A new home for Pac-12 football is here, and it’s not where fans expected.
When the Pac-12’s future looked uncertain, few imagined The CW would step in as a key broadcast partner. Now, the network known for scripted dramas is locking down live football, bringing a fresh twist to the sport’s media landscape. The deal, according to John Canzano, is set to run from 2026 through 2031, pairs The CW with CBS as part of the conference’s new rights package.
The CW already tested the waters in 2024, airing Washington State and Oregon State games with a broadcast crew featuring Ted Robinson, Ryan Leaf, and Nigel Burton. That gamble paid off, as a late-season matchup drew nearly 700,000 viewers, the most-watched game in network history.
Three key examples highlight why this deal matters:
1. Growing reach: The CW expands its live sports lineup after adding ACC football games in 2024, showing viewers are tuning in.
2. Conference stability: As new members like Fresno State, Boise State, and San Diego State join in 2026, the Pac-12 will lean on these broadcast windows to rebrand itself.
3. Strategic partners: With CBS locked in as the primary carrier, The CW represents the “second piece” of the deal. League officials say more networks may still join.
Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould said earlier this year the goal is more than exposure, it’s “transformational partnerships.” For fans, that means Saturday nights on The CW will now come with Pac-12 football under the lights.
Action is coming. When the new deal kicks off, the Pac-12 won’t just be surviving, it will be fighting for attention in primetime.
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Source link : https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/cw-joins-pac-12-football/0d078d8cc09a628f00ccf321
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Publish date : 2025-08-24 00:04:00
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