Big 12 fans bristle at notion the conference is to blame for Pac-12’s potential demise
Perhaps there will be a day sometime in the future when the game of musical chairs known as conference realignment finally ends.
But the music is playing now, and the Pac-12 appears to be on the eve of destruction, even after appearing to get a reprieve. The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach reported Friday morning that “Oregon and Washington’s exit from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten appears to have lost momentum overnight.”
Despite that glimmer of hope for the Pac-12, Brett McMurphy of the Action Network tweeted later on Friday that the conference was “unable to get Grant of Rights signed this morning & ‘nothing has changed’ as far as Oregon & Washington joining Big Ten. ... Ducks & Huskies still expected to be Big Ten bound when finances are worked out, sources said.”
The Pac-12 also is on the verge of losing Arizona.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported “Arizona is in deep discussions about joining the Big 12 ... with a deal expected to be finalized in the near future.” Arizona State potentially could join Arizona in making a move to the Big 12, but that’s far from a certainty.
But all the moves have led to speculation the Pac-12 could join the Southwest Conference in the ash heap of history, and some have pointed a finger at the Big 12 for its role in conference realignment.
Colorado joining the Big 12 could be pointed to as the start of the latest conference movement. But Big 12 fans have bristled at that notion, with many noting just how close the conference came to falling apart more than a decade ago.
This is what is being said on Twitter.
The Big 12 picking off Pac-12 teams seems to be getting a lot of “so bad for the sport” takes. But those takes weren’t around when the SEC added Texas and Oklahoma, and the Big Ten added USC and UCLA.
It’s interesting. That’s all.— Riley Gates (@Riley_Gates) August 4, 2023
It’s kind of funny that this all started with the Pac-12 trying to raid the Big 12 almost 20 years ago. Now looks like the rabbit’s got the gun.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 4, 2023
Blown away that the Big 12 is being villainized over this round of realignment. The Big 12 has been poached by the Big Ten, SEC, and was nearly run extinct by the Pac-12 in the past 12 years. Now, the Pac can’t get their own media deal and Big 12 fans can’t be excited to survive.
— Alex Gookin (@_AlexGookin) August 4, 2023
We didn't care when the ACC twice tried to put the Big East out of business.
No one cared when the Pac tried to take half the Big 12 in 2010, or when the SEC took Mizzou & A&M or Texas & OU.
The ACC, B1G, and Pac 12 formed an alliance and left us for dead. Forgive us for not… https://t.co/gYe5VqWZGr— HotTalkJayhawk (@HotTalkJayhawk) August 4, 2023
SEC poaches Texas A&M from Big 12
B1G poaches Nebraska from Big 12
SEC poaches Mizzou from Big 12
PAC poaches Colorado from Big 12
SEC poaches Texas & OU from Big 12
B1G poaches USC & UCLA from PAC
Media: WHY IS THE BIG 12 TRYING TO DESTROY COLLEGE FOOTBALL?!?!?!— Iowa Everyjer (@clonesjer) August 4, 2023
This is such an unfair categorization of what the Big 12 is doing. Colorado was a long standing member of the Big 12 and the PAC-12 poached them away first. The PAC-12 should only blame themselves for their downfall at this point, but if you must blame someone look at the B1G.
— Dustin (@dustinp_) August 4, 2023
I don’t blame the Big 12 for this at all
I blame Texas and Oklahoma, for leaving the Big 12
I blame the SEC for taking them
I blame USC and UCLA, for leaving the PAC 12
I blame the Big Ten for taking them
I blame NIL and the transfer portal
I blame the sports TV networks— SouthERN Man (@southERNhat48) August 4, 2023
Nobody shed a tear that teams and rivalries were being stripped away in the Big 12 when NU, MU, aTm, CU, OU and TU went to the PAC, B1G and SEC.
These people allowing the Big 12 to be picked off like this and not saying anything now get to sit and watch as the PAC-12 collapses. https://t.co/IGCjAjIJX1— WoodySports (@WoodySportBoi) August 4, 2023
PAC 12 tried to let the remaining schools of the Big 12 crash and burn. It is what it is. pic.twitter.com/RYWusrXUfE
— Coleman Ueltschy (@TheeAmazingOne) August 4, 2023
People only care when it affects their team. The irony of the Pac12 blaming their ill fortune on the Big12, when the only team the Big12 has taken so far is the one the Pac12 poached over a decade ago is rich.
— Ryan P. Handley (@rphandley) August 4, 2023
It’s not about turning ourselves into the victim. When it was the Big 12 getting raided, no one cared. Now that it’s the PAC 12 getting raided, suddenly everyone is sad.
— Andrew Link (@nikesccr03) August 4, 2023
No one cared when the Big 12 was getting torn apart but all of a sudden this is "sad" and "dark days" because the Pac 12 is dying and the Big 12 surviving. Get out of here with these tears. ️
— Jason (@ksuwldct) August 4, 2023
All these people acting like realignment sucks so hard for certain fanbases
1) you’re right, I hate that
2) where was this energy when the big 12 was left to rot— Chandler Morris Appreciator (@FrogsBy90) August 4, 2023