No longer content with being the “Conference of Champions” (of non-revenue sports), Pac-12 Conference commissioner George Kliavkoff moved quickly to change the format of the Pac-12 Championship Game, pitting the two best teams in the conference championship game at the end of the season.
The decision was facilitated by an NCAA rule change earlier this week prompting Kliavkoff’s action. Unlike his predecessor, Larry Scott, Kliavkoff made a swift move that made the conference more competitive on the national stage.
“Our goal is to place our two best teams in our Pac-12 Football Championship Game,” he said. “We believe (the new format) will provide our conference with the best opportunity to optimize invitations and ultimately win national championships.”
Ok, let’s ignore the fact that former conference commissioner Larry Scott would not have had the clarity of vision to make this move. It seemed like he was against any decision that would strengthen the conference’s national prowess. But make no mistake, this is a big move by Kliavkoff.
Really big.
And the move is likely the lead domino as Kliavkoff repositions the conference to operate from a point of strength.
Finally.
No longer will the conference’s number 1 team potentially face a team from the other division with a weak strength of schedule. By pitting the conference’s two best teams in the championship game it improves the ever-important strength of the opponent’s schedule in the eyes of the playoff selection committee.
Having been on the outside looking in the past since the Washington Huskies snuck into the College Football Playoffs in the 2016-17 season, this is one of a few moves I expect the new commissioner to make.
But there’s more to meet the eye than a simple one versus two matchup. The moves make the conference more of a contender in off-field battles, as well. With a playoff spot more likely it helps with recruiting–in a big way.
No longer will west coast kids feel that they have to go east of the Rocky Mountains to be on national TV in the playoffs. Keeping the west coast’s best players in Seattle, Tucson, Tempe, Eugene, and Los Angeles improves football in the conference and it takes a player off of a roster in Tuscaloosa, Columbus, Miami, or Athens.
With the surge of home-grown talent in the state of Washington, that’s a double winner, in my book.
But this move could be a precursor to a move to make each team in the conference more profitable by reducing the conference games from 9 to 8.
”It also makes sense to drop a conference opponent. The Pac-12 is a Power 5 conference,” RealDawg.com’s Kyle Waltos said. “The conference appears to want to act from a position of power now.”
Waltos said that dropping a conference game gives the teams the ability to schedule another home game.
“Right now, the conference knocks each other out of playoff contention by playing one more conference opponent than Alabama and Ohio State, to name a few,” said Waltos. “The SEC and the Big-10 each play eight conference games. It only makes sense to put the Pac-12 on an equal footing.”
That also helps with revenue. As a Power 5 conference, the 12 teams can add some home-and-home series with other big schools, or it can schedule another late-season home game as many of the SEC powers have.
Either way, this is an important first move by Kliavkoff to make the Pac-12 the Conference of Champions of revenue sports.
