Why Oregon, Washington might just hold pat in current round of conference realignment

As the Pac-12 nears closer to a potential broadcast rights agreement, the picture has gotten at least somewhat more clear in the latest round of conference realignment.

But whether the realignment stops here, with Colorado‘s move to the Big 12, or it continues with further Pac-12 schools jumping ship remains to be seen. Oregon and Washington, for one, have long been linked to interest in a move to the Big Ten.

On3’s Andy Staples broke down why Oregon and Washington are standing pat at the moment through conference realignment, rather than being talked about as a potential Big 12 acquisition, like Arizona.

“Here’s why: Because if you think you still have a chance at the Big Ten down the road you’re not going to pay exit fees to the Pac-12 now, go to the Big 12 and then pay exit fees to the Big 12,” Staples said. “Because even if it’s a short-term time in the Big 12 and it’s a short TV contract and you’re just going to be there for one TV contract, you still have to pay exit fees, and they’re expensive.”

Staples’ guest on his show, the Associated Press’ Ralph Russo, also chimed in on the conference realignment topic, one he’s been following and reporting on closely.

One other way that Oregon and Washington could sneak into the Big Ten? If the Pac-12 attrition continues to the point that the league becomes an afterthought as a Power 5 conference.

“There’s also this thought that Oregon, Washington might be able to negotiate their way into the Big Ten,” Russo said. “And if we’re really going to play the game here, let’s play it out. The Big 12 sort of stabs the Pac-12 and the Big Ten can swoop in and say, ‘We didn’t kill them.'”

Why is that last part important in the conference realignment talks?

“They don’t want to be the ones sued by Oregon State and Washington State, who are going to threaten lawsuits because there’s nowhere else to go but the Mountain West at that point,” Staples said.

In other words, the deck chairs on the Titanic could very well end up moving around enough that someone sinks with the ship. Positioning yourself appropriately as the ship teeters is key.

We’ll see if this round of conference realignment ends with Oregon and Washington still in the Pac-12 or if they’ll jump into the fray like Colorado as things continue to unfold.

Until a Pac-12 broadcast deal is fully presented and agreed to just about anything seems on the table.