Leaders from Oregon State and Washington State held a conference call on Thursday to address the current state of the Pac-12 conference, realignment options, and upcoming legal proceedings. The conference call provided some clarity on the situation, and here’s what you need to know:
Out of the 10 current members of the Pac-12 conference, eight will be departing to join other leagues next summer. This leaves only Oregon State and Washington State as the remaining members of the conference. Both schools have expressed interest in rebuilding the Pac-12.
Dr. Jayathi Murthy, president of Oregon State, stated that the two schools have had “very constructive conversations” with Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez, and there is mutual interest in exploring some sort of partnership between the two conferences.
However, before making any decisions, the two schools are seeking clarity on the financial condition of the Pac-12. Dr. Kirk Schulz, president of Washington State, mentioned that they are meticulously reviewing documents and seeking financial records from the conference to gain an accurate understanding of its fiscal position.
In terms of athletics, No. 14 Oregon State will be traveling to Pullman, Washington to face No. 21 Washington State in an exciting showdown between two unbeaten football teams. The game will be televised on Fox at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Looking back, it was revealed that the athletic directors of both schools, Pat Chun and Scott Barnes, have been planning for multiple potential scenarios and remaining flexible as they approach the upcoming academic year without finalized schedules or conference affiliations. They discussed the minimum requirements for conference existence and the number of members needed to maintain automatic qualification for NCAA championships.
It should be noted that no agreements have been signed yet, as it is too early in the process to determine the exact nature of the relationship between the two schools and the Mountain West conference. The focus currently lies on understanding the Pac-12’s assets and liabilities, including media rights payments, NCAA tournament units, College Football Playoff revenue, and debts owed to Comcast, as well as addressing the fallout from a legal dispute with the Holiday Bowl.
The recent legal action taken against the Pac-12 conference and Commissioner George Kliavkoff was primarily aimed at gaining clarity regarding the financial condition of the league. Washington State’s President Schulz expressed optimism that within the next 30 days, they will have a better understanding of the league’s assets, liabilities, and potential partnerships, which will aid their decision-making process.
When asked about a promotion/relegation proposal for western FBS football teams put forth by Boise State associate athletic director Michael Walsh, the administrators declined to discuss it specifically. However, Barnes expressed his belief that unequal revenue distribution models, league contractions, and relegation models are likely in the future of college sports. He cited examples such as the Premier League in Europe as a potential framework worth studying.
Chun, the Washington State athletic director, assured that neither Oregon State nor Washington State would be at risk of relegation in a relegation model, as both schools currently boast top-25 football programs. He and his colleagues highlighted the importance of these programs through Saturday’s game, showcasing the level at which these athletes and athletic departments deserve to compete.
In conclusion, while facing a significant realignment situation, Oregon State and Washington State remain cautiously optimistic about the future. With constructive conversations and ongoing efforts to understand the Pac-12’s financial condition, both schools are actively exploring potential partnerships and maintaining flexibility as they navigate this transitional period.