Washington coach Kalen DeBoer comments on USC, UCLA departure to Big Ten

The Pac-12 is due for a major shakeup in the conference realignment when USC and UCLA depart for the Big Ten in 2024. Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer was honest was asked about what that’ll mean moving forward.

“That’s loaded right there (smiling),” DeBoer said. “I think in a time where everything’s just so fluid from you’re talking about teams leaving, coaches coming in, I think we’re just always trying to make our league stronger. It’s two great programs that have a lot of history in the Pac-12. Certainly doesn’t go unnoticed, and it’s something that we’ll have to navigate and work through as a conference.”

In the grand scheme of things, DeBoer was focused on the task at hand: beating Texas in the Alamo Bowl and improving year-to-year. In his first season as head coach, Deboer led the Huskies to a 10-2 record.

“I feel like the strength of who we are, not just a conference, but the University of Washington, we’ll continue to thrive and continue to keep the head in the right direction,” he said.

USC dropped to 11-2 and out of the College Football Playoff race with a second loss to Utah, this time in the Pac-12 Championship. The Trojans are set to take on Tulane in the Cotton Bowl.

UCLA went 9-3 under Chip Kelly, improving upon last year’s successful season. The Bruins have a Sun Bowl matchup with Pittsburgh to conclude the year.

But even with USC and UCLA leaving for the Big Ten, the rest of the conference received a lot of buzz with the arrival of Deion Sanders at Colorado. The former Jackson State head coach might not waste any time rebuilding the Buffaloes.

“Certainly Coach Prime, I guess I haven’t met him in person, but Coach Prime is coming in the league, going to continue to make that program there at Colorado stronger, add value to our league, continue to be a challenge each and every week now,” Deboer said. “Every team, you know you got to bring your best. That will be the case with Colorado.”

Jackson State went 27-5 under Sanders, including two consecutive SWAC Championships and Celebration Bowl appearances. Sanders and Jackson State lost last year’s Celebration Bowl but get another crack at the title Dec. 17 against North Carolina Central.

“We’ve got a few positions already taken care of because I’m bringing my luggage with me. And it’s Louis. I’m coming,” Sanders told his team during his introduction. “Yea, the quarterback is coming. Yea, about 10 more of them are coming. And they dogs. And they gone hunt. And they gone eat.”