This debate between the Pac-12 and Big 12 conferences is for the projected teams in both conferences for the 2024 season.
The Pac-12 and Big 12 are two of the Power Five conferences in college athletics as many fans of college football already know. Most of the teams are located primarily in the western part of the country and it appears the Big 12 is in a better position long term, but they have different strengths and weaknesses that some publications are not focusing on and or leaving out.
Pac-12 Conference 2024
Strengths:
Strong academic institutions
Strong football tradition:
Strong basketball tradition
Large media markets
Weaknesses:
Geographic isolation
Lack of recent success in football
Multiple members leaving the conference
Big 12 Conference 2024
Strengths:
Strong football tradition
Strong basketball tradition
Recent success in football
Recent success in men’s basketball
Weaknesses:
Not as strong academically as the Pac-12
Not as many strong large media markets as the Pac-12
In recent years, the Big 12 conference has been more successful in football than the Pac-12 with TCU being the most recent Big 12 member to win a game in the college football playoffs. The Big 12 is adding new members to its conference where the Pac-12 is losing members.
However, the Pac-12 has a number of strengths that the Big 12 does not. The Pac-12 has more strong academic institutions, which may give it an edge in recruiting. The Pac-12 also has a number of large media markets, which gives it more potential revenue.
It is difficult to say which conference is better overall in terms of overall value in the ongoing debate on conference expansion. The Big 12 has been more successful in football and men’s basketball in recent years, but the Pac-12 has a number of strengths that the Big 12 does not. Ultimately, the best conference for a particular school will depend on the school’s specific needs and goals which vary from university to university.
Let’s look at head-to-head comparisons of the schools that are as of now expected to be in each conference to start the 2024 season.
College football realignment is primarily based on four distinct and defined key factors that do not directly correlate to what transpires on the field of play. Both fans bases on each of the two conferences are arguing on social media about which conference is better or more valuable so these three factors are how we are going to determine which school is the winner of the head-to-head matchups.
A. The total money that the university brings in through its athletic department via revenue and its overall financial forecast and projections moving forward. As well as the University’s endowment which is money and assets under their control that fund operations
B. The university’s TV and streaming market in higher populated areas for the conference.
C. The overall academic standing and integrity of the university and an example of this is if the school is a member of the Association of American Universities or their overall academic rankings in the U.S. News & World Report national rankings.
Let’s take a look at the first match-up between the Pac-12 and Big-12 schools.