Big Ten to offer Washington, Oregon $35-40 million annually per team

Washington and Oregon could be headed to the Big Ten, but it’s at a discount according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger.

After Arizona’s application to the Big 12 was approved, the next dominoes could fall very soon. Arizona State and Utah are up in the air, but Big Ten targets Oregon and Washington could be jumping ship.

Maybe, reports Dellenger.

“Big Ten’s offer to Washington & Oregon is expected to be $35-40 million annually per team – a figure that, with the additional cross-country travel, could create some hesitancy, sources tell Yahoo Sports,” Dellenger wrote on Twitter. “However, exits from the Four Corner schools could sway UW and UO to leave.”

The figures are lower than the schools would like, according to the report. But based on the Four Corner schools leaving and potentially leaving, the Big Ten could add two more west coast universities.

USC and UCLA will join the Big Ten next season in what was the initial realignment domino affecting the Pac-12.

Amid swirling rumors, ESPN’s Pete Thamel explained why Oregon and Washington would make sense for the Big Ten.

“In talking to sources this afternoon, those logical expansion options would be Oregon and Washington,” Thamel said Thursday. “The Big Ten had been engaged with Oregon and Washington after its expansion of USC and UCLA. That didn’t work out. This time around, however, the Ducks and the Huskies are in a vulnerable position and they could likely come for a discount.

“I was told today that Oregon and Washington would ultimately represent about 13 football games that would get spread over the league’s current four partners. So it’s not like a whole new network would have to come in. Somebody would have to step up within the partners.”

The Big Ten, as Dellenger reported Thursday night, is offering Washington and Oregon at a discount, at least for now.

Thamel said it’s a logical move. And at this point, the two schools might believe the Big Ten has greener pastures than the Pac-12.

“But there’s a logical landing spot, and it’s a matter of what price Oregon and Washington would come in for,” Thamel said. “I think it’s a lot more attractive to the Big Ten now to get them at a discount.”