Pac-12 unable to reach Grant of Rights deal, Oregon and Washington expected to join Big Ten

The Pac-12 was unable to sign a Grant of Rights on Friday morning, according to a report by Brett McMurphy.

McMurphy is also reporting that nothing has changed as far as Oregon and Washington joining the Big Ten are concerned. They are still expected to be heading to the Big Ten once finances are decided.

A Grant of Rights would have legally bound the remaining Pac-12 schools together and made it difficult to leave the conference. That’s because, even if the schools left, their media rights would still be tied to the Pac-12, similar to the ACC’s media deal that schools like Florida State want to find a way to break.

This comes after news from earlier Friday morning that, in large part due to the meeting, the momentum for Oregon and Washington to leave was slowing down.

After the announced departure of USC and UCLA, the Pac-12 destabilized and sought out a new media deal. It took an extended period of time, during which Colorado agreed to leave for the Big 12. That further destabilized the conference. Now, rumors are swirling about Oregon, Washington, and Arizona all leaving the conference.

Unique to Arizona is its tie to Arizona State, which is seemingly less eager to jump ship. The two schools share a Board of Regents, likely meaning that the Wildcats won’t go unless the Sun Devils do too.

The media deal eventually brought to the table by Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff was centered around streaming through Apple. That deal, which would fluctuate financially based on streamers, would start at around $20 million annually per school. The Big Ten, reportedly, offered Oregon and Washington $35-40 million annually, per school.

Recently, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti was given authorization to research Oregon and Washington. Shortly after that, McMurphy reported that the Big Ten had everything it needed on the two programs.

Big Ten presidents are reportedly now meeting to discuss Oregon and Washington.

Jake Dickert says the Pac-12 still has a strong brand

Washington State head coach Jake Dickert is concerned about conference realignment, but feels that Pac-12 still has a chance to have a strong brand in the sport.

“I mean, not a single player has asked me one time about it. We gotta control what we can control. It’s amazing to me…the old question — how long would it take TV money to destroy college football? Maybe we’re here. Maybe we’re here. To think even remotely, five years ago, the Pac-12 would be in this position, it’s unthinkable to think that we’re here today. And to think that local rivalries are at risk and fans driving four hours to watch their team play in a road game, and rivalries (are) at risk, to me is unbelievable,” Dickert said.

“And I know our place at the table. At the end of the day, Pac-12 football, Pac-12 brand, if we stay together, is really strong, and we’ll have a strong future. I firmly believe in that. So, it’s important that we stay focused here in the now in maximizing what we can. But, at the end of the day, we’ll look back at college football in 20 years and be like, ‘What are we doing? What are we doing?’”