Colorado finalizing move to Pac-10 in 2011


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It’s no secret that Colorado and Utah are set to join the Pac-10.

Nobody, however, seemed to know when.

It looks like that question has finally been answered, a source told ESPN.com’s Joe Schad that Colorado is finalizing a deal to move to the Pac-10 next year with Utah.

It’s long been thought that Colorado wasn’t going to join what was to become the Pac-12 until 2012. The school wanted to join its new conference earlier but the problem was money. According to Orangebloods.com, Colorado would owe an 80 percent forfeiture of revenues in a two-year period if it left on one years’ notice.

But Colorado’s attorneys are working to get a deal done between the Big-12 and the school.

“Unless something unforseen happens, I think the Big 12 will be a 10-team league next season,” an official in the Big 12 told Orangebloods.com.

Nebraska is the other team leaving the Big-12 as it’s moving to the Big Ten next season. The combined money Colorado and Nebraska are expected to owe the Big 12 next year for leaving is between $35-40 million, a source told Orangebloods.com.

Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott declined to comment on the progress of these proceedings, telling ESPN.com’s Ted Miller via text message “They [Colorado] have regents meeting today to discuss the negotiations with Big 12. Beyond that I can’t say.”