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Report: Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC engaged in alliance discussions

David E. Klutho / Sports Illustrated / Getty

The Big Ten, Pac-12, and ACC are engaging in high-level discussions about forming an alliance, sources told The Athletic's Max Olson.

The three Power 5 conferences are focused on a scheduling alliance in football and broader cooperation, according to Olson. The conference's larger goal is reportedly an alignment, which would allow the Pac-12, Big Ten, and ACC to vote together on potential College Football Playoff expansion and future NCAA governance changes, among other topics.

The report comes just weeks after the SEC invited Texas and Oklahoma to join the conference. The Longhorns and Sooners will leave the Big 12 once their grants of media rights with the conference expire in 2025.

"This is their shot right back at the SEC," one anonymous athletic director told Olson about the potential alliance.

None of the three conferences have expressed serious interest in teaming up with what's left of the Big 12, Olson adds.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby reportedly recently met with Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff to discuss options for the two conferences to potentially work together during college sports' future realignment.

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