Reports: George Kliavkoff addresses tense relationship between Pac-12, rival conferences amid tampering allegations

Last year, the Pac-12 formed The Alliance with the Big Ten and the ACC. But given recent developments, as the Big Ten poached USC and UCLA, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff had one word about the future of that partnership.

“No,” he told Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger.

Alright, then.

Kliavkoff opened up about the relationship between the Pac-12 and rival conferences as the realignment dominoes continue to fall. USC and UCLA were the first dominoes to fall this summer, but reports then surfaced about a potential merger between the Big 12 and Pac-12. That isn’t happening.

But that hasn’t stopped the Big 12 from trying, according to Kliavkoff.

He told 247Sports’ Brandon Marcello Big 12 presidents have been messaging Pac-12 presidents about leaving for the Big 12 “as recently as yesterday.”

“The tampering continues. … I have a big collection of those messages,” Kliavkoff told Marcello.

Schools such as Utah and Colorado were reportedly linked to the Big 12 before the Pac-12 shut down any talks of a potential merger. In fact, Kliavkoff had a poignant response to Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark’s declaration the league is “open for business,” saying the Pac-12 hasn’t decided if it “will shop there or not.”

George Kliavkoff discusses his relationship with Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren

Kliavkoff also addressed his relationship with Kevin Warren, the Big Ten commissioner who took the phone call that led to USC and UCLA joining his league. He didn’t discuss specifics with Dellenger, but gave an interesting quote about his approach to trust.

“The way I live my life is I give people respect and trust until they prove to me that they don’t deserve it,” he said.

That’s when The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy asked Kliavkoff if he trusts any of the other commissioners. “Yes,” he said.

McMurphy then asked which ones he’s talking about. “I’m not going to get into that,” he responded.

After Big Ten Media Days this week, Warren revealed plans to meet with Kliavkoff for the first time since news broke of USC and UCLA’s moves, according to The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach.