Why Oregon and Washington should stay in Pac-12, wait out Big Ten
There are a lot of moving parts with the Pac-12 at the moment. Colorado has already announced that it is leaving the league, and there is speculation that Arizona could be next. League members are also awaiting the new media rights deal, which is expected to be released any time now.
Meanwhile, two of the top college football programs in the Pac-12 in Oregon and Washington must weigh their options and decide what is the right move for them.
Jesse Simonton and Andy Staples of On3 spoke Monday about the future of the Pac-12 and what’s best for Oregon and Washington. Simonton feels that Oregon and Washington should be patient.
“I still think I’m waiting out the big boys. I’m waiting out a phone call that I think eventually comes from the Big Ten. It’s just not going to come right now,” he said. “Because I think the payout seems to be, knock on wood here, they seem to think that ultimately their media rights payout is going to at least be similar to what the Big 12 has right now.”
If the Pac-12 does get a media rights deal that is similar to the Big 12’s, money wouldn’t be the deciding factor for Oregon or Washington. Instead, Simonton believes that reaching the playoff should be the priority and that the easiest path for those teams to do so is to stay in the Pac-12.
“We’re now going to a 12-team playoff, where you are guaranteed, keyword, guaranteed, an automatic berth if you win your conference,” Simonton said. “Those two teams have an easier path… than probably any other Power 5 school in the country.”
Staples added that Oregon and Washington would like to go to the Big Ten, but he doesn’t believe that the conference is interested in adding those schools right now.
As he pointed out, the Big Ten could have scooped up Oregon and Washington last year when they grabbed USC and UCLA from the Pac-12, if they wanted to.
Staples added that perhaps it makes more sense for Oregon and Washington to join the Big 12.
“The Big Ten has shown not a lot of appetite for adding more. Kevin Warren when he was commissioner wanted to add more, but nobody since then. And he’s gone. He’s with the Bears,” Staples said. “What about this. If you’re the Big 12… Oregon, Washington and Utah, you add them to the Big 12. That is at least a two-bid league every year and probably a three-bid league most years. So is your path to the playoff really that much harder in a league that can get three teams in?”
Staples also pointed out that the ACC could potentially be an option for Oregon and Washington. However, he isn’t sure that logistically it makes since for the West coast schools to join a conference consisting of mostly East coast schools.
Ultimately, Oregon and Washington have a tough decision to make regarding their futures.
“My thing with Oregon and Washington – you pick the flavor you want,” Staples said. “If you want to stay in the Pac-12 and they add some schools, great. If you want to go to the Big 12, whatever. You can get out when the Big 10 does their new TV deal, if they want you.”