Getty Image / Ali Gradischer
Oregon State and Washington State fans have had a bad day, to say the least. Their status as a member of a power conference in NCAA Division I Athletics is likely coming to an end.|
The two have been members of what is now the PAC 12 for over 100 years each. They’ve developed both in-state rivalries and regional rivalries.
Yeah, about that. The PAC 12, in any recognizable form, is no more. Following the announced departure of USC and UCLA last year and Colorado last week, Friday was Armageddon. Oregon and Washington are headed to the Big Ten, while Arizona, Utah, and Arizona State are headed to the Big 12. That leaves Cal, Stanford, Oregon State, and Washington State in the PAC 12, with no media deal hopes.
Cal and Stanford are in a different boat due to their academic prestige. But, Oregon State and Washington State look destined for second-class-citizenship in the hierarchy of college football. Their conference media payout could drop from around $30 million to as low as $5 million. Their rivalries with their in-state rivals could be gone. And, they will be even more irrelevant than they are currently in the college football world.
And, understandably, Oregon State fans and Washington State fans are down bad.
Tough morning for #OregonState fans. pic.twitter.com/Ia2TX65ZBh
— Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses) August 4, 2023
all of this is going to hurt pullman and the local businesses and economy too. it’s all just really sad. it’s easy to talk about in hypotheticals and on spreadsheets but the real world impacts are just going to suck
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) August 5, 2023
We got so screwed
— Barstool Wazzu (@BarstoolWazzu) August 4, 2023
Oregon State has been grinding for 25 years to overcome the mistakes of the 70s. Developing talent. Homegrown leaders. Doing more with less. Overcoming setbacks.
Oregon has a rich daddy.
And that’s America. #GoBeavs
— Andrew 🦫 (@SunButchers) August 5, 2023
I’m proud to be an Oregon State Beaver no matter where we end up. It’s a shame that greed is screwing up college football traditions. No Civil War. No Apple Cup. Someone should be punched in the face, I just can’t figure out who…
— Coach Greule (@Grool9) August 4, 2023
Definitely wouldn’t want to be a graduate of those two schools right now.