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Wazzu and Oregon State have the unfortunate titles of last remaining PAC 12 programs. Ditched by their conference rivals, they’re now left to pick up the pieces in hopes of retaining their Power 5 status.
Making things more difficult, those soon-to-be much richer programs are now kicking the duo while it’s down. Both teams are fending off vultures hoping to lure away top talent.
This past offseason was an absolute whirlwind in college football.
As leagues like the SEC and Big Ten signed massive new media rights deals, the PAC 12 stood pat. That would ultimately be its demise as conference members began to search for greener pastures.
Washington, Oregon, USC, and UCLA will join the B1G next season. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah are headed to the Big XII. Stanford and Cal will play across the country in the ACC.
Now, only Washington State and Oregon State remain.
They’ve announced a plan to schedule with the Mountain West for the ’24 campaign, but a merger has not yet been agreed upon.
Mountain West teams play seven conference games — not eight — plus one game against either Washington State or Oregon State… The two Pac-12 members will not be eligible for the MWC championship and will compete as quasi-independents under the Pac-12 banner.
As the schools attempt to navigate through unsure waters, they’re also looking to hold on to what hasn’t (yet) been taken from them.
Outsiders prey on Wazzu, Oregon State
Man I love college football but watching Oregon State & Washington State get abandoned by the rest of the Pac-12 and now get their carcasses picked over (Cam Ward, Jonathan Smith) by schools with huge conference TV contracts is gross. pic.twitter.com/fFnctqoXQW
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) November 28, 2023
We’ve already seen Oregon State lose its head coach to Michigan State, where he’ll be making $2.5 million more per year. Jonathan Smith led the Beavers to an 18-7 record over the last two seasons after taking over a one-win program in 2018.
Of course, the Spartans’ Big Ten affiliation makes paying that salary a bit easier given that $1 billion media deal the conference just signed.
Washington State isn’t immune to the outside threats, either.
It was widely reported this week that Cougars starting quarterback Cam Ward has landed multiple NIL offers valued at over $1 million. Keep in mind he hasn’t yet entered the transfer portal.
Programs rumored to be going after the signal caller include Auburn and Texas A&M from the SEC, as well as (soon-to-be) former PAC 12 rivals Washington and Oregon.
Should he chase the money, Wazzu could be without a key piece to its roster.
For those counting at home, that’s one team’s most successful coach in a decade, and potentially another team’s most decorated player – and the offseason hasn’t even started!
Can success be sustained in Corvallis and Pullman? Time will tell. It will surely be more difficult to hang onto proven leaders in the new landscape of college sports, not to mention College Football Playoff chances could take a hit with a Mountain West schedule.
Things won’t get better for the schools after being lost in the conference realignment shuffle. Getting left behind in the PAC 12 could ultimately provide years of regression in terms of recruiting and on-field success.