Reports: Big 12, Pac-12 officially end partnership talks

The potential for any sort of partnership between the Big 12 and Pac-12 reportedly went up in flames on Monday.

As the SEC and Big Ten further distance themselves from the rest of the major collegiate conferences, a partnership between the Big 12 and Pac-12 was “discussed extensively the last two weeks,” according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. However, after the two sides were unable to forge a union that was mutually beneficial, the talks officially ended Monday.

According to ESPN, “a full merger” between the two conferences was part of the discussions, as were combining pooling rights and potential scheduling arrangements. The merger was the most preferred option. But in the end, though, it was…