Quote:As the next wave of Tier I deals and potential realignment builds on the horizon, the Pac-12 must have someone in charge of the Networks who views the world first-and-foremost through the lens of football/basketball lens.

(One candidate to consider is John Entz, the president of production at Fox Sports and an Arizona graduate. I have no idea if he’s interested, but he checks every box and should be the first call.)

It was suggested to me that Murphy-Stephans’ departure could be a signal of massive change, that Scott and the chancellors/presidents have decided to sell an equity stake as a way to slow expansion of the revenue gap between the Pac12Nets and their counterparts at the Big Ten and SEC.

That possibility can’t be discounted, I suppose, but it seems unlikely.

Just two years ago, the conference conducted a thorough examination of the marketplace and determined that retaining 100 percent ownership of the Pac12Nets was the best course.

It’s difficult to believe the plans could have shifted so dramatically in such a short time.

That said, we’re only three or four years from the conference beginning to position itself for Tier 1 negotiations. Scott has bet heavily that 100 percent ownership of all content will translate to a windfall.

The Pac12Nets are a vital component to that equation. The healthier they are — and football/basketball will lead the way in that regard, not soccer, swimming or softball — the more leverage Scott will have.