ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

Commissioner George Kliavkoff: Pac-12 can ‘thrive’ without expansion

Jul 28, 2021, 10:54 AM

Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff fields questions during the Pac-12 Conference NCAA college foo...

Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff fields questions during the Pac-12 Conference NCAA college football Media Day Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

After both Oklahoma and Texas asked the SEC to join its conference, the question arose if other Power Five conferences are looking to expand.

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff addressed this in his opening remarks during the conference’s media day.

“… We believe the move by Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12 to the SEC strengthens our unique position as the only Power Five conference with teams in the Mountain and Pacific time zones,” Kliavkoff said on Tuesday. “Given our investments in football and men’s basketball, our historic domination of other sports, we do not think expansion is required to continue to compete and thrive.”

Tuesday was Kliavkoff’s first time addressing the media about big issues surrounding the conference since officially taking over on July 1.

Many of those issues came from his predecessor and former Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott who led the conference for over a decade (2009-21).

Its 16 years without a football national title and 24 years without a men’s basketball national title has widened the competitive gap between the Pac-12 and the rest of the Power Five. The conference hasn’t been represented in the College Football Playoff since 2016.

The Pac-12 Network also has been struggling to stay afloat. The network lost 17% of its subscribers last year alone, and it now has 14.8 million subscribers compared to the Big Ten’s and SEC’s 50+ million subscribers, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

The Pac-12 needs to catch up and while Kliavkoff didn’t say the conference needs to expand, it’s on the table.

“We had already had significant inbound interest from many schools,” Kliavkoff said. “We will work with our presidents and chancellors to evaluate these opportunities.”

When looking at potential candidates, Kliavkoff stated that football will not be the end-all-be-all.

“I think we take into account all of the factors when we would consider expansion,” Kliavkoff said. “Certainly non-football sports would be one of those factors. The quality of the sports program at any schools we’d be considering would certainly be part of the calculation.”

Arizona State Football

Head coach Kenny Dillingham...

Vincent DeAngelis

Defense stands out at Arizona State football spring practice with ‘attack the ball’ mentality

The Arizona State defensive line has impressed head coach Kenny Dillingham and defensive coordinator Brian Ward early in spring practice.

2 hours ago

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham reacts during the second half of the team's NCAA college footb...

Vincent DeAngelis

Kenny Dillingham talks Jaden Rashada injury, revamped roster ahead of spring ball

ASU football coach Kenny Dillingham addressed quarterback Jaden Rashada's injury, revamped roster and NIL ahead of start of spring ball

6 days ago

Jaden Rashada on the football field...

Arizona Sports

Report: ASU’s Jaden Rashada dealing with thumb injury, will miss spring ball

ASU's Jaden Rashada won't be a full participant in spring ball due to a thumb injury on his throwing hand suffered earlier in the year.

7 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: What is Bobby Hurley’s future at Arizona State?

On the latest State of the Sun Devil podcast the guys react to the end of men's basketball season, and wonder what the future of the program will be and how the offseason will unfold. Plus, reactions to football's pro day.

13 days ago

ASU football field...

Dan Bickley

Arizona State reaches rock bottom at end of Pac-12 stay

Rock bottom is mostly a metaphor, a cliché for sports teams that have fallen and can’t get up. But you can find it on the map at ASU.

14 days ago

Michael Crow, Arizona State University president...

Kevin Zimmerman

Now would be a good time for Arizona State to hire an athletic director

Who's to make a decision on Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley without an athletic director? Michael Crow must make a decision soon.

14 days ago

Commissioner George Kliavkoff: Pac-12 can ‘thrive’ without expansion