In late June there is always a day like this, a day where all the major sports have grinded to a close. People are struggling to find talking points on local sports radio, it’s a grind. A battle just to get through the day with fresh ideas.

Then, the news gods smile upon us and drop seismic and earth-shattering news. Then we pick right back up again and have plenty of new talking points and opinion fodder for the next month and a half and suddenly, football is back and we’re fully back in the grind again.

The Shock Wave

USC and UCLA are leaving the Pac-12 and heading for the Big 10 in 2024. Wow, that’s huge news. The kind that makes you audibly gasp and say, oh my god that’s absolutely nuts. So, that probably signals the end of the Pac-12 right? Whose getting cannibalized next?

Today, there are a lot more questions than there are answers. So instead of trying to analyze what’s happening here, day one, sight unseen, with limited public information, I just want to share with you a few questions that immediately pop into my head.

First off, woof, how are you going to face the media at Pac-12 media days in approximately two to three weeks and convince the nation that you are not a total and complete joke of the conference that’s on death’s doorstep?

Because you are, USC is arguably the face of the league and guess what, they just left. Larry Scott screwed this thing up so unbelievably that it forced the hand of the golden boys of the conference to turn to a business model that’s actually working, that of the Big 10.

How now, are you, George Kliavkoff, going to face the media and tell them with a straight face that you have a plan for the conference? If you don’t acquire a powerhouse team from the Big 12 or Independence in the next week and a half, the Pac-12 is dead, it really is that simple.

Somehow, your predecessor single-handedly killed the Pac-12, and that’s pretty funny actually, but you have to answer to the media and about nine other schools about how you screwed this up so royally, even though it wasn’t really your fault.

Another question, is Oregon really going to get left holding the bag in all of this? Absolutely not, Rob Mullens and his staff are currently making calls to the Big 10 and SEC, I almost guarantee it. Nike’s biggest asset is looking for a new home and one that will allow them to amplify their brand to the fullest extent. You won’t catch Oregon sitting around while the Pac-12 wilts.

As a Utah fan, the first thing you think of course is, oh god are we going to get screwed here? Because despite the fact the program has been one of the best in college football over the past five years and will contend this year as a top ten team Salt Lake is not a big media market.

This realignment is about branding and big money, neither of those things really match with Utah. Utah’s a fan base of incredibly loyal locals and alumni, but no one outside of Salt Lake grows up and says hey I am a die-hard running Utes fan. That just doesn’t happen, Utah despite success is just not a national brand and is at least five to six years more of success away from getting there.

They don’t have the time. The option seems pretty clear, do everything possible to join the Big 12. You’ll still be in the worst “power conference” (if those even exist after this), but you’ll at least be able to remain financially competitive.

I’m no Utah insider but a move out of the Pac-12 has to be coming within the next year or two for the Utes, that or be relegated back to G5 play, because you won’t be able to stay financially relevant as a program in the Pac-12. That’s what matters now, money, you have to find the money.

Money to fund your NIL initiative, money to offer transfer portal players, money to improve facilities, and that money comes from big-time TV deals and the Pac-12 no matter what they do will not be getting one of those any time soon. None of the markets involved are that valuable.

Just some first thoughts on where we are headed in college football. Super conferences, and maybe, sooner rather than later, one contained 32-64 team super league. Will a program like Utah be able to get there, remains to be seen.

NBA corner

Just a personal note: I love KD. Perpetually online, not really good enough to win alone but still incredibly good, and a man that just wants to go form a super team. It’s just great how he’s steered into the skid. He’s fully accepted being a villain that middle-aged sports talk shock jocks take pot shots at all day because he’s an easy target.

I love a villain and I love his game, I will be rooting for him wherever he ends up.

Also, Jazz note:

Shout out Danny Ainge, somehow turning known liability Royce O’neale into a first-round pick, what a crazy good job.

Royce is a 3 and D player that refuses to play good perimeter defense, oh and he can’t really consistently shoot the three well. Danny Ainge got a first-rounder for that guy, lol. Masterful job.