How Pac-12 football will look more like the XFL in 2023

The XFL may or may not succeed, but that doesn't mean the spring football league hasn't been a major hit in certain aspects.

One of the great things the XFL has done is give television viewers more access to what happens on the field, in the coach's box and in the locker room during games. They even went as far as making the referees' decision-making process public. The XFL may not ever compete with the NFL, but the league certainly did push boundaries and make noise.

It that respect, the XFL became a trend-setter in 2023, and it's now being reported that Pac-12 football wants in on some of that broadcasting action.

The Pac-12 won't go "all-out" like the XFL did, but the conference is planning on providing "enhanced in game and pregame access," according to ESPN's Heather Dinich. That will include in-game head-coaching interviews and having some players and coaches wear mics during the pregame. There will also going to be a camera in the coaches' booth (without sound) and provide pregame and halftime locker room access to viewers.

Football coaches are notoriously superstitious and never want to give any iota of advantage away, but believe it or not, Pac-12 coaches approved it.

"A guy like Chip Kelly, he's seen this in part from his time in the NFL, he understands that it's important to be able to do that," Pac-12's executive associate commissioner of football operations Merton Hanks told Dinich. "And he's a play-caller, obviously, so we're going to have to work with our play-callers. I think [USC head coach] Lincoln Riley's another great example. We'll work with those guys during the game. There may be certain aspects of availability that we will be able to pull off consistently, but the mere fact the coaches are supportive of the concept and are willing to work with us on that is a significant plus."