Please note: Some questions have been edited for clarity and brevity.

The dates of the 2023 conference games haven’t been finalized, but the opponents for each team are known. Do you agree that Utah has the toughest out-of-conference schedule and Oregon has the toughest in-conference schedule? — Jon Joseph

Sure, you could make the case for Utah, which plays Florida at home, Baylor on the road and Weber State. Anytime two of the three opponents are Power Five programs, the challenge is substantial.

But Colorado typically plays one of the toughest non-conference lineups, and 2023 is no exception. The Buffaloes open on the road against TCU, then host Nebraska and also play Colorado State.

Granted, Weber State is a quality FCS program. But the Hotline would prefer to face Utah’s trio of opponents.

And let’s not discount Washington’s schedule. The Huskies visit Michigan State, and they host Boise State, which should have a top-25 team, and Tulsa.

When the weakest opponent (purportedly) is a five-win team from the American, there are no cupcakes.

And yes, the conference schedule rotation for 2023 is set. In fact, the Hotline published all the schedules (in cross-division format) a few years ago.

Oregon plays everyone in the old North division, plus USC (home) and Utah (road).

But I’d argue the toughest intra-conference lineup belongs to Cal, which is set to face not only the Northwest schools but also USC, Utah and UCLA, plus Colorado.

Oh, and the Bears play Auburn, as well.

Do you think mass roster overhauls each year at the “big brand” schools is sustainable, or will the approach to player development at Utah and Oregon State be the winning formula in the future? You can’t buy culture and identity in my opinion. — @DrBTru

You most definitely cannot, and the model at work in Corvallis and Salt Lake City is humming for those programs.

The massive roster turnover that we have seen at Arizona, ASU, USC and Colorado (to name four) isn’t sustainable; nor is it necessarily intended to be.

The process works well for new coaching staffs and allows for rapid recovery. But in most cases, transfers eventually will be used to supplement the roster, not define it.

Remember, the supply chain remains clogged — and will, for two more years — because of the free season of eligibility resulting from COVID.

Do you see a scenario where name, image and likeness (NIL) collectives enter into contractual agreements with the players? For example, a player commits to a school for two years for X amount but has to pay it back if he leaves early. — @cubsfan7331

That situation already exists. Players are signing NIL contracts all the time.

At some point, the NIL market will settle. After all, the boosters supplying the cash have fat wallets for a reason: They are smart businessmen and businesswomen who aren’t likely to continue writing five-figure checks for backup guards.

NIL will continue to be used (improperly) as a recruiting inducement, but with the cash and contracts focused on the high-value positions. In fact, that process is already underway in the shadows.

Now that commissioner Kevin Warren is leaving the Big Ten, do you still think USC and UCLA will make the jump? — @MsMichelleYoung

What do you think the chances are of either the L.A. schools having buyer’s remorse in a few years and wanting to come back to the Pac-12? — @LondonUte

The L.A. schools are gone, regardless of Warren’s departure to the Bears and regardless of the Big Ten’s choice to succeed him.

They are entering the conference on Aug. 2, 2024 no matter what.

But buyer’s remorse is a distinct possibility, in our opinion, particularly for UCLA. The Bruins aren’t equipped financially to thrive in their early years in the Big Ten. They are entering the conference, as Maryland and Rutgers once did, with a mountain of debt.

The expected cash windfall from Big Ten media rights likely will be used to eat away at UCLA’s debt, for which the athletic department is fully responsible.

Meanwhile, the competition (USC, Michigan, Ohio State, etc.) will be reinvesting its cash.

We foresee the Bruins falling behind immediately and struggling to catch up. By the late 2020s, there could be a load of disgruntled UCLA fans.

Could the Pac-12 sign a non-conference game package with UCLA and USC to play one game each year? This will assure two games against an L.A. team every year, help the media rights negotiations and keep the Pac-12 in the L.A.  market. — Jack Sunabe

The issue here is timing: The Pac-12’s media negotiations are closer to the end than the beginning (presumably), which doesn’t carve much space for the crafting of a formal scheduling partnership.

However, I suspect the Bruins and Trojans will make an attempt to continue playing Cal and Stanford as often as possible.

The last thing either L.A. school wants is a heavy load of travel for non-conference games.

What’s the likelihood that any new schools rumored to be potential additions in the Pac-12 — be it San Diego State, Fresno State, SMU or some other program — get announced before the start of next season? — @aka_branderson

How about the Pac-12 pulling a surprise move and offering San Diego State and locking up the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area by getting SMU and TCU? — @RockDawg3

If the Pac-12 expands — and that’s hardly a guarantee — then a decision will come well before the start of the 2023 season. I expect the issue to be resolved this spring, in fact.

TCU certainly would make sense as a partner for SMU if the Pac-12 desires a foothold in Texas, but it’s an unlikely outcome.

If the Big 12 schools have signed the grant-of-rights agreement that accompanies the renewal of their contract with ESPN and Fox, nobody is going anywhere. They are all locked into the conference until 2031.

If the grant-of-rights contract remains unsigned — a distinct possibility given that the conference hasn’t formally announced the new media deal — then any outcome is possible, however remote it appears.

If the Pac-12 goes back to divisions, do Washington fans have the right to be absolutely livid at this one year dumpster fire set of rules? — @LocustAutoX

Nope, because 1) it’s a multi-year change that could very well be permanent, and 2) the elimination of division was approved by all the schools.

Instead of being livid at the conference, UW fans should be frustrated that the Huskies lost to Arizona State.

Win that game, and they would have played for the conference title.

Do you think the NCAA denying the Pac-12’s request to move the Colorado-Arizona State game to Week Zero had more to do with rival conferences (and networks) wanting to protect their own Week Zero games? — @em_buff

My sense is the decision was based on the NCAA not wanting to set a precedent that would allow dozens of teams to justify playing on Week Zero every season.

In our view, the NCAA should move the football calendar up one week, because it would create flexibility during the fall for a second bye.

Will that ever happen? The schedule for the expanded playoff, with opening-round games in the middle of December, could impact decisions with the calendar.

When is the Pac-12’s 2023 schedule expected to be announced? — @rreid32

I don’t have a firm date but anticipate a release in the next 10 days or two weeks.

If Denver fans/media are right and former Stanford coach David Shaw is interviewing to be Jim Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator with the Broncos, what TV show would this reunion most resemble? — @WorkishFromHome

There would be plenty of material for Divorce Court.

Does Cal’s new apparel deal with Nike get the Bears out of athletic budget hell? — @SirCharles_OG

I haven’t seen the contract or heard a whisper number on the cash component, but it’s unlikely to be substantial — certainly not close to the $3.5 million in cash the Bears were supposed to receive annually from Under Armour.

And regardless of the value, the deal won’t have a major impact on Cal’s financial situation.

Between the enormous scope (i.e., cost) of the athletic program and the stadium debt service payments, the Bears are deep, deep in the red.

Which Pac-12 men’s hoops coaches are on the hot seat? — @MarcSheehan006

Cal’s Mark Fox, Stanford’s Jerod Haase, and Washington’s Mike Hopkins are atop our list. There’s a better chance of all three getting cut loose than none of them.

Given ASU’s resurgence, we’ll assume Bobby Hurley is safe. And although Wayne Tinkle’s situation at Oregon State seems tenuous, he has a relatively new contract.

That said, we could see a retirement, or someone could leave the Pac-12 for a better job — in some form or fashion, it will be a busy spring.

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The Bears will add quarterback Sam Jackson V at the start of the spring semester, with the third-year sophomore coming over from former Cal head coach Sonny Dykes’ new school, TCU.

“Sam is a young and talented athlete who is developing rapidly as a quarterback,” Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said in a statement. “We are excited to get him started in our program and continue to accelerate his development.”

Jackson was a little-used backup for the Horned Frogs in his two years on campus, tallying two touchdowns rushing and completing all six passes he threw in parts of seven games. Jackson was rated as a four-star coming out of Naperville Central High School in Illinois, where he was a wide receiver as a sophomore before moving to quarterback as a junior.

Jackson will help fill the void left by Jack Plummer, the former Purdue transfer who started all 12 games for Cal this past fall, throwing for 3,095 yards and 21 touchdowns while completing 62.5% of his passes. But Plummer elected to transfer again and landed at Louisville for what will be his sixth collegiate football season.

The Golden Bears have added 11 transfers to their football roster so far during this recruiting window, with all of them set to enroll and move to Berkeley for the start of the new semester.

While the Pac-12 schedule isn’t known yet, nor is it known if Jackson will get the starting job, his first game for Cal is set to come just down the road from his old school, as the Golden Bears open the 2023 season at North Texas in Denton on Sept. 2. Cal’s first home game in 2023 will be one week later against Auburn.

“You have to believe you’re getting better,” Curry told the group, according to a video shared on Twitter by Associated Press reporter Janie McCauley. “Eventually you’ll get into a game and look at each other like, ‘We’re here.’ … Maintain that patience and perseverance throughout all these growing pains and it’ll pay off.”

After delivering a message, Curry also received another jersey to add to his collection. Cal’s Jayda Curry presented him with her No. 30 Cal jersey. The two star guards share a number and last name, but they’re not related.

Jayda Curry — who has made at least one 3-pointer in 37 straight games, the third-longest streak in Pac-12 history — said it was cool to have the four-time NBA champion take the time to meet with their team after the game.

“Having somebody who does it professionally in the NBA kind of reiterating the key things that we’re trying to key in on I feel like for me is showing that we know what we can do,” she told the AP.

Curry has long been an ardent supporter of women’s sports. His family also has close ties with Stanford star Cameron Brink as both players’ mothers have been best friends since college. Curry took in the cross-bay matchup sitting courtside alongside his mother, Sonya, who wore a Stanford sweatshirt.

The Golden Bears owned a three-point advantage with four minutes left in the game but couldn’t hold on, losing 60-56 to their cross-bay rivals. The defeat dropped them to 10-5 on the season and 1-3 in Pac-12 Conference. Meanwhile, Stanford, who was led by star Brink’s double-double, remains undefeated in conference play, extending its win streak against Pac-12 opponents over three seasons to 38.

Huge thanks to @StephenCurry30 for being our guest last night! pic.twitter.com/hlsfCQImYN

— Cal Basketball (@CalWBBall) January 9, 2023

Please note: Some questions have been edited for clarity and brevity.

It has long been held that the biggest impediment to Pac-12 success in the College Football Playoff is defensive line play. What options are out there for recruiting top talent at that position? Is opening new recruiting areas a consideration in Pac-12 expansion? — @jlahaye76

It is, and we can answer that question with three letters: S-M-U.

The conference is seriously considering adding the Mustangs for a variety of reasons that include access to the Dallas market for media dollars and recruiting.

With regard to defensive linemen in particular, the Pac-12 clearly needs help. It’s an essential position but in limited supply within the conference footprint.

That’s not the case in Texas.

The Hotline tallied the number of blue-chip defensive line prospects (four- or five-star ratings) in both Texas and California over the past three recruiting cycles, according to the 247 Sports database.

The Lone Star State has produced 33 blue chippers, the Golden State just 12.

(And that number, like California’s water supply, appears to be shrinking.)

Granted, there is more competition for prospects in Texas than California. But access to the marketplace through a campus in the heart of the DFW metroplex cannot hurt.

At least some university presidents are aware of the need to improve recruiting and — for that and other reasons — have become intrigued by the prospect of adding SMU.

With the money to be made from a 12-team playoff, do you think there is a chance for one regular season game to go away so there is less exposure to injury? — Jon Joseph

The player safety issue is central to any discussion about the length or structure of the season. So is revenue. And those forces are in constant conflict — in any major sport, pro or college — because more TV broadcasts usually translates to more media dollars.

I don’t see college football eliminating a regular-season game under any circumstances. The conferences would have to give back cash to their TV partners.

If anything changes, it will be the calendar: The regular season will move up one week and begin on what is now referred to as Week Zero.

In that scenario, every team would start the season on the final Saturday of August in order to create an extra week — an extra chance to rest — before the playoff begins in the middle of December.

And yes, that likely means training camp would start earlier, in late July.

Have any Big 12 teams delayed signing their grant-of-rights agreements? Wondering if there is any chance some could still flip to the Pac-12. — Justin Steele

I cannot confirm whether the Big 12 has signed its grant-of-rights deal, but my suspicion is the agreement has not been finalized.

After all, the conference hasn’t uttered an official peep about the new TV deal. All the late-October reports about the renewal of a deal with ESPN and Fox were based on anonymous sources.

If the agreement had been finalized with a grant-of-rights contract, surely the Big 12 would acknowledge as much.

So we wait … and wait.

Could the Big 12 schools be holding out for an offer from the Pac-12? While that seems highly unlikely, nothing would surprise us.

In realignment, nothing is done until it’s signed and sealed.

Will the Pac-12 include in the next media deal that announcers must be at the location of the event? It’s unreal that Fox didn’t send the announcers to several games this year. — @UACatManDo

This is a frustration for Pac-12 fans and campus officials alike, but I doubt the media companies would agree to such terms. They want control over the deployment of their own personnel.

You think Fresno State to the Big 12 is more likely than Fresno State to the Pac-12? — @lilcmac5

I do, indeed.

The Bulldogs are a better fit in the Big 12 institutionally and would help the conference gain a footprint in the Pacific Time Zone.

They bring access to a talent-rich region and a top-25 media market — if Sacramento is included in Fresno’s DMA — and they would create more Big 12 kickoff opportunities in the 7:30 p.m. (PT) window.

(Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has made no secret of his desire for a West Coast campus.)

At the same time, the Hotline hasn’t sensed much momentum inside the Pac-12 for adding the Bulldogs. We see San Diego State as the priority among California schools.

If one or a collection of digital media companies (Apple, Amazon, Google) makes a significant media offer that includes the L.A. schools, can they stay in the Pac-12? Or are they legally committed to the Big Ten? — Shawn Kearney

Sure, they could. Any contract can be voided for the right price. But we don’t see it happening.

Nor do we envision Apple, Amazon, or Google agreeing to an above-market valuation for the Pac-12 unless the agreement is sweeping in nature — unless it extends beyond a sports distribution deal and involves business opportunities across the campuses.

(We opined on that subject in the fall.)

Otherwise, any deal with Big Tech would be a market price and zero interest from USC and UCLA in reversing course.

If the conference arrives at expansion, do you think commissioner George Kliavkoff at least makes a phone call to Notre Dame? — Doug Ware

It would be a waste of time. The Irish aren’t joining a conference — for football — until Independence no longer works competitively or financially.

The CFP expansion format (six at-large slots) meets the competitive requirement, and the looming media deal with NBC should meet their revenue needs.

And when the Irish eventually park their football program in a conference, it will be the Big Ten.

When is the conference going to release the 2023 football schedule? — @awesomeshark789

I expect news on that front in the next few weeks but don’t have a firm date.

Do you think it’s easier to quickly build a good offense (compared to a good defense) through the transfer portal? Is it realistic to think that a mediocre defense can be transformed into an elite defense through the portal in one year? — Dave Hayashida

It’s easier to upgrade your offense because so much depends on a single position.

Find the right quarterback, and everything changes — we saw that with Washington (Michael Penix), Oregon (Bo Nix) and USC (Caleb Williams).

(The success each program experienced with transfer quarterbacks in 2022 will help the next time it hunts for a starter in the portal. Success begets success.)

Although edge rushers and cornerbacks have gained significance in this era, there is no equivalent to quarterback on defense. Upgrades across multiple positions are required to transform the unit.

Do you believe that Arizona State’s Facilities District is an unfair competitive advantage the Pac-12 should look at? ASU doesn’t have to fundraise for athletic facilities because they created a special taxing district. It comes across as unfair. — @17Readymade

There is nothing the Pac-12 can (or should) do. ASU has crafted a revenue stream that maximizes its resources and works for its business model.

It’s no different than Oregon taking advantage of its ties to Nike, or the L.A. schools using their geography for recruiting leverage.

Each campus has unique advantages and challenges. The conference office has no jurisdiction.

And no university president would dare attempt to legislate in that regard for fear that his/her own campus could be subject to the whims of others.

A better question is which schools have, and have not, maximized their resources? Which do less with more … and more with less?

Did chancellor Carol Christ and athletic director Jim Knowlton kill Cal football and basketball by pretending this was the 1960s rather than 2023? And if they can’t deal with the institutional roadblocks, why are they in their positions? — @alpha1906

You are not alone in thinking the administration is partly, if not largely responsible for the state of the Bears’ major sports.

There are a slew of issues, including the way COVID was handled, that created unique obstacles for Cal’s revenue producers.

And certainly, the Bears — like Stanford — are struggling to navigate the era of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness without sacrificing the institutional mission.

The struggle to define Cal’s athletic identity has existed for eons. At times, the Bears seem well-equipped for life in the Pac-12. At times, they seem better suited for the Ivy League.

The changing economic landscape has merely exacerbated the challenges.

Utah quarterback Cam Rising has (a leg) injury. What’s on the table for the Utes at the position next year? — @DrBTru

First, the Hotline has not received confirmation about the extent of the injury and whether it could impact Rising’s availability next season if he returns to school.

In the event he leaves for the NFL or won’t be ready to play in September, second-stringer Bryson Barnes presumably would compete with the other returnees.

Or the Utes could find a first-rate talent in the transfer portal.

We should know more in the coming weeks with the Jan. 16 deadline for NFL Draft decisions. Rising’s future is near the top of the list of unanswered Pac-12 personnel questions.

*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to pac12hotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716

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Please note: Some questions have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Almost everyone agrees the Pac-12 needs to expand for long-term viability. Why should we have any confidence Pac-12 leadership will actually do it, as opposed to hoping things will magically go back to the way they were? — @bogeycat85

This cuts to the root of the existential crisis facing the Pac-12: Will Commissioner George Kliavkoff and the university presidents make the right decisions with regard to media rights and expansion?

If we’re being honest, Pac-12 fans should be anxious.

They should be anxious because the conference has already been blindsided once, by the departures of USC and UCLA.

They should be anxious because the presidents and chancellors have a history of bad decisions on the most significant issues.

And they should be anxious because there are two sharks, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren and Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, looking for a chance to drive a stake in the Pac-12.

That said, there are significant counterweights to each area of concern mentioned above:

— In theory, Kliavkoff is now a grizzled veteran of the college sports swamp, won’t get caught unaware of back-channel machinations that could kill off his conference and has a realistic grasp of the Pac-12’s place in the media rights ecosystem.

But only time will tell.

— Many of the university leaders who approved misguided media strategies in the past have moved on. Only UCLA’s Gene Block and Arizona State’s Michael Crow remain from the group that hired (and enabled) former commissioner  Larry Scott and approved the Pac-12 Networks’ business strategy. Block is leaving for the Big Ten, and Crow’s influence has diminished.

(Granted, the situation atop the org chart appears awkward with Washington president Ana Mari Cauce serving as board chair while her school eyes the Big Ten.)

— As for circling sharks, Warren seemingly doesn’t have the votes to expand (in the short-term) and Yormark doesn’t have the money (via his media contracts with ESPN and Fox) to make an offer that none of the Pac-12 schools can refuse.

Those situations are fluid, however.

Kliavkoff has said he feels “no urgency” to finalize a media deal. But the only way to guarantee the Pac-12’s future — whether or not that includes expansion — is to secure an agreement as soon as possible.

If the Pac-12 signs a deal with Amazon, could Kliavkoff also sell them the Pac-12 Network for a one-time fee? Or is it even worth anything? — BearFlagFan

There are two separate and distinct components involved in this topic, so let’s make sure everyone is clear:

1. The inventory of games (football, basketball, Olympics sports) that are bound to the Pac-12 Networks through the spring of 2024.

2. The networks themselves, which include the infrastructure, technology and human resources and are wholly owned by the institutions.

The broadcast rights to the game inventory could be sold to Amazon, Apple, ESPN, Fox or any other media company — either as one package or sliced and diced.

If Amazon ends up owning broadcast rights, the company probably would buy or lease the Pac-12 Networks’ infrastructure. Why? Because Amazon doesn’t have production facilities of its own for live sports. (Those ‘Thursday Night Football’ broadcasts are actually produced by NBC.)

In fact, Amazon could use the Pac-12 Networks infrastructure to produce other sporting events.

So, yes: The networks themselves have market value. How much? That remains to be seen.

If Amazon buys the rights to games currently on the Pac-12 Network, is it possible for them to keep the current channels with their respective cable/partner. Instead of it being called the Pac-12 Network, they’ll call it Amazon TV or something like that? — @olsens805

My expectation is that Amazon would show Pac-12 sporting events on Prime Video. There’s no need for the company to pay Comcast or DISH when it has the Prime platform available; it would be a waste of money.

Remember, Amazon’s expansion into the live sports space isn’t about showing live sports; it’s about showing live sports as a means of expanding its e-commerce operation, collecting your credit card and personal information, and setting up shop in your living room for time immemorial.

Do you anticipate expansion news in January? — @lilcmac5

Based on a recent conversation with one of the Hotline’s most-trusted industry sources, I would peg mid-January to mid-February as the likeliest window for a media rights deal.

And given that Kliavkoff has stated the expansion piece would come after the media rights contract and subsequent grant-of-rights agreement, it could be March or April before the Pac-12 resolves the expansion issue.

With how Utah has handled themselves the last two years on the field, will the Utes be just fine when realignment strikes again? — @DrBTru

It depends on your definition of “just fine.”

The Hotline doesn’t foresee the Utes landing in either the SEC or the Big Ten if (when) those conferences expand again. (That point could be the end of the 2020s or the middle of the 2030s, as we outlined a few months ago.)

However, the Utes are an obvious option for the Big 12, which would happily gobble up any of the top-tier programs in the Pac-12 or ACC if the current Power Five structure liquifies.

The expansion calculation for the SEC and Big Ten is about more than wins, losses and conference titles.

It’s also about geography, media value and institutional fit. Does Utah make more sense for the Big Ten than Washington, Oregon and the Bay Area tandem of Stanford and Cal? Not in our view.

Will the Big Ten eventually add more than four schools from the western third of the country? Not in our view. (In fact, the Hotline believes the conference could move into the ACC footprint, not the Pac-12, when it decides to expand again.)

But however it shakes out — whether it’s the Power Five, Power Four or Power Three — Utah will be included.

Are you still optimistic about SMU to the Pac-12? — @SoCal_Pony

The Hotline believes expansion is more likely than not for the Pac-12.

If one school is added, San Diego State has a slight edge over the Mustangs, in our opinion.

If two schools are added, SMU stands an excellent chance of receiving an invitation.

In areas that matter to university presidents, the Mustangs make more sense than many options in the Mountain West.

What does Cal do at quarterback? — @parsa_s

Hope and pray that the transfer portal delivers a high-level talent — and that new offensive coordinator Jake Spavital can make use of his connections in Texas.

Coach Justin Wilcox has a massive mess of his own making. He needs to get it right.

For a variety of reasons — and many are outside of Wilcox’s control — the Bears are not built for quick turnarounds. The deeper they sink, the more arduous the recovery process.

I don’t see quarterbacks Sam Huard of Washington and Ty Thompson of Oregon, both former five-star recruits, sitting on the bench for a third year. Where do you think they will land? — Bret Mecchi

Huard’s case is difficult to predict because of the deep family ties to Washington’s program. As frustrated as Huard and/or his inner circle might have become, they could be equally excited about the chance to develop under Kalen DeBoer.

But if we remove the legacy component, you’re correct: Top quarterback prospects typically don’t accept reserve roles for more than one year.

Will Thompson leave Eugene? I don’t have any insider information.

The Hotline’s default position is that players are likely to transfer to their home state or region. Thompson is from the Phoenix area, so an opportunity in Arizona or Southern California might be his preference if he decides it’s time to leave Eugene.

Players have until the middle of January to enter the transfer portal, and then a second window in early May.

For the past three seasons, Washington State has dealt with a lot of staff and player turnover. Will it ever be possible for teams like WSU to keep their best in this new era? — @SirCharles_OG

Certainly, roster stability is more difficult to achieve with the transfer portal and name, image and likeness. But that will be true for most programs in most years, and it works both ways — the Cougars (and others) will have more opportunities to replace players they lose.

Does it carry a greater wallop for the lower-resourced programs? Perhaps. But I also see potential benefit for the likes of WSU and Oregon State, which can provide attractive landing spots for former blue-chip recruits who have become disgruntled at blue-blood programs and are seeking a second chance.

The rate of staff turnover pre-dates both NIL and the portal — the Cougars were losing coordinators and key assistants under Mike Leach, too — and is largely a result of resources.

The Cougars cannot match the salary scale offered by wealthier programs, which makes identifying coach talent an essential skill.

Jake Dickert made two shrewd coordinator hires in Eric Morris and Brian Ward. Yes, both are gone. But that should give WSU fans hope that Dickert has an eye for talent.

Why is realignment Twitter the best Twitter? — @Y_Soup

It’s the topic the general public knows the least about — and that includes many members of the media — because there are so many layers to the decision-making process: presidents and chancellors, regents and trustees, TV executives and media consultants.

And yet, everyone cares, everyone has an opinion, and everyone thinks they have access to insider information.

It’s crazy talk all the time.

What is former Washington State coach Nick Rolovich up to? — @Kemosahbeh

Other than suing WSU for wrongful termination, I have no idea.

He’s probably holed up in a bunker somewhere, watching football.

Would you rather have Eggnog or fruit cake for your holiday treat? — @2022SportsGuy

Great question.

I would rather have neither.

But the Hotline wishes everyone a healthy and happy holiday season. Thanks very, very much for all your support.

*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to pac12hotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716

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But the Bears also said goodbye to starting quarterback Jack Plummer, who entered the transfer portal. Plummer threw 21 touchdowns in his lone season with the Bears while operating behind a sub-par offensive line.

Coach Justin Wilcox declined to comment directly on Plummer’s status during his Zoom news conference announcing the Bears’ recruiting class. But he hinted that the one-time Purdue player would be moving on while also referencing backup redshirt sophomore Kai Millner, who figures to be the front-runner for the starting job unless he exits.

“Both Jack and Kai, who’ve been great for us, those guys have individual decisions to make. It’s not my place to announce their intentions,” Wilcox said. “I’ll tell you we’re going to be very active recruiting the quarterback position — high school and transfer quarterback.”

Millner saw action off the bench in three games last fall, including against Oregon when he was 8 for 11 for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

Cindric’s return for a sixth season is a welcome development for the Bears. He has started 33 games, splitting time at center and guard, but was lost to a season-ending injury after six games in 2022. It was widely assumed he was done.

Wilcox said he continued to have conversations with the 6-foot-4, 295-pounder after surgery in the fall, and said, “This is not surprising. However, it’s great news.”

Cal did not sign any offensive lineman on Wednesday and that will continue to be a priority, Wilcox said. The Bears did land Frederick Williams III, who played receiver at Serra High in Southern California through his sophomore season before making a significant growth spurt to 6-5, 260 pounds. He will get the chance to show what he can do on both lines but may be a project.

The Bears bolstered their thin running back corps, led by returning star freshman Jaydn Ott, by signing Oregon transfer Byron Cardwell, who rushed for 417 yards as a freshman and was on the Doak Walker Award watch list before being injured in Week 2 this season.

New offensive coordinator Jake Spavital will find ways the utilize both backs, Wilcox said. “We think the world of Jaydn and he’s going to do great things for us,” Wilcox said. “Byron can have a huge impact as well and there’s no reason you can’t also run some two-back stuff.”

Cal also signed running back Jaivian Thomas, who rushed for more than 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns this season at McClymonds High in Oakland.

The Bears’ highest-rated high school recruit is wide receiver Nyziah Hunter, a consensus four-star prospect from Salinas High.

“Really talented all-around athlete,” Wilcox said. “He’s got good size and he can really run. We feel like he’s got a really high ceiling because of those physical tools and he’s just scratching the surface.”

The 14-player class, which Wilcox said could swell to about two dozen by February, features four defensive backs, including transfer cornerbacks Nohl Williams of UNLV and Kaylin Moore of Colorado.

None of the nine high school players who signed Wednesday will be early enrollees, Wilcox confirmed.

2022 CAL FOOTBALL SIGNEES

DL Tiu Afalava (6-2, 275) Bishop Amat HS, Baldwin Park, CAWas in an Under Armour TV ad with Tom Brady and Morgan Freeman

ILB Sergio Allen (6-1, 225) Clemson, Fort Valley, GAConsensus 4-star high school prospect has played as a backup at Clemson

DE Zurich Ashford (6-3, 255) Arbor View HS, Las Vegas, NVTotaled 16 sacks in his 2-year HS varsity career on teams that were 17-5

RB Byron Cardwell Jr. (6-0, 206) Oregon, San Diego, CARushed for 493 yards in 2 seasons at Oregon, injured most of 2022

WR Nyziah Hunter (6-2, 200) Salinas HS, Salinas, CAConsensus 4-star prospect caught 22 touchdown passes past 2 years

CB Matthew Littlejohn (5-11, 180) Citrus College, San Antonio, TXTwo-time all-conference in JC ball, arrives with 2 years’ eligibility

TE Ben Marshall (6-4, 220) Blackman HS, Murfreesboro, TNNamed offensive MVP for a 10-3 team that reached state playoffs

OLB Ryan McCulloch (6-2, 224) Rio Honda Prep, Duarte, CAColorado and WSU also recruited him, as did 3 Ivy League schools

CB Kaylin Moore (5-10, 185) Colorado, Westlake VillageMade 14 starts in 2 years at Boulder after originally being recruited by Cal

RB Jaivian Thomas (5-10, 175) McClymonds HS, Oakland, CARushed for 2,528 yards with 30 TDs this season for 2-AA state finalist

ILB Cade Uluave (6-1, 230) Mountain Ridge HS, Jordan, UTAthletic player who also was productive as a running back in high school

DB Sailasa Vadrawale (5-11, 170) Rancho Cotate HS, Concord, CAThree-star prep was born in Berkeley; picked Cal over Washington

OL/DL Frederick Williams III (6-5, 250) Junipero Serra HS, Gardena, CAPlayed receiver in HS before growth spurt – will be tried on both lines

CB Nohl Williams (6-1, 185) UNLV, Oxnard, CASecond-team All-Mountain West pick had 40 tackles, 3 INTs for UNLV

In the end, the governing board declined Wednesday to stop a core member from leaving the West’s pre-eminent athletic conference, sending the key players on their merry way with parting gifts of varying appeal:

— The Bruins get to join the Big Ten as planned, along with USC, in the summer of 2024.

— Cal is positioned to receive a multi-million-dollar subsidy, courtesy of its sister school in Westwood.

— California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who railed against the lack of transparency in UCLA’s process, can claim a political victory. (After all, the board he oversees did something.)

— And the remaining Pac-12 schools can, finally, make formal plans for life after L.A.

Those plans include finalizing a media rights agreement — a lengthy, complicated process that had been on hold because of the lingering uncertainty over UCLA’s fate.

Full and official clarity came Wednesday at 4:17 p.m. in the Luskin Conference Center on UCLA’s campus, where the regents approved the Big Ten move by an 11-5 vote.

Additionally, they attached a series of “mitigation measures” to UCLA’s departure as a means of limiting the mental and physical toll on hundreds of athletes — particularly in the Olympic sports — who will make regular trips to a Big Ten footprint that stretches from Nebraska to the East Coast.

An example of the resources:

“UCLA will increase budgeted student-athlete nutritional support beyond levels established for the 2023-2024 fiscal year in an amount not less than $4.3 million; such support shall include guaranteed breakfast and lunch availability on campus for all UCLA student-athletes, professional dietician services, and funds not less than $250,000 set aside for additional nutritious meals while traveling.”

Separately, the regents agreed to consider a potential annual subsidy for Cal, which stands to lose media revenue because of UCLA’s departure from the Pac-12.

The approved range for a subsidy is $2 million to $10 million, with the exact figure based “on the best available information on projected revenues for both campuses.”

A final decision on what the regents described as “a contribution by UCLA to the Berkeley campus” will be made once the Pac-12 finalizes its media-rights deal.

How kindly the other schools take to Cal receiving a handout remains to be seen. The revenue reduction caused by UCLA’s departure is across the board, after all. But the regents only oversee the two of them that are public universities in California.

After the regents’ decision, the conference made this statement:

“Regardless of any determination by the UC Board of Regents, the Pac-12 has been and remains incredibly bullish on the future success and growth of our Conference.

“We look forward to continuing to work together with our membership to provide best-in-class support for our student-athletes and athletic programs athletically and academically, and to lead on the national college athletics stage.”

Without a campus in the Los Angeles media market, the Pac-12 stands to generate significantly less media revenue than it would have with the 12 schools moving in lockstep into the new contract cycle.

How much less?

Projections vary, but most peg the annual media revenue for each campus in the low-to-mid $30 million range.

(That amount tracks closely with the Big 12, which recently agreed to a media deal paying each campus $31.66 million annually.)

With UCLA remaining in the Pac-12, annual media revenue could have jumped to $40 million or more per school with access to the L.A. market driving competition among networks.

Instead, the Bruins are leaving behind their home of 100 years and moving into the Power Five penthouse.

The Big Ten’s new media deal, announced in August, is expected to pay each school a minimum of $62.5 million annually — and the amount could exceed $70 million near the end of the seven-year deal.

“We’re excited to join the Big Ten Conference in 2024 and are grateful for the Board of Regents’ thoughtful engagement in this decision,” UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said.

“We’ve always been guided by what is best for our 25 teams and more than 700 student-athletes, and the Big Ten offers exciting new competitive opportunities on a bigger national media platform for our student-athletes to compete and showcase their talent.”

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One way or another, the saga will reach its conclusion following open and closed sessions that are scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Luskin Conference Center at UCLA.

The chance of the governing board overturning the Bruins’ move is “extremely unlikely,” according to a source familiar with the process.

Rescinding any decision made by a campus chancellor — UCLA’s Gene Block formalized the Big Ten entry on June 30 — could create a dangerous precedent within the UC system.

But it’s not necessarily an all-or-nothing proposition for the regents. There’s another option, one that could satisfy numerous factions: a UCLA “tax.”

Our apologies if you thought there would be no math …

The loss of UCLA and USC — and the massive Southern California media market — will reduce annual revenue for the remaining Pac-12 members, including Cal. Projections range from as low as $30 million (per school per year) to as high as $35 million or $38 million.

(If the Bruins were to remain in the Pac-12 and provide an anchor in L.A., the annual revenue likely would increase by at least 10 percent for the conference.)

Meanwhile, UCLA is projected to receive at least $62.5 million annually — and perhaps as much as $70 million — from the Big Ten’s media agreement, which was signed seven weeks after the Bruins and Trojans were officially accepted.

The regents are ultimately responsible for both the Berkeley and Westwood campuses.

By imposing a tax on UCLA that would essentially serve as a subsidy for Cal, the regents would help the Bears offset the expected reduction in revenue.

It would also serve as a political victory for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who blasted UCLA for its lack of transparency in the Big Ten move.

“No big deal, I’m the governor of the state of California,” Newsom told Fox 11 Los Angeles in July. “Maybe a bigger deal is I’m the chair of the UC regents. I read about it.

“Is it a good idea? Did we discuss the merits or demerits? I’m not aware that anyone did. So it was done in isolation. It was done without any regental oversight or support.”

During a series of meetings this fall, the regents have addressed UCLA’s decision on two fronts:

1) The merits of rescinding the move, with all the legal and financial consequences; and

2) The impact UCLA’s exit could have on both campuses.

Are the travel demands for all UCLA athletes reasonable?

What impact could the reduced revenue have on Cal athletes?

After the board gathered at UCSF last month, regent John Perez used a football analogy when speaking to a small group of assembled reporters:

“This was a call made on the field, and now we’re reviewing the call, seeing if there’s some substantive reason why the call should be overturned.”

Then he added:

“Regardless of whether they (UCLA) stay or go, regardless of whether Cal was impacted by the decision or not, what are our expectations for improvement of student-athlete experience everywhere?

“Those are the questions that are still actively there.”

Guessing along with the regents is a fool’s game, but don’t ignore the potential for a so-called UCLA tax.

Funneling a portion of the Big Ten revenue to Berkeley could meet expectations for an improved athlete experience “everywhere” — and give Newsom a win.

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This weekend, Stanford hired Troy Taylor.

In between, the Pac-12 provided a dizzying array of news with players and coaches coming, going and staying put … with unprecedented TV ratings … with a Heisman Trophy finalist and a head coach speaking bluntly and an athletic director tweeting insightfully.

If you missed any of the developments, worry not. The Hotline has it covered.

Presenting the Pac-12’s top 10: The most significant storylines between the Sanders and Taylor hires.

1. Running it back

On Sunday, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. announced he would bypass the NFL Draft and return to Montlake for another season. The decision has sweeping implications for UW and the Pac-12, instantly turning the Huskies into a preseason playoff contender and giving the conference a tandem of quarterbacks (Penix and USC’s Caleb Williams) that will stand with any in the Power Five. The moment Penix made his intentions known, next season got dramatically more interesting on the West Coast.

2. Welcome to New York

USC quarterback Caleb Williams on Monday became the first Heisman Trophy finalist from the Pac-12 since Stanford tailback Bryce Love in 2017. Williams, who dazzled down the stretch with his arm and legs, is the betting favorite to claim the sport’s most prestigious award. The last West Coast winner: Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota in 2014. And much like Mariota eight years ago, Williams entered the season as one of the leading candidates.

3. “Coach Prime” gets real

The most viral moment of Sanders’ arrival in Boulder came during his meeting with the CU players. In a video that has generated millions of views on YouTube, Sanders bluntly told the players to consider transferring because he planned to overhaul the roster. That’s no surprise — the Buffs went 1-11. But the honesty provided a peek into the harsh reality of roster rebuilding. And it was pure Sanders. Had any other coach been caught telling players to hit the road, he would have been excoriated.

4. A ratings hit

The Utah-USC showdown for the conference title on Dec. 2 drew an average of 6.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched Pac-12 championship game in history (according to the Sports Media Watch ratings database). The figure represented a 45 percent year-over-year audience increase and surpassed the previous high of 6.0 million viewers for the Oregon-Arizona duel in 2014. Sure, it helps having USC involved. Also important: playoff implications, which are often missing from the Pac-12’s main event.

5. An AD draws the line

The championship game ratings were mocked on Twitter, where Big 12 fans noted the figure lagged the viewership total for the TCU-Kansas State game (on Saturday) even though the Pac-12 had Friday night to itself. That prompted none other than Utah athletic director Mark Harlan to respond to one particular tweet with four telling words: “We are not leaving.” It was perhaps the most definitive expression of Pac-12 solidarity by an athletic director in the five months since USC and UCLA announced their departures.

6. Arizona State’s staff takes shape

New ASU coach Kenny Dillingham wasted no time filling out his staff with familiar names. The new defensive coordinator is Brian Ward, who held the same post for Washington State last season, while ASU’s new offensive coordinator is Beau Baldwin, who ran Cal’s attack for several seasons before a short stint as the head coach at Cal Poly. The 32-year-old Dillingham has smartly surrounded himself with veterans in the key posts.

7. Oregon finds a play-caller

Dillingham’s acceptance of the ASU job on Thanksgiving weekend created a void on Oregon’s staff. It took coach Dan Lanning just over a week to find a replacement: Will Stein, the former Louisville quarterback who served as UTSA’s offensive coordinator this season. Although Stein has no experience coaching on the West Coast, his style of offense fits with the high-speed, balanced approach that Lanning favors.

8. The portal fills up

Pac-12 players flooded into the transfer portal as soon as it opened on Monday. Many of the entries are backups, little-known starters or members of programs that have experienced coaching changes (Colorado, Stanford and ASU). But several impact players have decided to explore their options, including three receivers: Arizona’s  Dorian Singer, who will be highly coveted across the Power Five, plus Washington State’s De’Zhaun Stribling and Oregon’s Dont’e Thornton.

9. Cal’s new coordinator

The Bears turned to an old friend to reinvigorate their offense: Jake Spavital, who served as play-caller during the Sonny Dykes era and was a candidate for the vacancy after Dykes was fired. So yes, the Bears are turning to the spread offense for salvation. That constitutes a radical shift in philosophy for Wilcox, who had favored the Pro Style attack. But can the Bears recruit enough high-end receivers to make the strategy work.

10. Draft decisions

The transfer portal isn’t the only threat to existing rosters. The deadline for players to enter the NFL Draft is Jan. 16, but the Pac-12 postseason exodus is underway with two big names. Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez, a potential first-round pick, has declared; same with Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee, who announced his intentions Thursday. Others will follow after the bowl season. But with Penix set to return and Williams not yet draft-eligible, the Pac-12 two biggest names aren’t going anywhere.

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Spavital, 37, was Cal’s offensive coordinator in 2016 when the Bears’ “Air Raid” offense set several school records while ranking fourth in the country in passing offense and 10th in total offense under then head coach Sonny Dykes.

Spavital was fired last week as Texas State’s head coach after a 13-35 record over the past four seasons. Previously, Spavital was the offensive coordinator at West Virginia (2017-18) after leaving Cal.

“Jake is an elite offensive coordinator and recruiter with a terrific record of success in producing top-notch offenses and developing outstanding quarterbacks,” Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said. “We are excited to have Jake return to Cal and lead our staff on the offensive side of the ball.”

Cal fired Bill Musgrave with one game left in this past season while in the middle of a six-game losing streak. Under Musgrave, the Bears were ranked 10th in the Pac-12 in both scoring offense (23.2 points) and total offense (362.1 yards).

As an offensive coordinator, Spavital has piloted offenses on teams that finished in the top 20 in the country in total offense six times, reached seven bowl games, and earned a spot in the AP Top 25 in seven different seasons. He’s recruited and worked with a number of elite college and NFL quarterbacks, including Kyler Murray (Texas A&M), Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) and Geno Smith (West Virginia).

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for the culture Justin Wilcox and his staff have created at Cal,” Spavital said. “I got a taste of the potential this program has when I was in Berkeley previously, and I’m looking forward to bringing everything I can to the table to help us maximize that potential. We have a bunch of talented playmakers already on the roster, and I can’t wait to get to work with them and bring more talent in to join them.”