Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff is trying to secure the league’s next media rights deal, but time doesn’t really appear to be on his side.

The league is facing pressure from the Big 12, which has had reported interest in the ‘Four Corners’ schools for months. The Big Ten looms as a destination for Oregon and Washington. And with the potential for a $30 million annual gap between the Big Ten/SEC and the rest of the Power Five, whatever deal Kliavkoff can put in front of the 10 remaining Pac-12 university leaders will determine the future of the conference.

With the league descending on Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Tournament, there was some question as to what Kliavkoff would have for school leaders.

On Monday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that there would not be an in-person board meeting, but rather an update to the 10 presidents and chancellors who comprise the Pac-12’s board. Per Thamel, a final deal was not expected to be presented, though Kliavkoff was expected to provide the latest details on media rights negotiations.

According to WildcatAuthority’s Jason Scheer, no numbers were presented to the board and no indication was given that something of substance was imminent.

Pac-12 schools are seeking clarity on what the next deal will look like.

In Thamel’s Monday report, he wrote that “schools looking around and engaging with other conferences has gone from an option to an expectation” in the Pac-12. 

Apple has been reported as a potential partner, but the extent to which the Silicon Valley giant would be involved has been speculated. Thamel reported a streaming-only deal with no linear television partner was not an option for the Pac-12.

John Canzano offered the optimistic viewpoint coming out of this week’s discussion: that the Pac-12 has made “good progress” in negotiations and that the 10 schools “remain committed to each other.”

We shall see.

It has been nine months since USC and UCLA announced plans to leave the conference. Days after that landscape-altering decision was made public, the Pac-12 opened an exclusive negotiating window for its next deal. That window came and went, with the Big 12 jumping the line and securing its next deal.

The wait continues.