A New Era for the Pac-12 Begins — With CBS at the Helm

This morning, the Pac-12 officially announced a historic partnership with CBS Sports — marking a bold new chapter for a conference on the rise. And today on Y-Option, presented by our founding partner 76, we welcomed back Commissioner Teresa Gould for her first full-length conversation since the deal was made public.

Make no mistake — this is a monumental move. Starting July 1, 2026, when the new league officially launches, CBS becomes the anchor partner of the new-look Pac-12. That means college football and basketball — including the conference title games — will air across CBS, Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network, joining the same lineup that once featured the SEC and now hosts Big Ten games. And soon, the Pac-12.

“This wasn’t just about a TV deal,” Commissioner Gould told me. “It was about exposure, economics, and transformation — and CBS checks all three boxes.”

Inside the CBS Deal:

From our exclusive conversation, here’s what stood out:

✅ Broadcast + Cable CoverageCBS will carry premier Pac-12 football and men’s basketball matchups, alongside CBS Sports Network for expanded programming. The conference championship games will be aired nationally.

✅ Strategic AlignmentThe Pac-12’s media rights journey didn’t just attract interest — it created competition. CBS was among the first to reach out after the conference announced its reformation, and ultimately, their values and vision aligned.

✅ The Power of ProductionThe decision to retain Pac-12 Enterprises was key. “Our ability to produce content efficiently and at a high level was a major asset,” said Gould. Expect the Pac-12’s in-house production capabilities, led by Senior Vice President of Business Development and Studio Operations Michael Molinari, to power even more content — from live games to NIL opportunities for athletes.

“We’re Building an Unconference Conference.”

Commissioner Gould called it a “blank slate” — a chance to build something new without the constraints of legacy deals or outdated models.

And she’s doing just that.

From the media rights rollout to adding new member schools, the strategy has been deliberate. This phased approach is redefining how a conference is built. With CBS now officially locked in, the next move? Finalizing an 8th football member by 2026 to fulfill FBS requirements and to bring the new league to nine schools overall.

“There’s no playbook for this,” Commissioner Gould told me. “We’re not just rebuilding. We’re reimagining.”

More from Our Conversation:

📍 Revenue Sharing: A new model based on competitiveness, brand, and investment.📍 College Football Playoff: “Let student-athletes compete. Let’s not pre-allocate.”📍 NIL & the House Settlement: “This is the right model — and we’re built to thrive in it.”📍 Oregon State & Washington State: “We’ve never wavered in supporting these 2 schools for one more season. They’ve kept the banner flying.”

Why It Matters

This is more than a media deal. It’s a signal. A statement. A declaration that the Pac-12 — once left for dead — is not only surviving, but leading.

CBS believes in it. Member schools believe in it. Student-athletes believe in it.

And today, you heard it straight from the Commissioner.

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Stay steady,

Yogi

This episode edited & executive produced by Jim Thornby

This podcast is a Best Coast Media production

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