Title: Oregon and Washington Set to Leave Pac-12, Joining Big Ten
Subtitle: Pac-12 Faces Uncertain Future as Big Ten Continues to Expand
Date: [date]
In a shocking development, Oregon and Washington have indicated their intention to leave the Pac-12 and join the Big Ten conference, pending a formal invitation from the Big Ten. The two long-standing members of the Pac-12 informed Pac-12 presidents on Friday about their plans, according to reports from Yahoo Sports. It is expected that formal offers from the Big Ten will be extended later today.
If the move goes ahead, Oregon and Washington would become the third and fourth Pac-12 schools to join the Big Ten ahead of the 2024-25 season, following the footsteps of USC and UCLA, who announced their departures in the previous summer. With these additions, the Big Ten would boast an unprecedented 18-team conference, marking the largest in college football history.
The potential departure of the Ducks and Huskies comes as a major blow to the Pac-12, as it would make it the fifth conference member to leave in the last 13 months. Colorado recently made its move to the Big 12, while Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah are currently engaged in discussions about potentially following suit. The continued exodus of prominent schools could be detrimental to the future of the Pac-12 as a whole.
While there were efforts made by the Pac-12 on Friday morning to retain Oregon and Washington, the financial implications ultimately played a significant role in their decision. Both universities have concerns about the additional travel costs that would be incurred by joining the Big Ten. Washington, in particular, was worried that these expenses could exceed $10 million annually for the university.
It is reported that Oregon and Washington will not receive the full $60 million media rights revenue shares from the Big Ten to compensate for these financial obligations. Late on Thursday, the Associated Press revealed that they were offered between $30 million and $35 million annually, which is approximately half of what other Big Ten teams receive from their media rights deal. These financial considerations would significantly impact one of the benefits initially expected from the conference switch.
The future of the Pac-12 remains uncertain as presidents held a meeting on Friday morning to discuss potential alternatives. Reports suggest that a grant of rights contract was presented in hopes of securing a new media deal that could help salvage the conference in some form. However, no official agreements were reached.
Adding to the uncertainty, Arizona is also in deep discussions about joining the Big 12, as revealed during an Arizona Board of Regents meeting held on Thursday. The Pac-12 has been facing financial challenges, with the media rights package presented by Apple reportedly offering starting projections of $20 million per school annually. By contrast, Big 12 schools are set to receive nearly $32 million through their new media rights agreement.
In the midst of these developments, the Big 12 has expressed interest in acquiring Arizona State and Utah from the Pac-12. While there is sentiment within the Arizona and Arizona State athletic departments against a conference sever, the possibility of realignment cannot be ruled out.
Should Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah all depart for the Big 12, the Pac-12 would be left with only four remaining members: California, Stanford, Oregon State, and Washington. The future of the conference would likely hinge on a potential merger with the Mountain West or exploring independence as the only remaining viable options.
As these seismic shifts continue to take place, college football conferences face unprecedented challenges and uncertain futures. Both the Big Ten’s expansion plans and the Pac-12’s potentially diminished status are causing ripples throughout the college sports landscape, with the fate of other conferences and schools yet to be determined.