ARIZONA, ARIZONA STATE DISCUSS LEAVING PAC-12 FOR BIG XII; WASHINGTON COULD BE NEXT

Wednesday night the PAC-12 was on life support. Tonight it could actually be dead.

ESPN's Pete Thamel has confirmed rumors swirling throughout the State of Arizona. The Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State Sun Devils are close to bolting from the PAC-12 for more considerable money and better competition in the Big XII. The Arizona Board of Regents held a closed-door meeting Thursday night with its lawyers present.

The PAC-12 is left with nine schools for now and no rich TV contract. Meanwhile, The Big XII agreed last fall to a six-year extension on its media right deal with ESPN and Fox that could realize a hefty sum for each school. Experts are saying that the figure per member is $32 million per year.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss conference realignment. The final item on the agenda for the meeting was "Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3) and (4) for possible legal advice and discussion regarding university athletics".

It has been reported that the same matters were discussed in Washington as the Huskies look to jump ship and enter the new Big XII mega-conference.

The University of Southern California and UCLA have already announced that they are leaving the PAC-12 and will begin play in the Big 10, in July 2024. The University of Colorado recently announced that they are leaving as well.

PAC-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff presented a media rights deal to league members that will be similar to what Major League Soccer has with Apple TV. There would be no substantial guarantee for the members, like in the Big XII, and the deal would be heavily incentivized.

Nothing has been finalized and the talks are in the early stages.