University of Utah joins Big 12

• Oregon and Washington also left the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.

State of play: The Pac-12 now "faces extinction" after losing five schools last week for other conferences, PBS reports.

What they're saying: "The Conference is gaining three premier institutions both academically and athletically, and the entire Big 12 looks forward to working alongside their presidents, athletic directors, student-athletes and administrators," commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement.

By the numbers: The Big 12 conference will now consist of 16 teams starting in 2024.

The intrigue: That means the Utes and their longtime rival Brigham Young University will play in the same conference again after 13 years apart, per the Deseret News.

Flashback: Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011, winning two back-to-back championships in 2021 and 2022.

• Before that, they played in the Mountain West Conference.