherish the more than 100 years of Champions Conference history, tradition and rivalries. “said a statement from conference leaders.

“We remain focused on ensuring the best possible future for each of our member universities,” he added.

Other Pac-12 schools like Stanford and Cal may also soon be part of the Big Ten’s future expansion plans, Yahoo Sports reported earlier this week.