Dealing a devastating blow to the Pac-12, the Big Ten has recently announced that Oregon and Washington will be joining their conference next August. In addition, the Big 12 has successfully poached Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah from the beleaguered league. This sudden turn of events has left the Pac-12 in a dire situation, with only four remaining schools and facing potential extinction due to the inability to secure a media rights agreement that matches its competitors, according to the AP.
The conference issued a statement expressing their disappointment over the news, as it not only affects the student-athletes, fans, alumni, and staff who have cherished the over 100-year history, tradition, and rivalries of the Pac-12 but also poses a threat to the future of each member university. The arrival of the super-conference era in college sports has swallowed the Pac-12, a conference known for producing legendary athletes like Jackie Robinson, John Elway, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and Barry Bonds.
The process began with the Big Ten, which paved the way for Oregon and Washington to join by receiving a unanimous vote from the school’s trustees. Shortly after, the Big Ten’s presidents’ council voted to accept Oregon and Washington, officially expanding the conference to 18 teams. Meanwhile, the Big 12 had its sights set on three more Pac-12 schools, considering their successful recruitment of Colorado the previous week. Arizona’s entry into the Big 12 was approved, prompting Arizona State and Utah to follow suit. The Big 12 will now become a 16-team conference, stretching from Florida to Arizona, starting in the fall of 2024.
As a result of this realignment, Oregon and Washington will find themselves geographically distant from their new conference neighbors, specifically the University of Nebraska, which is over a 1,600-mile drive away. Additionally, the Ducks and Huskies are projected to receive a reduced payout compared to current Big Ten members, as well as USC and UCLA, who are expected to receive over $60 million each in media rights revenue from the conference next year.
It is worth noting that Washington and Oregon were among the founding members of the Pacific Coast Conference in 1916, which eventually evolved into the Pac-8, Pac-10, and then Pac-12. However, as reported by CBS Sports, this realignment is seen as a significant blow to West Coast athletics in general, and it raises concerns about the future of non-revenue sports.
In conclusion, the college sports landscape has undergone a seismic shift with the addition of Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten and Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah to the Big 12. The Pac-12 must now navigate a challenging path ahead, as they strive to secure a prosperous future for their remaining member universities.
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