It seems as though Oregon and Washington will be staying put and will not be leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten after all.
A lot can change overnight, as illustrated by Oregon and Washington's change of heart in the latest wave of conference realignment.
In the wake of Colorado leaving for the Big 12 after a forgettable decade-plus run in the Pac-12, Arizona is essentially at the one-yard line to join the Buffaloes in their new league. Happening simultaneously, the Ducks and the Huskies were on the precipice of joining the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans as the third and fourth West Coast additions into the expanded Big Ten footprint.
Well, well, well… That doesn't seem to be the case anymore, as the tides have shifted towards staying. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported on Friday morning that there is optimism over Oregon and Washington not heading to the Big Ten to keep the dying Pac-12 conference alive for a bit longer.
Assuming Oregon and Washington remain united in their decision to stay, it may convince Arizona to not dot the I's and cross the T's to join Colorado in the newfangled Big Ten. This is getting good!
Despite opportunities to join the most valued league in college athletics, let's discuss why it serves the Ducks and the Huskies, and honestly the Wildcats, to stay in a nine-team Pac-12 conference.
Oregon, Washington leaning towards staying in the Pac-12 over joining Big Ten
This is all about three things: The Pac-12 almost sort of finally securing a media rights deal beyond this season, an easier pathway into the College Football Playoff and not leaving little brother behind. If the Pac-12 gets somewhat of a fair media rights deal, that should suffice the new powerbrokers of the league in Oregon and Washington. Plus, it is all about the CFP anyway.
See, by going to the Big Ten, Oregon and Washington would have a much harder time at winning its new league or getting an at-large bid. Currently, the Ducks and Huskies' biggest challenger in the new-look Pac-12 is two-time reigning champion Utah. In my opinion, these three schools should work in unison to help bring West Coast football back from the dead and not go Midwest.
As for Arizona getting cold feet, why would the Wildcats want to leave their in-state rival Arizona State behind? Although ASU has way more value on the open market than Oregon State and Washington State, we saw the backlash Oklahoma got for leaving little brother Oklahoma State behind in the Big 12 for new and exciting SEC ventures with actually their biggest rival in Texas.
Ultimately, a nine-team Pac-12 could still be good enough to get its conference champion into the expanded College Football Playoff on the reg. One would think Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff will try to pursue an acquisition or three to keep his league alive. Whether that be San Diego State, SMU or whomever remains to be seen. For now, it is all about conference survival.
As long as Oregon and Washington want to stay then the Pac-12 will live to fight another day.