The Big Ten conference is set to expand to 18 teams with the addition of Oregon and Washington from the Pac-12, according to recent reports. The formal invitations were sent out by the Big Ten on Friday, and both Oregon and Washington have agreed to join the conference.
Initially, there were conflicting reports, suggesting that the Pac-12 would survive and that Oregon and Washington would remain a part of the conference. The Pac-12 was in the midst of negotiating a new television and media rights deal with Apple, with today being the last day of the offer. However, it seems that the deal fell through due to financial reasons.
Unable to secure a new Grant of Rights deal, the Pac-12 lost out to the Big Ten, which then re-engaged with Oregon and Washington. Both schools informed the Pac-12 of their decision to join the Big Ten before a scheduled conference call took place, and the Big Ten proceeded with formal offers.
With the addition of Oregon and Washington, the Big Ten has expanded beyond its Midwest roots and now boasts a coast-to-coast presence. Alongside Rutgers and Maryland on the East, the conference now includes powerhouses like Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan State. Additionally, USC and UCLA had joined the Big Ten previously, further solidifying its national reach.
The survival of the Pac-12 seemed to hinge on the media deal, and its future is now uncertain. Without bidders for their games, the Pac-12 may be on the brink of collapse, potentially losing more teams to other conferences in the future. Already, Colorado has left the Pac-12 to return to the Big 12, and there are rumors of Arizona also considering a move to the Big 12.
Furthermore, talks of collaboration between the ACC and the Pac-12 have emerged, possibly indicating an attempt by both conferences to navigate the changing landscape of college football. Some even speculate that the Mountain West might be involved in this realignment.
As college football undergoes significant changes, driven by financial considerations and the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams, it is likely that we will see the formation of super conferences. The Big Ten and SEC are expected to lead this transition.
Many college football fans are feeling a sense of loss as the sport they know and love undergoes these seismic shifts. Clay Travis of Outkick has encapsulated this sentiment, recognizing that the game has fundamentally changed. It remains to be seen how fans will adapt to these changes and embrace the new era of college football.
Overall, the addition of Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten marks a significant expansion and signals a growing trend of shifting conferences and realignments in college football. The future of conferences like the Pac-12 hangs in the balance, and the landscape of the sport continues to evolve rapidly.
