After 2024, opponents of the Washington State Conference will no longer include Southern Cal and UCLA. But that’s the least of Cougar’s concerns about Thursday’s amazing news.
Within two years, Trojans and Bruins will abandon the Pac-12 and join the Big Ten. The Los Angeles school decision caused the spillover felt throughout the college football landscape.
So what does that mean for the future of the Pac-12 Conference and the rest of the members like Washington?
WSU’s quarterback’s great Ryan Leaf reflected the emotions many Coog fans expressed on Twitter all day long.
“It’s not good for (Pac-12) and certainly not good for Wazzu,” Leaf said in a text message.
Best scenario: Pac-12 managed to survive, retain existing members, and add some new schools, despite losing its foothold in LA. The meeting probably needs to be poached from the Mountain West or the Big 12. This will send Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC in 2025. The Pac-12 / Big 12 merger is another interesting option that soon became a hot topic among college football professionals. After the report surfaced, UCLA and USC will depart.
But without the two major LA schools and all the television revenues they generate, Pacific-12 and its rest of the institution will certainly be financially hit if the conference survives. This is not a good sign for WSU, which reported an operating deficit of over $ 30 million in the spring of 2021.
Worst scenario: The long-lived Pac-12 dissolves and its affiliates are forced to look for a new home.
It’s not too difficult for some of the league’s more prominent colleges, such as Oregon and Washington. According to reports, Big Ten may try to add another well-known member, and ducks and husky will probably be the top choices. Some national college football reporters also suggested that the Big 12 may pursue some Pac-12 leftovers from the considerable market.
As a result, small market teams, namely WSU and Oregon State University, may look out.
“Essentially demoted,” Reef added.
There is a realistic possibility that you will drop out of power conference status in 2024 and have no choice but to attend the Mountain West conference. Of course, if the Pac-12 collapses, WSU loyal people will prefer the Big 12.
“This isn’t the last change we’ll see. The big guys will get bigger and bigger, and the distance between those who have and those who don’t will be even greater,” said former Cougars football coach (1989-2002). ) Mike Price said in the text. “We are all COUGS and we are proud of our record and football history at Pac-12. WSU is always our team and we support and support them no matter what league they belong to. I don’t think the sky is falling, but the weather has just changed. “
“I was very surprised and disappointed by the news from UCLA and USC,” Pac-12 said in a long statement released by the conference room Thursday evening. “(Pac-12) will continue to prosper. I’m sure. ” And it will grow into the future. A WSU spokesman mentioned the Pac-12 release when asked for comment.
