When we went to bed on Thursday night, the Big 12 had approved Arizona as a 14th member, with hopes of adding Arizona State and Utah as members 15 and 16, while Washington's regents were in a late night, executive meeting, clearly discussing the possibility (inevitability?) of joining the Big Ten, along with Oregon. It seemed like college sports' premier West Coast conference could truly be in its final hours as a viable entity.
Furthermore, a Reddit post lamenting the Death of College Football As We Knew It went viral, hours after Washington State head coach Jake Dickert, facing the possiblity of his school falling into the realignment abyss, wondered aloud, "The old question was, how long will it take for TV money to destroy college football? Maybe we're here. Maybe we're here."
And yet the sun rose on the West Coast on Friday morning, and it appears the Pac-12's hopes rose with it.
Yahoo Sports reported Friday morning that momentum out west had swung toward the existing Pac-9 members signing a Grant of Rights to keep the conference together.
Multiples sources tell @DanWetzel and me that the tides are turning: The Pac-12 meeting this morning to sign a Grant of Rights, which @YahooSports reported last night, remains on schedule & expectation is all presidents will show.https://t.co/hW0RYiddZs https://t.co/F1BTl2R6c5
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 4, 2023
At the same time, The Athletic reported that Oregon and Washington were now moving away from joining the Big Ten. The two were reportedly prepared to head there on Thursday night, with payouts that would be roughly half the $70 million per year that the 16 other B1G members will earn.
BREAKING: Oregon and Washington's exit from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten appears to have lost momentum overnight, multiple sources tell @TheAthletic: https://t.co/e2MZM1R2Qa
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) August 4, 2023
Clearly, not all is well out West. The Apple deal, should the conference sign it, would start the Pac-12 in a distant fifth among average Power 5 pay outs, and it remains to be seen how many people would actually watch Pac-12 football.
But not all is lost, either. Pac-12 football is set to be really good this season, and starting in 2024 the new 12-team Playoff should put its champion in the field every year. For Oregon and Washington, for Utah and the Arizona schools, the path to a national championship is cleaner staying put than moving East.
For the health of college football, for the viability of college football in the Western portion of the United States, here's hoping the Pac-12 survives.
In the meantime, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
Update: This continues to be a developing situation.
It’s a roller coaster: Minutes before Pac-12 presidents meeting was scheduled to begin, Oregon officials expressed further concerns about Apple deal, sources tell @YahooSports.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 4, 2023
Pac-12 now not expected to resolve GoR this morning. @ralphDrussoAP reported a Big Ten meeting later.
Pac-12 unable to get Grant of Rights signed this morning & "nothing has changed" as far as Oregon & Washington joining Big Ten, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. Ducks & Huskies still expected to be Big Ten bound when finances are worked out, sources said
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 4, 2023
12:42 p.m. ET update:
Oregon and Washington informed Pac-12 presidents earlier that they plan to accept an invitation from the Big Ten, sources tell me and @DanWetzel. An invitation from the Big Ten is expected soon. https://t.co/KhebqNamPV
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 4, 2023
Sources: Big Ten expected to move ahead with formal offer letters for Oregon and Washington. A Big Ten vote is expected to take place later today to formalize their admission, barring any last-minute snags.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 4, 2023