CBS to be main Pac-12 TV partner

It took a couple of years and the full dissolution of the conference, but the Pac-12 finally has a long-term media partner.

CBS Sports and the Pac-12 have reached a multi-year media rights deal that will make CBS the primary broadcast partner for the conference from 2026 through the 2030-31 academic year, it was announced Monday. Under the deal, the main CBS broadcast network will carry at least three football and men’s basketball games per season, including the football and men’s basketball championship games.

Additional football and men’s basketball games will air on CBS Sports Network.

The new deal is technically an extension, as CBS in April struck a one-year deal to carry the current two-member Pac-12 this coming season. CBS is no stranger to the Pac-12, having carried the men’s basketball championship as recently as 2012.

While the Pac-12 currently consists of just Oregon State and Washington State, as of next season it will expand to eight programs — including seven in football. The conference will need to add one more football program in order to satisfy NCAA requirements.

The new Pac-12 schools include five from the Mountain West, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State. CBS currently airs Mountain West football games, but that deal is set to expire after this season.

The Pac-12 is expected to announce additional partners at a later date. In addition to CBS, games this season will air on CW and FOX.