The Pac-12 Conference recently struck a new media rights deal with CW, CBS, and ESPN that positions Oregon State and Washington State’s home football games for the 2025 season to reach wider audiences. This significant move comes as the conference prepares for a seismic shift, marked by upcoming expansions. The league is eager to navigate the changing landscape of college athletics, especially as it looks to craft more substantial broadcasting agreements.
Under this new agreement, the CW is set to air nine games, while CBS, including its streaming service Paramount+, and ESPN will each showcase two games. This structure echoes the 2024 broadcast arrangement, where the CW also had major airtime, partnered with Fox for the remaining broadcasts.
While the financial specifics of this deal remain under wraps, reflecting ongoing negotiations for longer-term partnerships, it’s clear that the Pac-12 is taking deliberate steps towards strengthening its media foothold. Octagon, a seasoned player in sports consulting, has been brought on board to navigate these complex negotiations. Their expertise, drawn from years of experience in sports rights, offers the Pac-12 essential insights as they reposition themselves in the marketplace.
As Oregon State and Washington State prepare to welcome five new schools from the Mountain West Conference in July 2026—Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State, Fresno State, and Utah State—alongside Gonzaga, which, interestingly, has no football program, the Pac-12 is also on the lookout for an additional football-playing institution. This pursuit isn’t just about expanding ranks; it’s critical to meet NCAA requirements for its Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) status.
The opening games on the CW on September 6, a part of Week 2, will provide a sneak peek into the new Pac-12 landscape, featuring Oregon State against Fresno State and Washington State taking on San Diego State. Additionally, current Pac-12 members will engage in a unique home-and-home series, with both matchups slated for November.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Pac-12 football had a surprisingly strong performance last fall, averaging 431,000 viewers across 11 CW broadcasts. Remarkably, this made it a frontrunner on the network, with five of its top six most-viewed college football games belonging to the Pac-12. This trend speaks to the loyal fanbase and potential growth for the conference, even in its current reduced form.
While the CW may traditionally seem like a modest contender in the sports media realm, it’s actively trying to prove its mettle. The network recently entered a seven-year, $800 million deal with NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, and also holds exclusive rights to WWE’s NXT programming. In this competitive landscape, their recent investments highlight an ambition to grow their visibility and relevance.
Moreover, this new deal represents the Pac-12’s cautious yet hopeful return to ESPN, following the major shakeup that saw ten schools depart before the 2024 season. The previous negotiations left a bitter taste, especially after USC and UCLA expressed their intention to join the Big Ten. Initial talks with ESPN broke down when the network’s proposal of $30 million per school was met with a counteroffer from the Pac-12 requesting an additional $20 million, prompting ESPN to look elsewhere.
It’s worth noting that CBS’s involvement also marks a return to legacy partnerships, harking back to the days when the network had rights to the Pac-10 games in the 1980s. This rekindled relationship underscores the evolving nature of sports broadcasting and the Pac-12’s attempts to carve out a sustainable future in an ever-changing sporting environment.
The excitement surrounding these updates presents a blend of nostalgia for the past and a cautious optimism for what lies ahead. It’s a reminder of how sports connect us, not just through competition but through shared experiences, traditions, and an undying loyalty to our teams. The Pac-12 is gearing up for a season that promises to stir emotions, create conversations, and reignite passions across its vast fanbase.
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