Bronco Mendenhall has been named the new head football coach for Utah State University, signing a six-year deal. Known for his successful rebuilds at BYU and Virginia, Mendenhall is tasked with revitalizing a struggling Aggies program that recently joined the Pac-12 Conference. Utah State aims to return to conference contention and improve its NFL talent pipeline under Mendenhall's leadership, amidst ongoing challenges including a Department of Justice investigation and the evolving college sports landscape.
The Pac-12 Conference has appointed Teresa Gould as its new commissioner, making her the first female commissioner of a Power Five conference. She steps into a challenging situation as the conference is left with only two schools following the departure of 10 teams. Gould's extensive experience in college sports administration will be crucial as the Pac-12 navigates through a period of uncertainty and potential realignment, with the possibility of joining forces with the Mountain West Conference.
Teresa Gould has been appointed as the new commissioner of the Pac-12 Conference, becoming the first-ever female commissioner of an Autonomy Five conference. With over 35 years of experience in college sports administration, including roles at the Pac-12, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis, Gould is set to lead the conference through a period of change in college sports. She aims to support student-athletes and ensure the long-term success of the Pac-12, with plans to collaborate with member universities and address the challenges facing the industry.
Oregon State University and Washington State University have released a joint statement regarding the agreement in principle recently announced by all Pac-12 universities. The departing schools have agreed to forfeit a portion of distributions and provide guarantees against potential future liabilities, while the conference retains its assets and future revenues. This agreement aims to stabilize the Pac-12 Conference and ensure that the future of the conference will be decided by the schools that are staying.
Cal State Northridge ended an 11-year losing streak against the Pac-12 Conference by stunning UCLA 76-72. Dionte Bostick scored 18 points for the Matadors, while De'Sean Allen-Eikens added 17 points. The loss ended UCLA's 29-game home winning streak.
Despite the upcoming split of the Pac-12 Conference, Arizona and UCLA are planning to continue their basketball rivalry. Coaches Tommy Lloyd and Mick Cronin have expressed their desire to keep the tradition alive, although specific details are yet to be determined. Both teams have faced each other in the conference tournament championship for the past two seasons, with Arizona emerging as the victor. The mass defections from the Pac-12 have caused significant changes in the basketball landscape, but the coaches remain hopeful that the rivalry can persist even in different conferences.
The Pac-12 Conference has announced the weekly matchups and site designations for the 2023-24 men's basketball season. The regular season will span 11 weeks after the Christmas holiday, with eight weeks following the travel partner/traditional rival format and three weeks featuring single-play opponents. All 120 conference games will be televised by Pac-12 Network, ESPN/2/U, FOX/FS1, or CBS. The regular season will conclude on March 9, 2024, with the Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament taking place from March 13-16 in Las Vegas.
The Pac-12 Conference remains highly competitive with eight teams ranked in the AP Top 25 and a combined record of 21-4 so far. USC quarterback Caleb Williams signals a strong presence, while the Oregon Ducks maintain their position and the Oregon State Beavers experience a dip in rankings.
Five universities, including the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and the University of Utah, have announced their departure from the Pac-12 Conference to join the Big 12 Conference, leaving the future of the Pac-12 in question. Additionally, the University of Oregon and the University of Washington will be leaving the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten Conference in 2024. These moves come as the Pac-12's media rights deal with ESPN and FOX comes to an end. The Big 12 is set to expand to 16 teams with the addition of the four schools, while the Big Ten will welcome Oregon and Washington.
Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff believes that the new media rights deal he is working on will keep the conference intact, despite USC and UCLA leaving for the Big Ten next year. Kliavkoff stated that the longer they wait for the media deal, the better their options become, with new bidders coming to the table. He also expressed confidence in the future of the conference, citing the expansion of the College Football Playoff and the investment in football. Additionally, Kliavkoff praised the star power of Colorado football coach Deion Sanders, comparing it to that of Taylor Swift and Beyonce.
The Holiday Bowl has filed a lawsuit against the Pac-12 Conference and the regents of the University of California, claiming more than $3 million in damages after UCLA backed out of its scheduled appearance in the game a few hours before kickoff against North Carolina State in 2021. The Pac-12 says the lawsuit is without merit and plans to defend against it. Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff also told USA TODAY Sports by phone Wednesday that the league tried to resolve the dispute privately through mediation and offered the Holiday Bowl an interest-free loan to help with its financial troubles.
The San Diego Bowl Game Association, which runs the Holiday Bowl, is suing the Pac-12 Conference and the University of California Regents for $3 million in compensatory damages after UCLA withdrew from the 2021 game due to COVID-19 concerns. The bowl organization claims it lost nearly $8 million due to the cancellation, including $3.6 million in ticket revenue and $1.4 million that had to be returned to the game's title sponsor. The Pac-12 plans to defend against the lawsuit and seek the fees owed by the Holiday Bowl under their agreement.
