Report: Colorado Ready to Commit Back to Big 12 ‘Soon’

Colorado is ready to commit back to the Big 12 “soon,” a source told Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman. Colorado left the Big 12 for the Pac-12 back in 2011.

Tramel mentions that the source comes from the Big 12.

Conference realignment rumors have turned into a battle between the Big 12 and Pac-12 since both leagues lost their top two brands. Oklahoma and Texas announced in 2021 that they will depart for the SEC in 2024, while UCLA and USC announced last summer they will head to the Big Ten in 2024 as well. The Big 12 has tried countering the move by bringing in BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF. But the Pac-12 has failed to do anything for their future.

The media members on both sides of each conference have called for the death of the other. It’s tough to judge all of the rumors throughout the past year but Tramel isn’t trying to pick sides and create a narrative. He wouldn’t have reported on what he heard unless it was reliable. That’s the difference between this rumor and hundreds of others.

There are many creating narratives out there in conference realignment but here’s a fact from earlier this week. ESPN and Pac-12 have not had any advanced talks about a media deal. It appears as if ESPN has moved on and the Pac-12 will have to find another network host.

Last Friday, the total amounts of revenue in each Power-5 conference were released from the 2021-22 fiscal year. The Pac-12 came in dead last in per school revenue.

Total amount distributed by each Power 5 conference PER SCHOOL in 2021-22 fiscal year via @usatodaysports:

Big Ten $58.8 million
SEC $49.9 million
Big 12 $42-$44.9 million
ACC $37.9-$41.3 million
Pac-12 $37 million

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 19, 2023

Colorado football is heading into a new era with head coach Deion Sanders. The Buffaloes are coming off a 1-11 season. Will it be time for one of the original Big 12 schools to return home?