expansion Archives - Real Time News

February 21, 2023

Florida home schoolers want no part in voucher expansion bill

When Florida Republican leaders rolled out their newest prepare for a lot more faculty vouchers in January, they designed absolutely sure that household education people would be provided.

After examining the details, numerous home schooling corporations are indicating many thanks, but no many thanks.

“We want residence instruction packages to be handled individually and not be puzzled with households that opt for to get the instruction financial savings account,” mentioned T.J. Schmidt, senior counsel for the Dwelling College Authorized Protection Association.

The problem facilities on needs the legislation (HB 1 / SB 202) would impose on residence schooling people who settle for the point out money. The payments would present accounts to 10,000 dwelling schoolers the very first 12 months, increasing the variety in subsequent yrs.

Similar: Florida lawmakers search for to expand voucher eligibility to all K-12 students

Family members would receive the equivalent of what the state allots for every scholar in a community faculty and could use it for expenditures this sort of as tutoring, school programs and tutorial components. But to qualify, the students would have to on a yearly basis choose a national norm-referenced exam and meet up with with a “choice navigator.”

House sponsor Rep. Kaylee Tuck, R-Lake Placid, claimed the navigators were proposed exclusively for house education households, “to make sure they have direction.”

Quite a few mother and father do not want to post to those demands, and do not intend to consider any money tied to them, said Brenda Dickinson of Florida’s Residence Education Foundation.

“We’re not striving to remove household schoolers from getting (education financial savings accounts),” Dickinson stated. “What we want is a separation in between the dad and mom that consider income and all those who pick not to just take income.”

She concerned that if the legislation is adopted as-is, schools may possibly lump all home training college students together when looking at items these as accumulating payment for companies. Dwelling faculty advocates labored tough to get cost-free obtain to Florida Virtual School and twin enrollment programs, she noted, and if some are acquiring state dollars though some others are not, confusion could ensue.

“If we simply call everybody house schoolers, how are the other legislation precisely for (non-voucher) residence schoolers heading to be distinguished?” Dickinson mentioned. ”If added accountability is put on households that just take the scholarship, I want that in a different part of law. I really do not want that to replicate on persons who really don’t acquire the scholarships.”

The legal protection affiliation, in conjunction with Home Education Basis and other folks, despatched an notify to supporters inquiring them to call on lawmakers to eliminate dwelling schooling from the expenses.

Hints that these kinds of a move might be afoot came in the initial hearing on Household Monthly bill 1, right before the Alternative and Innovation subcommittee.

Connected: Florida school voucher monthly bill passes its initial test, but significant queries stay

Regina Piazza, an Okaloosa County father or mother symbolizing the house education group Classical Discussions, explained to the panel that the monthly bill made available some essential contemporary perspectives on education and learning. Nevertheless, she said, it also could use some changes to attain dwelling schoolers’ support.

Follow what’s happening in Tampa Bay schools

Adhere to what’s going on in Tampa Bay educational facilities

Subscribe to our free of charge Gradebook publication

We’ll split down the nearby and condition education and learning developments you have to have to know each Thursday.

You are all signed up!

Want additional of our cost-free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Check out all your choices

Especially, she said, it should make any testing optional alternatively than necessary. The preference navigators also ought to not be mandated, Piazza reported.

“It is our collective purpose to assure the principles of flexibility and self government are not undermined,” she claimed.

Dickinson pointed to the tests need as an area that could finish up limiting individuals freedoms. If the condition calls for testing, and the pupils do inadequately, she reported, lawmakers could use that information and facts to put extra limitations on dwelling schooling — even for individuals who do not participate in the voucher application.

Schmidt of the House School Legal Protection Association explained Florida has more than 30 a long time developed a solid household instruction law.

“It has worked very well. It has correct regulation,” he reported. “But it also has suitable freedom for mothers and fathers who decide on to house educate…. We’re just seeking home schooling programs to be individual and absolutely free.”

Lawmakers have signaled they are open to considering amendments in line with their intention of expanding education selections, without having regard to money standing. The Senate edition is slated to get its initial hearing Tuesday in advance of the Training PreK-12 Committee.

• • •

Indication up for the Gradebook publication!

Each Thursday, get the newest updates on what is taking place in Tampa Bay region colleges from Situations education and learning reporter Jeffrey S. Solochek. Click listed here to indicator up.

February 9, 2023

Pac-12 expansion with San Diego State, SMU may be necessary before league inks new media rights deal

The Pac-12 may need to commit to conference expansion first before achieving its compensation target in a new media rights deal, sources with knowledge of the situation tell CBS Sports. In an effort to return to 12 members following the departures of USC and UCLA, the Pac-12 has focused its efforts on evaluating San Diego State and SMU.

Pac-12 commissioner Georgia Kliavkoff has already toured San Diego State, CBS Sports previously learned. He is planning to visit SMU on Wednesday, according to Brett McMurphy.

The Pac-12’s next media rights deal will be heavily reliant on a digital streaming partner. Significantly more than half of each season’s Pac-12 football games will be primarily available via streaming as part of the conference’s next rights deal, sources tell CBS Sports.

Such a ratio is unprecedented for a Power Five conference and for whichever streaming giant becomes the first to more fully embrace college sports. The move would likely upset Pac-12 coaches, athletic directors and administrators who rely on widespread visibility for their games via linear (cable) and network platforms for everything from athletic recruitment to university enrollment.

The Pac-12 has long suffered from substandard distribution resulting after deciding to go with the standalone, wholly owned Pac-12 Networks. A heavy streaming deal would further limit the conference’s visibility.

The next Pac-12 deal is expected to be split between a streaming service and ESPN. With the Pac-12 seemingly unable to reach its compensation target — believed to be approximately $30 million to $35 million per program annually — it appears to be urgent for the conference to expand as a condition of completing a deal in the monetary range it seeks.

Conferences that find themselves in this situation typically negotiate a new rights deal prior to completing a separate deal for expansion. That order establishes value for existing conference members prior to adding new members.

It is not known whether San Diego State or SMU — two Group of Five schools — would receive full media rights shares if the Pac-12 chooses them for expansion. Adding the programs would increase annual Pac-12 game inventory 20{515baef3fee8ea94d67a98a2b336e0215adf67d225b0e21a4f5c9b13e8fbd502} from 75 games per season to 90.

Which streaming giant is in the lead to ultimately carry Pac-12 games is unknown. Amazon was successful last season with its NFL “Thursday Night Football” package. Apple recently signed a 10-year contract with MLS. However, neither platform has shown much interest in college sports to this point. (Industry experts project most major sports will be viewed on streaming in coming years.)

The Pac-12 is only major conference to not yet renew its media rights this cycle. Critics say the league missed its most lucrative window as negotiations drag on.

Not helping matters is that far more lucrative properties are coming available, including UFC, NASCAR, NBA and WWE, the latter of which is seeking a sale to a content provider. .

Despite the loss of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC, the Big 12 was able to sign a deal late last year that was worth more than its prior contract. The current Pac-12 contract with Fox and ESPN, which expires on July 1, 2024, is valued at approximately $21 million per school not including revenue from the NCAA Tournament, College Football Playoff or bowl games.

ESPN is believed to be interested in the Pac-12 because of the “fourth window” — games that begin after 10 p.m. ET. The network would have a hole in college football broadcast day beginning in 2024 if it does not pick up some Pac-12 games. It already missed out on getting a piece of the Big Ten deal signed with CBS, Fox and NBC.

San Diego State makes sense in Pac-12 expansion. There already is a hole in Southern California given the Pac-12 has lost USC and UCLA to the Big Ten.

The addition of SMU would be non-contiguous (not bordering a state with a Pac-12 school) with the university 820 miles from Colorado, the league’s closest program. However, in at least some small way, SMU might establish a recruiting foothold for the Pac-12 in Texas.

January 27, 2023

With a sparkling stadium and surging program, San Diego State makes an easy case for Pac-12 expansion

SAN DIEGO — J.D. Wicker is standing on the top concourse of one of the biggest parties in the country. What else would you call San Diego State’s new stadium, which equates to the latest lob pass for what the school hopes is a slam-dunk entry into the Pac-12?

On its best day, which projects to be every game day, college football is almost a sideshow in new Snapdragon Stadium. The main event is the craft brew-infused vibe that San Diego State’s athletic director has, well, crafted.

“There are more bars in that stadium than there are in most cities,” said Aztecs coach Brady Hoke.

That isn’t entirely why San Diego State enters 2023 as the next hottest realignment candidate, but elite concessions certainly do not hurt. Taps or no taps, Wicker’s vision of a 35,000-seat boutique stadium reflecting the city’s culture, history, food and brew — built on one of the country’s most expensive pieces of real estate — was going up regardless.

Snapdragon opened last year on time and under budget — rebranding, renewing and rallying a 126-year-old institution. At the same time, in and around “America’s Finest City,” the planets have (re)aligned. When USC and UCLA left for the Big Ten, San Diego State in a flash became the best, brightest, most geographically desirable school to fill what is now a gaping hole in Southern California for the Pac-12.

After years of priming itself in hopes the West Coast’s flagship conference would notice, SDSU doesn’t have to flirt anymore. The moment has met SDSU, roaring down I-5 from Los Angeles to meet the school on what seems to be the Aztecs’ terms.

“We basically went from, ‘Hey, you’re doing a good job. Your break is coming,’ to, ‘You’re the only team in Southern California that plays FBS football that isn’t in the Big Ten,'” Wicker said.

The mood floating around Cali’s second largest — but still laidback — city is split between breathless anticipation and trying not to get too emotionally invested. Dreams have been dashed here before. See: The Chargers following the 2016 season.

“It’s not an if, it’s a when,” said a high-ranking industry source regarding SDSU’s future opportunity to join the Pac-12.

“Now that USC and UCLA are gone, there’s nobody really to block us,” said Jack McGrory, an SDSU alumnus, professor on campus for 25 years and now a member of the California State University board of trustees. “We’re the only viable option to have a team in Southern California.”

Still, this being realignment, there are never any guarantees.

“Once the ink is dry, so they say, then we celebrate,” warned David Malcolm, a real estate tycoon in the area for half a century who helped arrange the $15 million lead donor gift for Snapdragon.

Officially, the Pac-12 has said it will consider expansion once it signs a new media rights deal.

Sources tell CBS Sports that deal is expected to be made in the first quarter of 2023 with Amazon (or another streaming service) and ESPN. Expansion would follow. Regardless, it must happen fast with USC and UCLA leaving for the Big Ten in 2024.

Unofficially, there is an assumption in the industry the Pac-12 has no choice but to plug up its Southern California hole with SDSU.

“People in this town will lose their mind if, in the same academic year, they get a brand new football stadium and San Diego State goes into the Pac-12,” Wicker said.

Wicker, 53, was already considered one of the industry’s more influential ADs. He recently spoke with Mississippi State, his alma mater, about its vacant AD job before the school hired Oklahoma deputy AD Zac Selmon. But if things progress as planned, Wicker might become a Power Five AD by staying put.

Now, about that beer. Wicker fundraised for a $310 million stadium that would take $800 million to build today, according to Malcolm. Wicker wanted the entire experience to reflect the city, its weather (driest on the West Coast), its fish tacos (best anywhere) and its essence.

“I wanted you to know you’re in San Diego State’s football stadium, but I didn’t want to throw up San Diego State on everything,” Wicker explained.

“Pac-12 folks have been impressed with what we’ve done. [Pac-12] commissioner George Kliavkoff said to invest in football. I have a $310 million investment.”

That means paying homage to San Diego’s craft beer heritage. San Diego County, the “Capital of Craft,” boasts 150 breweries. Wicker went further in Snapdragon, saluting with images ranging everywhere from the school’s six-legged Wampus Cat mascot in the 1920s to the San Diego Chicken.

There are even piers (with beers) in the stadium.

A 2020 rendering of The Pier at Snapdragon Stadium prior to its opening.
SDSU Athletics

Snapdragon was designed to expand to 55,000 seats and potentially host an NFL franchise, which would heal a wound opened when the Chargers left for Los Angeles.

“The NFL actually knows our stadium, knows our design. J.D. thought of everything,” Malcolm said.

As for the relatively small capacity of Snapdragon, sure, the Rose Bowl is more than 2.5 times larger. But Washington State’s Martin Stadium in the Pac-12 is smaller, and Oregon State’s Reser Stadium is slightly larger. Besides, with attendance declining nationally, plenty of ADs would kill to fit demand by building an on-campus stadium from the ground up.

San Diego is a top 30 market. Not the No. 2 market as Los Angeles can claim but still a stake in the Southern California ground. Wicker commissioned a study that showed there are approximately 250 FBS prospects from Santa Barbara south. That doesn’t mean the Aztecs will get them all, but the school does have some leverage.

“You want San Diego State in your league at [a full media rights share] because you don’t want us in the Big 12,” said Wicker. “All the Big 12 schools [would] have a reason to come to Southern California to recruit.”

That Pac-12 media rights share is being determined. If the Pac-12 goes heavy with a streaming partner, it would mark a first for a Power Five conference. In general, the conference is expected to earn around the same per team as the Big 12 ($31.6 million) when the latter agreed to its deal in October. (That figure does not include revenue from the NCAA Tournament, College Football Playoff and bowl games.)

However, it is common practice for schools moving into a Power Five league to start at a lesser share of media rights revenue and graduate to a full share over a period of time.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has been public about his desire to expand to the Pacific Time Zone, whether it’s San Diego State, Arizona, Arizona State and/or Gonzaga in basketball.

But getting the Aztecs to the Big 12 would take some convincing of that league’s presidents and ADs. There would be similar travel concerns in the Big 12 as there were when the Big Ten added USC and UCLA.

Ten years ago, the remnants of the old Big East briefly formed a league that stretched from Connecticut to South Texas to San Diego. The idea never gained traction. TCU went to the Big 12. Boise State and SDSU stayed in the Mountain West. Then the American Athletic Conference formed with the remaining schools.

More recently, there have been reports the Pac-12 has spoken with SMU about expansion. But San Diego State seems to be the No. 1 target, perhaps the only target. Yes, the Pac-12 could go forward with 11 schools.

Former Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby has toured the SDSU campus. It’s logical to assume Kliavkoff has done the same. Both Wicker and the Pac-12 declined comment.

If San Diego State leaves the Mountain West before June 30, it would owe the conference triple its current annual media rights revenue, a total of approximately $15 million. MWC schools currently make approximately $5 million per year as the conference sits in the third year of a five-year deal signed with CBS and Fox in 2020.

SDSU has believed it belongs in the Pac-12 ever since it joined the MWC in 1999. Beyond the geographical connection, basketball and football have been consistently good. Under Steve Fisher and Brian Dutcher, the Aztecs have been to nine NCAA Tournaments since 2010.

Despite a down 7-6 season, Snapdragon averaged 83{515baef3fee8ea94d67a98a2b336e0215adf67d225b0e21a4f5c9b13e8fbd502} capacity in its debut season. Hoke has already girded himself for a recruiting fight. “We were going to make you say no,” Hoke said. “We were always going to recruit at the highest level.”

Wicker wants to have an event in Snapdragon each day of the year. Monster trucks just left town. Coldplay is coming in the fall. UCLA visits Sept. 9. The Aztecs have played at least one Pac-12 school annually since 2011.

The school itself is nearing Research 1 status, an important academic checkmark when Pac-12 presidents vote for expansion. SDSU annual applications are among the highest in the country. Over the next 15 years, an innovation district is expected to grow up around the stadium in Mission Valley, which was once a dairy farm.

Steve Sourapas has split loyalties. The San Diego native once played for John Robinson at USC. He bought the first Founder’s Club suite in Snapdragon, committing to 15 years on the 50-yard line for a cool $3.75 million.

The 65-year-old Sourapas runs a beer distributorship started by his dad 57 years ago. He attended the first game ever played at old San Diego Stadium in 1967. John Madden was the Aztecs defensive coordinator for that team, which was led by College Football Hall of Famer Don Coryell. That venue eventually became Jack Murphy Stadium and Qualcomm Stadium, which was torn down to make room for Snapdragon.

“Some of the Pac-12 teams, they don’t sound sexy, but they sure play hard,” Sourapas said of life in a bigger league without USC and UCLA. “I don’t know if it’s going to be that much tougher.”

What about that Snapdragon party?

“Remember,” Sourapas said, “I sell beer there.”

January 2, 2023

Boulware: Excellence before expansion | Automotive News

Boulware, 48, mentioned he originally experienced no intentions of a life in auto retail when he invested into a dealership. “In the off-period, I just desired to go verify on my financial commitment,” Boulware said, adding that throughout the visits he would question many concerns.

But in the end he had identified just one of his publish-soccer occupations.

Boulware also dabbled in politics, running for a Florida House of Associates seat, successful the Republican principal in August 2008 just before losing a close normal election race that November. Boulware also is a previous Florida State Board of Training member and, in 2009, he and his spouse, Kensy, established the Neighborhood Management Academy, a personal Christian school in Tallahassee.

Boulware stated he’s grateful to have a 2nd retailer but famous it has brought new worries.

“The Columbia current market is a small distinctive than the Tallahassee industry,” Boulware said. “The team in Columbia has a different flavor, a various design. As much as I might like both to be carbon copies and all the things completed accurately the exact way, as easy as that would make it, you just have to deal with each merchants a little otherwise.”

The four-time Pro Bowler mentioned operating stores in unique states delivers traveling challenges. He reported he can only get to South Carolina a few occasions a month. He stated his day-to-day function is in the Tallahassee store, the city he lives in full time and in which he attended college or university.

Boulware studied administration information and facts methods at Florida State College, in which he had a standout junior period as 1 of the nation’s top move rushers. All through that season, he recorded a country-leading, single-year FSU history 19 sacks and was named the 1996 ACC Defensive Player of the Calendar year.

The Baltimore Ravens drafted Boulware with the No. 4 decide in the 1997 NFL Draft. He performed for the crew as a result of the 2005 period, nevertheless a knee personal injury sidelined him in 2004. His stellar protection contributed to the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XXXV.

The NFL’s 1997 Defensive Rookie of the Calendar year, Boulware racked up 70 job sacks, good for No. 2 on the Ravens’ all-time list. A favourite strike that Boulware remembers failed to register as a sack, but he did just take previous Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino to the ground.

“I remember just sitting down on the ground, keeping his leg, and I’m considering, ‘Man, I’m grabbing onto one particular of my heroes,’ ” he explained. “And I practically experienced to shake myself out of it and remember, ‘No, no, he is the competitors now.’ ”

December 16, 2022

Larimer County prioritizes mental health with new $80 million jail expansion

Larimer County prioritizes mental health with new million jail expansion

Larimer County has started out going into the new $80 million growth of their jail situated near Fort Collins, and the workers inside of are boasting of the facility’s skill to blend corrections with human decency. Architects and county officials built several features of the jail to safeguard the psychological overall health of both inmates and team.

“We have discovered a great deal around the many years on how we can continue on to improve,” stated Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith. “A big piece of this undertaking was not to only insert beds.”

Although much more than 150 supplemental beds will assist the country catch up with populace progress due to the fact the previous jail undertaking was concluded in the 1980s, Smith claimed the new expansion rethinks how the jail attempts to implement the law when also treating inmates as humans who will most probable be produced back into modern society in a short time.

“We took the human dignity element in,” Smith claimed.

The new facility helps the county capture up with existing point out benchmarks.

Architects also attempted to put into action the use of pure light in most frequent spaces in the facility. In the intake space, many regions of the pods and much more have normal mild. Skylights and a lot more assistance provide in gentle from outside the house when also protecting against inmates from getting equipped to see out into the encompassing group.

Several new keeping areas now have bigger privateness for inmates utilizing the restroom though also building positive suitable surveillance can be taken care of.

“We are working with human beings. If we will not aspect that in we can develop an atmosphere that is not healthful and could make them even worse off just after incarceration,” Smith reported.

The new addition also assists increase morale and unity in the sheriff’s business. Not only does the making now join the jail to the patrol and administrative offices, but it also offers workforce new places to socialize, unwind and even coach.

In the previous facility, lots of staff members would go into the constructing and not see normal mild right until their shifts finished. They would be confined to the identical brick walls the inmates ended up, and even their break rooms ended up created significantly like pods.

“Now we have staff-certain spots that search like a restaurant,” claimed Bobby Moll, Jail Captain for LCSO.

Now there are crack rooms that forget Fort Collins, with quick obtain to snug seating, out of doors balconies, televisions and even manufacturer-new locker rooms.

“It’s just a location where by they can decompress for 15 or 20 minutes and not come to feel like they are in jail themselves. It is vital for psychological health and fitness,” Moll claimed.

As he finishes his final months as sheriff owing to time period limits, Smith explained he hoped the new facility would help established the bar for other upcoming jail expansions throughout the place.

“There is nothing at all luxurious about remaining locked up in any part of the Larimer County Jail. But, there is extra humanity as a result of what we are carrying out with this design,” Smith claimed.

Dillon Thomas

Dillon Thomas is multi-Emmy Award successful common assignment reporter/MSJ for CBS News Colorado. Read his latest reports or look at out his bio and deliver him an electronic mail.

October 1, 2022

Pac-12 in danger of eventual collapse as Big Ten considers further expansion, Big 12 interest looms

The Big Ten’s continued pursuit of four Pac-12 schools is leading to concern that another round of expansion could collapse the Pac-12, industry sources tell CBS Sports. This as Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren continues to seek an offer from Amazon, or potentially another partner, for additional Big Ten football media rights revenue.

An offer deemed substantial enough would likely convince Big Ten presidents that California, Oregon, Stanford and Washington would be valuable additions to the league from the Pac-12. That figure is believed to be less than $100 million annually.

If the Big Ten makes such a move, it would almost certainly increase the likelihood the Big 12 is able to get some combination of Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah from the Pac-12, thus crushing the Pac-12 and hanging Oregon State and Washington State out to dry.

“If that [Big Ten move] happens, I think the other [four Pac-12] schools will want to jump to our league,” said a Big 12 source familiar with the situation.

Without a clear mandate, Big Ten presidents and athletic directors continue to evaluate whether expansion is “financially viable” and potential candidates are a “cultural fit,” conference sources tell CBS Sports. No vote has been taken on expansion at this time.

The Big Ten completed a historic media rights deal last month worth more than $8 billion over seven years beginning in 2023. Amazon reportedly bid more for the Big Ten’s 3:30 p.m. ET and primetime windows compared to other suitors. Those windows went to CBS and NBC, respectively.

If the Big Ten indeed turned down such an offer, the concerns were likely distribution and visibility. Those same concerns would be in play if the Big Ten accepted the four additional Pac-12 schools.

Industry chatter has Oregon State and Washington State moving to the Mountain West if the Pac-12 collapses. At that point, the MWC would replace the Pac-12 as the largest FBS conference completely located in the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones.

Adding to the intrigue, the Big Ten and Big 12 share the same media rights consultant, Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company.

CBS Sports reported last month Endeavor was advising the Big 12 about whether it should add Pac-12 programs. Earlier this summer, CBS Sports reported the Big 12 was interested in the aforementioned “Four Corners” programs.

Since then, officials from Oregon and Washington have met with the Big Ten, according to multiple media reports. Earlier this month, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said, for the first time publicly, he was interested in expanding to the Pac-12 footprint.

“Obviously going out west is where I would like to go — entering that fourth time zone,” he told The Athletic.

Whether the Big Ten expands again, the Big 12 is expected to remain interested in either two or four Pac-12 schools.

The potential for further realignment — following the migration of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten — has caused disruption in the industry.

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff told CBS Sports in July: “Let’s be very clear: No Pac-12 school is joining the Big 12.”

Publicly, the remaining 10 Pac-12 schools have showed a united front. The league moved up negotiations for a new media rights deal in July. The difference is the Big Ten already has its new deal in place. Signed in August, the media rights agreement further solidified the Big Ten’s top spot in earnings. Beginning in 2023, Big Ten schools are expected to earn an average of $75 million annually.

Meanwhile, the current Big 12 deal with Fox and ESPN doesn’t expire until 2025; however, the Big 12 opened media rights discussions with its partners early and hopes to strike a deal earlier and richer than what the Pac-12 can acquire. The conference reported $46.2 million distributed to each of its schools in the last fiscal year. That includes Oklahoma and Texas, which are due to move to the SEC in 2025 at the latest.

Industry sources value a 10-team Pac-12 at $21 million to $30 million per school annually after the loss of USC and UCLA. The Pac-12’s deal with Fox and ESPN expires in 2024.

The possibility of a merger between the Big 12 and Pac-12 was ruled out in July. Any combination of Big 12 and Pac-12 programs would not result in a significant revenue increase compared to those teams remaining with their conferences, multiple industry sources stated repeatedly over the last few months.

Big 12 sources pushed back at that assertion saying the league’s next media rights contract — including newcomers BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF — will reflect an increase from the current deal.

It is believed the Big Ten’s current rightsholders, Fox and ESPN, remain opposed to the conference expanding further. It is in the best interests of both networks for there to be a Pac-12, if for no other reason than cost certainty. After losing out on the new Big Ten deal, ESPN aims to acquire games that can be played in the “fourth window” — after 10 p.m. Fox already has games in that window through its agreement with the Mountain West.

As the Big Ten’s primary partner, Fox would likely consider four additional Pac-12 schools “dilutive” to the Big Ten product. Opponents of Big Ten expansion continue to scratch their heads wondering how Cal, Oregon, Stanford and Washington can bring enough value to the conference.

The answer? They don’t. At least at first glance. However, Warren’s play may be to get in on the ground floor with Amazon during a time in which when streaming is further catching up with linear cable. That hasn’t happened yet despite Amazon’s NFL ratings success this season with “Thursday Night Football.”

Adding four more Pac-12 schools would result in expanded Big Ten content, giving the conference approximately 112 games annually. Amazon, or the newest media partner, would likely get the fifth, sixth or seventh pick of a Big Ten home game each week.

One industry observer compared the level of potentially available content equal to what is currently shown weekly on the Big Ten Network. Think about games like California vs. Rutgers, Northwestern vs. Stanford and Oregon vs. Indiana. (As CBS Sports reported last week, the newest media partner would not get any games involving Michigan, Ohio State or Penn State.)

A different industry critic stressed there is no strategic reason for the Big Ten to expand further. In fact, that person thought expansion might invite lawsuits from slighted programs and possible scrutiny from the federal government.

If the Big Ten and/or Big 12 make a move for Pac-12 programs, the potential collapse of the Pac-12 could come amid FBS commissioners expanding the College Football Playoff. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is among those who have advocated for CFP expansion to make the sport more of a national game.

The Pac-12 has participated in the CFP only twice in eight years.