Maybe Big 12 doomsday predictors and preppers should venture out west, where they'll realize the Big 12 is actually in good financial shape compared to the distribution-challenged Pac-12.
The Pac-12 Conference released their federal tax returns on Monday, which show a distribution of $28.7 million to each of its 12 member schools during fiscal year 2016, according to Jon Wilner of The Mercury News. That number jumped from $25.1 million in 2015 and is expected to be $29.5 million in 2017.
Though positive increases are good — especially a 14 percent jump from 2015 to 2016 — future projections compared to other Power Five conferences are concerning. And without a revamped TV deal, or any deal with DirecTV, those won't get any better.
Here is a look at Wilner's projections, which have proven remarkably accurate in past years.
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2016
The SEC remained king in 2016, distributing $5.2 million more than the next closest conference and nearly $12 million more than the Pac-12. The ACC has not yet reported distributions for fiscal year 2016.
SEC: $40.5 million
Big Ten: $34.8 million
Big 12: $30.4 million
Pac-12: $28.7 million
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2017 (Projected)
Here's where the Pac-12 begins running out of gas. The SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 are all projected to increase their distributions by more than $3 million in 2017, including a $5.55 million jump for the when-will-it-dissolve Big 12.
SEC: $44 million
Big Ten: $38 million
Big 12: $34 million
Pac-12: $29.5 million
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2018 (Projected)
The Big Ten is licking their chops in anticipation for revenue from their new TV deal worth an estimated $2.64 billion, which will bump them at least $7 million per year between 2017 and 2018. Meanwhile, the Pac-12 continues to fall further behind, now a whopping $5 million behind the Big 12.
SEC: $45 million
Big Ten: $45 million
Big 12: $37.5 million
Pac-12: $32.5 million
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As noted by Wilner, major changes are need or things will get far worse. The Pac-12's annual distributions through 2023-24 are expected to be an average of $12 milion less than the SEC and Big 12, which, in a 12-team conference, equals more than $1 billion.
Click here to find more fascinating information — or depressingly concerning if you're a Pac-12 fan — on Wilner's review of the Pac-12's "real" and "spectacular" revenue deficit.
