Kliavkoff responded to Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark’s recent declaration that his league was “open for business” in expansion by suggesting those moves could include Big 12 schools coming his way, instead of the opposite assumption.
“With respect to the Big 12 being open for business, I appreciate that,” Kliavkoff said. “We haven’t decided whether we’re going shopping there or not.”
“I understand why they’re doing it, when you look at the relative media value between the two conferences,” Kliavkoff added later. “I get it. I get why they’re scared, why they’re trying to destabilize it. I was just tired of that. That’s probably not the most collegial thing I’ve ever said.”
Later, Kliavkoff told The Associated Press that he was eager to speak up colorfully in defense of the Pac-12.
“I wanted to exude confidence in the conference, because that’s what I’m seeing from our presidents and chancellors and athletic directors,” Kliavkoff said. “It’s my job to carry that message, and I’m happy to do so.”
Still, the Pac-12 has lost its Los Angeles flagships after a century of history, and Kliavkoff acknowledged the widespread speculation about the long-term health of his comparatively underfunded West Coast conference. The commissioner insisted the Pac-12 will have a stronger base after its new media rights deal, and that footing could lead to expansion.
Kliavkoff understandably didn’t identify specific schools as candidates for expansion, although San Diego State has been repeatedly mentioned by others. He reiterated the league’s determination to keeping a football presence in the talent-rich, heavily populated end of California.
“Southern California is really important to us,” Kliavkoff said. “I think there are different ways of approaching staying part of Southern California. We may end up playing a lot of football games in LA.”
Kliavkoff expanded on those thoughts later to the AP: “LA is part of the Pac-12, even if UCLA and USC are not. We’re not giving up on LA. We play the Rose Bowl here and intend to play more games here. And we’re not giving up on that. We like it here.”
The two-year transition is a weird challenge for all parties, but Kliavkoff said he has instructed everyone to treat the Trojans and Bruins will all proper respect. Both USC coach Lincoln Riley and UCLA’s Chip Kelly both say they’re on board with a move that will dramatically increase both of their schools’ revenue and their recruiting reach.
“It’s an awkward situation for everybody,” said Kelly, who soared to coaching prominence 13 years ago at Oregon. “I’ve had a great experience in this league. I owe my life to the Pac-12. I appreciate what this league has done. … It is what it is. It’s realignment. It’s going on, governed by television. Those are things out of my control.”
Kliavkoff speculated that the remaining Pac-12 schools are likely to get a significant boost in recruiting fertile Southern California in every sport except football, given that many Olympic sport athletes and their families aren’t going to want to fly off to the Midwest and East Coast regularly for competition.
He reiterated that the Pac-12 expects to keep its remaining members despite widespread speculation about both the Big 12 and the Big Ten looking to expand. Oregon and Washington were linked to a future move to the Big Ten immediately after USC and UCLA announced their departures, while the Big 12 has been linked to the Arizona schools, Utah and Colorado.
Kliavkoff is confident after holding “two board meetings a week for the last four weeks” with his members.
“Looking my colleagues in the eye, understanding their commitment, that their first priority is making sure that the Pac-12 survives, thrives and grows and is successful,” Kliavkoff said. “They’re committed to the conference.”
Seeing the bigger picture, coach Kyle Whittingham of defending champion Utah vocalized the wait-and-see attitude among many observers of this conference in transition.
“I think the real proof of the pudding of that is going to be in the media rights deal, see how that comes out,” Whittingham said. “If those numbers are right, absolutely (the Pac-12 is still viable). If those numbers are not where we need them to be, then look at other options. Right now, it appears to be very unified, the Pac-10 — the 10 that are staying — and we’ll see how it goes going forward.”
Kliavkoff also held open the door to a highly improbable return for UCLA: The public school has been ripped by California Gov. Gavin Newsom for the move, and the UC Board of Regents has ordered a review of the decision in a hearing scheduled for Oct. 17.
“I’d say UCLA is in a really difficult position,” Kliavkoff said. “There are a lot of constituents related to UCLA who are very, very, very unhappy with the decision. Student-athletes, the families of student-athletes. The faculty, the staff. The politicians, the fans, the alumni. … I can’t give you a percentage chance. I think it’s unlikely. But if they came back, we’d welcome them back.”
