I would have stayed at Colorado. Michigan has a hard time competing against the likes of Ohio State, let alone the scandal plagued Spartans. Colorado is a program on the rise in a PAC 12 conference where the dominant powers aren't so dominant anymore, opening the door to relative newcomers like Colorado to once again shine in the national spotlight.
The problem with staying is that it all comes down to money. Colorado being in the city of Boulder (notoriously against big time athletics) and strict on athletic spending anyway is one thing, but then you add the PAC-12's horrible television deal with respect to the rest of the Power 5 and it's a no brainer to make the move he did. Just look at the recruiting from this latest period. The PAC-12 is lagging so far behind it's peers that it's actually going to take a minor miracle to save the conference.
Even with the mess MSU is in, it's still the better job.
With the benefit of hindsight, I'm curious if Colorado regrets leaving the Big 12?
The Big 12 has enough problem of their own. Also, I seem to recall reading somewhere that the PAC 12 prides itself on their research facilities. It seems we often don't figure in the other aspects of athletic conferences, that really have nothing to do with athletics. Apparently Utah was ecstatic when they were admitted, because it means they can have a bigger outreach to Asian nations concerning their academic programs. So no, I am guessing Colorado and Utah have never looked back.
The Big 12 had/has its own problems with Texas' Longhorn Network deal which pissed off the rest of the conference. But I believe some changes have been made to ensure other members get their fare share. Their issue is they won't be able to have a conference TV deal (like BTN or SEC Net) until the Longhorn Network deal is completed I believe. And they're still wishy washy on whether or not they're going to expand their current roster.
Research facilities or not, the PAC 12 Network has been a complete bust when compared to what the Big Ten, SEC and now ACC have been able to pull off with theirs. Nobody can find the PAC 12 Network and it regularly has some of the conferences best games. The SEC and Big Ten are paying their members pretty much double what the Pac 12 pays theirs, and the gap is only getting bigger.
This doesn't even get into the fact that the conference is hemorrhaging money due to a ridiculous lease in downtown San Francisco and outlandish spending by the commissioner. The Oregonian has been doing a great job covering this league and how they're being left behind:
https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/... So I'm not sure Colorado would love to be back in the Big 12, because culturally I think they fit the PAC 12 better. But financially it's not looking good unless radical changes are made at the top.
This article here shows more updated figures.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/02/04/the-pac-12-revenue... /
Last Edited: 2/17/2020 4:54:46 PM by GoCats105