Pac-12 realignment: Latest news and updates as Oregon, Washington lead exodus from conference

By | August 4, 2023
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The Conference of Champions is in crisis. 

Pac-12 leaders met on Friday morning to discuss the future of the conference amid a whirlwind of realignment uncertainty. Nine member schools remained when the day began, but that number changed in real time as the day went on.

Oregon, Washington and Arizona are the latest schools to reportedly weigh up an exit from the conference. USC, UCLA and Colorado have already announced their exit, with the former two joining the Big Ten and the latter heading to the Big 12. 

The Pac-12 now faces a complete implosion unless the remaining members can come to an agreement on a new grant of rights. That seems increasingly unlikely as other major conferences prepare to snap up schools in the event of a collapse. 

MORE: Big Ten is to blame for devastating round of college football realignment

The Sporting News is tracking the latest updates as the Pac-12 teeters on the brink of collapse: 

Pac-12 news, updates

(All times Eastern.)

Friday, Aug. 4

9:30 p.m. — It’s official: The Big 12 has officially welcomed Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah from the Pac-12. 

6:00 p.m. — According to Brett McMurphy, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah are formally joining the Big 12. The conference is set to approve the trio of moves in the next 24 hours.

3:30 p.m. — Washington State has acknowledged today’s reports with a statement on their social media accounts. “While we had hoped that our membership would remain together, this outcome was always a possibility,” it reads. “We’ve prepared for numerous scenarios, including our current situation.”

2:30 p.m. — Brett McMurphy is reporting Arizona State and Utah have joined Arizona as Pac-12 members looking to relocate to the Big 12. The Big 12 is reportedly “exploring its options.”

12:50 p.m. — Pete Thamel reports Oregon and Washington’s move to the Big Ten will be formalized later today and is “on the cusp” of being official. 

12:45 p.m. — According to Action Network’s Brett McMurphy, Oregon and Washington have made the decision to leave the Pac-12 and join the Big Ten. That is monumental news, and it appears the end of the Pac-12 is closing in.

12:00 p.m. — After initially reporting Oregon was leaning towards staying with the Pac-12, Pete Thamel is now saying they and Oregon are “fully engaged” with the Big Ten. That’s very bad news for the Pac-12.

11:05 a.m. — Per AP’s Ralph Russo, Big Ten presidents are scheduled to meet this morning. However, Oregon and Washington have NOT yet been offered formal invitations.

11:00 a.m. — ESPN’s Pete Thamel made it clear this is a very fluid situation. The Big Ten remains intent on landing Oregon and Washington, but that would require the Pac-12 schools to fail to reach an agreement. The situation might take a while to play out. Crucially, he also reported Oregon is “trending toward not going to the Big Ten.”

9:20 a.m. — On Friday morning, multiple reports indicated there was “optimism” a deal could still be struck to keep the Pac-12 together. The move would hinge on all nine remaining members agreeing to sign a grant of rights for a new media deal, which is reportedly planned to be with Apple. 

What is happening with the Pac-12?

Conference realignment has hit the Pac-12 hard, with three of its biggest member schools departing in a little over a year. 

In June 2022, USC and UCLA both announced they were leaving to join the Big Ten. Last week, Colorado became the latest member to head for the exit, announcing it was leaving for the Big 12. Both moves are set to take place ahead of the 2024 football season. 

The main motivations for the moves were financial. Pac-12 payouts to member schools have dropped sharply in recent years and are now “the lowest among the Power Five by a significant margin,” according to a 2022 article by USA Today. The lack of a media deal in place after the 2023 season has also been a key issue, and it remains the biggest sticking point among the nine remaining members. 

There is also an element of prestige involved. The Pac-12 has seen its fortunes decline in recent years, and there are growing indications that college football’s elite are looking to form a “super league” of sorts in the not-too-distant future. Oklahoma and Texas recently made the switch from the Big 12 to the SEC for similar reasons. 

With the future of the conference hanging in the balance, several remaining member schools are now weighing their options. If any more programs jump ship, it would likely spell the end of the Pac-12 as we know it.

MORE: Why Big Ten is to blame for latest round of devastating realignment

Pac-12 member schools

Here is a list of the Pac-12’s nine remaining programs for 2024 with USC, UCLA and Colorado set to depart: 

School Joined
Arizona 1978
Arizona State 1978
Cal 1915
Oregon 1915
Oregon State 1915
Stanford 1918
Utah 2011
Washington 1915
Washington State 1917

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