Big 12 reportedly votes on whether or not to accept Colorado
The Big 12’s presidents and chancellors voted unanimously to accept Colorado as a new member, according to a report.
That’s per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who notes that “final steps” in the process are expected to take place on Thursday. The report notes that Colorado has not formally applied for Big 12 membership, but that could happen as soon as Thursday.
Colorado’s move to the Big 12 would happen ahead of the 2024-2025 academic year.
The Buffaloes’ departure could start a chain of events that brings further instability to the Pac-12. The league has been working for months to finalize a longterm media rights deal, but a contract has not yet been finalized. Other Pac-12 programs could also look toward the Big 12 in the coming weeks.
Colorado’s decision to back to the Big 12 is also a move back to its roots. The program joined what was then referred to as the Big Seven Conference in 1948. It became the Big Eight and then, ultimately, the Big 12. Colorado was a founding Big 12 member in 1996 and remained in the league until moving to the Pac-12 in 2011.
Colorado has not officially announced its intentions to leave the Pac-12.