Big Ten having preliminary conversations about more expansion if Pac-12 crumbles, AP sources say

[Auggie]

A group of Big Ten presidents has begun discussing the possibility of adding more West Coast schools to the conference if the Pac-12 continues to crumble, two people familiar with the conversations told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the conversations were preliminary and the Big Ten was not going public with its internal deliberations.

Oregon and Washington would be the primary targets if the conference decided to make a move, one of the people said.

The Pac-12 is down to nine schools seemingly committed beyond this year, with Southern California and UCLA heading to the Big Ten in 2024 to make it a 16-team, coast-to-coast conference. Colorado is leaving the Pac-12 for the Big 12 next year, too. Colorado announced its move last week.

MORE: https://apnews.com/article/pac12-big-ten-conference-realignment-oregon-washington-3962aad7adbe38feb97e31eac895dd2e

FROM THE LINK:

• ESPN reported Tuesday that the Pac-12 is hoping to keep its remaining members together with a media rights deal that would make Apple TV the conference’s primary home.

• USC’s and UCLA’s move to the Big Ten were the first blows to send the Pac-12 reeling into uncertainty over the past year.

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Maybe it makes sense to merge with USC and UCLA already gone. If Oregon and Washington join the Big 10 the PAC-12 pretty much dies.

I don't understand the move to Apple TV. Why make fans pay for an extra subscription service? How would this save the PAC-12? Make it more expensive to watch games?

[brush]

1. Failure of management at the PAC-12 or 10 or 9?

If Oregon and Washington go, it's over for that conference.. And there's rumores that Cal and Stanford may be next.

God.

[Auggie]

3. The past few years (maybe more) several Pac-12 games were scheduled in the late evenings

That would be one failure. I think the inability of Cal and Stanford to build winning teams is another (not a management failure though).

These schools are all following the money.

[brush]

4. Lucrative TV deals helps recruiting which helps schools build...

winning programs. Conference management going with Apple TV where fans have to subscribe to watch games while BIG-10 and SEC games are often on NBC, CBS and ABC.

Not to mention several of the conference schools looking around...not good.

[Doc Sportello]

2. Apple tv is just a desperation move

ESPN and Fox have pushed all their chips in on the SEC, Big 10 and Big 12. Pac 12 doesn't draw viewers, and that was with USC and UCLA, and most of their games are on too late. They tried a subscription service before and it didn't work. The smart schools will get out while they can. Arizona regents are meeting today to discuss both ASU and UA leaving.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

5. Oregon, Washington to Join Big Ten, Leave Pac-12

The Big Ten is getting even bigger with Oregon and Washington becoming the latest schools to join the conference from the Pac-12 starting in 2024, sources told Action Network.

The departure of the Ducks and Huskies increases the number of schools leaving the Pac-12 in the past 13 months to five (UO, UW, Colorado, USC and UCLA) and could be the fatal blow to the Pac-12.

The Big Ten will grow to 18 members, the largest in college football history, and must decide whether to expand even further. The Big Ten is contemplating whether to stand at 18 or consider adding Stanford and Cal, or possibly any ACC schools that may leave, sources said.

Oregon and Washington will not immediately receive full shares in the Big Ten’s new media rights deal with FOX, CBS and NBC but will still make more than they would have by remaining in the Pac-12, sources said.

https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/oregon-washington-join-big-ten-leave-pac-12

Big Ten adding Oregon and Washington, leaving Pac-12 with uncertain future

The Big Ten is in the final stages of negotiating an expansion to 18 teams and adding the Universities of Oregon and Washington, industry sources told Yahoo Sports.

The move adds a Pacific Northwest presence to the arrival of USC and UCLA while bringing two known football brands to the Big Ten’s broadcast offerings.

Both schools are expected to agree to a cut rate — perhaps as low as 50 percent — of the Big Ten’s media revenue that could reach $65 million/year per institution. That is still more than the Pac-12’s proposed media deal with Apple, which is estimated to be in the $20-25 million range.

The Big Ten confirmed the addition of the two schools in a statement late Friday.

https://sports.yahoo.com/big-ten-adding-oregon-and-washington-leaving-pac-12-with-uncertain-future-163742293.html

[Auggie]

8. Thanks for sharing this!

Wow!

[mommymarine2003]

6. As a Washington State alum this breaks my heart.

I am so tired of greed. Both Washington State and Oregon State have been very competitive in the PAC-12. I also worked in athletic administration at WSU years ago and was there when Arizona and Arizona State joined our conference. I feel like there is a death in the family today. I hope that WSU and OSU find a good place to land, but it is going to be very difficult for them. I live in Oregon now and OSU football is supposed to do very well this year. Both Pullman and Corvallis must be reeling today. So sad. Go Cougs! Go Beavers! And the heck with UW and Oregon.

[Xavier Breath]

9. Hopefully they find a home in the Mountain West

along with Cal and Stanford, or somewhere. There are so many moving parts and pieces right now that it's hard to know where everyone will be when the music finally stops. But, it would be nice to keep some of the Pac-12 rivalries/relationships alive in another conference.

I live in Big 10 country and am a Michigan fan, but I enjoy watching the Pac-12 channels and have always rooted for UCLA to some extent. And, I make no apologies whatsoever for what the asshats running the Big 10 are doing. It was patently ridiculous when they added Maryland and Rutgers, and now this abortion of an idea happens. No sense of history or tradition whatsoever.

Add two east coast doormats? Sure, why not. Add two west coast schools that we have zero in common with? You betcha. Throw away the specialness of The Game and maybe have Michigan/OSU play twice a year? Sure thing. Hell, maybe we can figure out a way for them to play three times a year. We're all about the student athlete, you see. Kill what's left of the Pac-12 and gloat over the carcass? Hey, who's gonna stop us?

[usonian]

7. PAC-4 ??? Wow.

All this could add considerably to travel miles.
Not green as in the environment.
Green as in money.

Winner?