The Pac-12 and Big 12 are two of the Power Five conferences in college athletics as many fans of college football already know. Most of the teams are located primarily in the western part of the country and it appears the Big 12 is in a better position long term, but they have different strengths and weaknesses that some publications are not focusing on and or leaving out.
Pac-12 Conference 2024
Strengths:
Strong academic institutions
Strong football tradition:
Strong basketball tradition
Large media markets
Weaknesses:
Geographic isolation
Lack of recent success in football
Multiple members leaving the conference
Big 12 Conference 2024
Strengths:
Strong football tradition
Strong basketball tradition
Recent success in football
Recent success in men’s basketball
Weaknesses:
Not as strong academically as the Pac-12
Not as many strong large media markets as the Pac-12
In recent years, the Big 12 conference has been more successful in football than the Pac-12 with TCU being the most recent Big 12 member to win a game in the college football playoffs.