University of Oregon Board of Trustees unanomously approves move to Big Ten
The University of Oregon is officially a member of the Big Ten.
On Friday, the University of Oregon Board of Trustees called an emergency meeting and voted unanimously to approve UO becoming a member of the Big Ten Conference. Also on Friday, the Big Ten voted Friday to accept Oregon, effective Aug. 2, 2024.
“I’m thrilled that the University of Oregon has the opportunity to join the nation’s preeminent academic-athletic conference,” UO President Karl Scholz said in a press release. “Our student-athletes will participate at the highest level of collegiate athletic competition, and our alumni, friends and fans will be able to carry the spirit of Oregon across the country.”
In a press release, UO announced that it will “prioritize long-held traditions” — including competitions across all sports with Oregon State University.
At the time of this report, Oregon State has not released an official statement on its long-term future.
“Accepting membership into the Big 10 Conference is a transformational opportunity for the University of Oregon to change the short and long-term trajectory of our university and athletics department,” said Mullens. “The stability and exposure of joining the Big Ten is of great benefit to the University of Oregon, and we are grateful to the Big Ten presidents and chancellors for accepting our application to join the conference. We look forward to the opportunity for our student-athletes to compete in this conference, which includes many of the best programs in the nation in every sport.”
During Friday’s meeting, Sholz said Oregon is being granted partial shares of a full share membership with the Big Ten during the first part of the deal.
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“We think these shares are more generous than what was available to the University of Oregon,” Sholz said.
Reports surfaced early Friday morning that Oregon and Washington both could both potentially be set to stay with the Pac-12 with the conference presidents and chancellors set to meet that morning to discuss a new Grant of Rights deal.
Around 8 a.m., though, Brett McMurphy of Action Network reported that the Pac-12 was unable to get a Grant of Rights deal signed and that UO and UW are ‘expected to be Big Ten bound.’
Friday afternoon, shortly after the UO Board of Trustees meeting adjourned, McMurphy reported that Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah are set to leave the Pac-12 and join the Big-12.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
