Colorado AD offers blunt response to tweet suggesting Buffaloes could leave Pac-12

Conference realignment rumors have been aplenty over the last two years, and the Pac-12’s ongoing media rights negotiations have added some fuel to the fire. It’s also led to plenty of speculation on Twitter, including a tweet suggesting Colorado could leave the league.

A tweet from Twitter user @MHver3 said, via “a source,” the Colorado board might vote on leaving the Pac-12 as soon as Monday. The user ended up deleting the tweet, but not before it made its way across the desk of Buffaloes athletic director Rick George, who shot it down right away.

“There is absolutely no truth to this tweet,” George said.

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The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy captured a screenshot of the exchange.

Colorado AD refutes tweet that Buffs “may vote on leaving Pac-12 as early as Monday” pic.twitter.com/EXvOPtBW19

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) April 13, 2023

Colorado has been linked to the Big 12 as realignment rumors continue to swirl. The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel and Max Olson reported Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah have been contacted by the Big 12 as Brett Yormark looks to achieve his goal of expanding the league west.

Inside the Pac-12’s long and winding road to a new media rights deal

In addition, the Pac-12’s media rights negotiations are still a hot topic of conversation. After the Big Ten and Big 12 agreed to lucrative deals in the last few months, the Pac-12 continues to find a new media partner. Multiple reports have surfaced linking the conference to The CW, ION Television and Apple TV to the conference, but nothing has come together.

It could be months before that happens, as The Athletic reported earlier this week. A deal might not happen until “late spring, early summer” even though multiple conference presidents suggested a deal could be coming soon.

Another factor that could be in play regarding the Pac-12’s situation is whether the league will expand. USC and UCLA are leaving for the Big Ten in 2024, meaning the Pac-12 will be down to 10 teams — and without two of its highest-profile members. Schools such as San Diego State and SMU have come up in the conversation, and On3’s Eric Prisbell previously reported the conference might have to decide between dollars and exposure.

Plus, On3 and On The Pony Express’ Billy Embody reported Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff was seen at an SMU basketball game this past season as he toured campus. If the league decides to invite San Diego State, though, Aztecs basketball coach Brian Dutcher sounded like he’d be all for the idea.