Oregon State and Washington State are getting rich from the Pac-12 at the NCAA Tournament. Their soon-to-be former conference foes are making the Beavers and Cougars money with every win.
It is the most perfect outcome!
10 of the 12 schools that currently make up the Pac-12 Conference are set to leave in a matter of weeks. As soon as the spring athletic calendar comes to a close, Arizona, Oregon, USC, Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, UCLA, Stanford, Washington and Utah are gone. Only Oregon State and Washington State will remain.
As a result, those who depart will not get a cut of the future revenue share. Some of that income stems from success in March Madness.
Every team that wins a game in the NCAA Tournament earns money for its conference. That money is pooled together and distributed equally among every school in that conference— even the ones that did not go dancing.
This is where the Pac-12’s collapse is actually a good thing for the two remaining programs.
Four teams received a bid to the NCAA Tournament: Oregon, Washington State, Arizona and Colorado. That alone earned approximately $8 million for the Pac-12. Every win from that point forward collects an additional “unit” for the conference.
All four teams won their First Round games. The Buffaloes also won a First Four game.
As a result, the Pac-12 earned five additional “units.”
Its total tally through the first two days hit $18 million. The Wildcats won its Second Round game on Saturday morning to earn an additional unit. The Ducks, Cougars and Buffaloes can add to that total.
Whatever the final number might be, the money is paid out beginning next year. Only Washington State and Oregon State will still be there. Only they will get the money. All of it!