Amanda Knapp
The Pac-12, a historically successful league with a rich basketball legacy, is facing an uncertain future. The conference is undergoing significant changes, with several member schools departing for other conferences, raising questions about the league's survival. The remaining schools, Oregon State and Washington State, are exploring options to rebuild and preserve the Pac-12's legacy, but the ultimate fate of the conference remains unclear. The dissolution of the Pac-12 will have notable repercussions on college basketball, impacting rivalries, scheduling, and the overall landscape of the sport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current status of PAC-12 | On the verge of extinction |
| Reason for extinction | Conference realignment moves, primarily centered on college football, and the pursuit of increased revenue from football-based TV contracts |
| Changes in the landscape of sports | Increased bids for the Big 12, and the Big Ten and SEC will benefit in the postseason |
| Changes in the PAC-12 | The PAC-12 will resume in 2026-27 with new members, including Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, and Utah State |
| Changes in the number of teams | The Big Ten will have 18 schools, while the Big 12 will have 16 |
| Changes in the conference names | UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington moved to the Big Ten Conference; Colorado returned to the Big 12 Conference, with Utah, Arizona, and Arizona State following suit; California and Stanford moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Changes in the number of remaining members | Oregon State and Washington State are the only two remaining members of the PAC-12 |
| Future of the remaining members | Oregon State and Washington State are in litigation to determine control of the conference's assets and whether they can rebuild the PAC-12 or join the Mountain West Conference |
| Impact on college basketball | Major changes, including changing rivalries and increased physical and mental strain for athletes with travel |
| Impact on PAC-12 basketball legacy | The end of a historically successful league and traditional rivalries |
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What You'll Learn
The Pac-12's value in college basketball has declined
The decline of the Pac-12 can be attributed to several factors. One of the main reasons is the realignment of conferences, which has led to a shift in the landscape of college basketball. Schools such as Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah have left the Pac-12 for the Big 12, while Oregon and Washington have joined the Big Ten. This has resulted in a loss of talent and prestige for the Pac-12. Additionally, the departure of schools such as UCLA and USC from the Pac-12 has had significant ramifications, as they took with them the Los Angeles television market, complicating the conference's media rights negotiations.
The impact of the Pac-12's decline extends beyond the basketball court. The conference has a rich history that dates back over 100 years, and its member schools have achieved considerable success in various sports. The Pac-12 and its predecessor, the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), have produced numerous Olympic athletes and have been leaders in participating in various sporting events. The conference has also fostered intense rivalries, such as the Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State, and the Civil War between Oregon and Oregon State, which may now be less frequent or discontinued due to the realignment.
The dissolution of the Pac-12 will have ripple effects on college basketball and the athletes themselves. The National Association of Basketball Coaches is working to give coaches more say in the future of the sport, and administrators are proposing "creative" scheduling models to reduce travel time. However, the fears of coaches and athletes about the increased physical and mental strain of daunting schedules have not been fully addressed. While new rivalries will emerge, maintaining traditional rivalries between schools in different conferences will be challenging.
Despite the decline of the Pac-12, men's college basketball is expected to continue growing and thriving. The Big 12, in particular, has been the undisputed leader in men's college basketball in recent years, consistently ranking highly in conference ratings and capturing national championships. The realignment of conferences is driven by the goal of maximizing revenue, and the sport will likely adapt to the changing landscape. However, questions remain about the fate of Power 5 leagues, the incentive to include mid-major schools in non-conference schedules, and the future of intraconference matchups.
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Teams are leaving for the Big 10 and Big 12
The Pac-12 Conference is facing an uncertain future after losing several member schools to rival conferences, with many teams leaving for the Big 10 and Big 12.
In August 2023, the University of Oregon and the University of Washington announced they would be leaving the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten Conference starting in 2024. This decision was influenced by the end of the Pac-12's media rights deal with ESPN and FOX, as well as encouragement from former Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren. Oregon and Washington's departure followed the earlier announcement by UCLA and USC that they would be joining the Big Ten for the 2024-25 season, marking the beginning of the Pac-12's descent.
Additionally, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah have also announced their departure from the Pac-12 to join the Big 12 Conference. This move was influenced by the Big 12's early extension of its media rights deals with ESPN and Fox, which left the Pac-12 with a less lucrative deal. Colorado also left the Pac-12 for the Big 12, returning to its previous conference affiliation.
The loss of these member schools has left the Pac-12 with only two remaining members, Washington State and Oregon State, who are currently embroiled in litigation to determine whether they can take control of the conference's assets and rebuild. While the Pac-12's future is uncertain, there are possibilities for realignment and new invitations, with the Mountain West Conference potentially inviting the two remaining schools and taking over the Pac-12's name.
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The future of the remaining teams is uncertain
The future of the remaining teams, Oregon State and Washington State, is uncertain. The two schools are embroiled in litigation to determine whether they can take control of the conference's assets to try to rebuild it. It is unclear if they will be able to rebuild the Pac-12, as they will need to find new members to meet the NCAA's requirement of eight teams. In the short term, they could look to the Mountain West Conference for scheduling support.
Oregon State and Washington State could also try to keep some of their traditional rivalries going, even if it is not in the same conference. For example, they could agree to contracts to play each other during the non-conference portion of their season. However, it will be more difficult to keep these rivalries going, and some, like the Oregon-Oregon State rivalry, are being ripped apart.
The remaining teams will also face scheduling challenges, especially with West Coast teams joining predominantly East Coast leagues in the Big Ten and ACC. This will likely lead to increased travel time and physical and mental strain for athletes. Administrators have promised "creative" scheduling models to decrease travel time, and some schools have promised additional travel spending and mental health resources for athletes. However, the fears of coaches and athletes have not been assuaged.
The ultimate fate of the Pac-12 is unclear, and it remains to be seen whether Oregon State and Washington State will be able to successfully rebuild the conference or find a new path forward.
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The Pac-12's demise will have a ripple effect on college basketball
The Pac-12 is essentially finished as a power conference and perhaps as a conference altogether. The Pac-12's dissolution, caused by conference realignment, has raised concerns over travel logistics and a changed rivalry landscape. The conference realignment moves were made to increase revenue from football-based TV contracts. The demise of the Pac-12 will have a ripple effect on college basketball, with the sport's landscape set to change.
The Pac-12's value in college basketball has declined in recent years, but the Big 12's additions will lead to more bids on Selection Sunday. The Big Ten and SEC will benefit in the postseason too. The demise of the Pac-12 will lead to a changed rivalry landscape, with some traditional rivalries being ripped apart. For example, the Oregon-Oregon State rivalry, once known as the Civil War, will no longer exist in its current form.
The ultimate fate of the Pac-12 is unclear, with the two remaining members, Washington State and Oregon State, embroiled in litigation to determine whether they can take control of the conference's assets and rebuild it. It is possible that the Mountain West could invite these two schools and take over the Pac-12's name. The demise of the Pac-12 will also lead to increased physical and mental strain for athletes, with more travel required. The National Association of Basketball Coaches is working to get coaches more say in the future of the sport, with travel being a major concern.
While the men's and women's Division I NCAA tournaments will likely remain unchanged, the ranking system will continue as is, and the number of teams making the tournaments should be unaffected. The demise of the Pac-12 will have a significant impact on college basketball, with the sport's landscape changing and new rivalries emerging.
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The Pac-12's legacy and impact on the sport
The Pac-12 Conference, which includes the history of the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) that existed from 1915 to 1959, has had a rich history in basketball. The 2023-24 season was the 109th season of Pac-12 men's basketball and the twelfth under the Pac-12 Conference name.
The Pac-12 has been a prominent fixture in college basketball, with a long history of success across various sports, including basketball. The "Conference of Champions" has claimed 553 national championships from its member institutions, with a significant impact on college athletics. The Pac-12 has produced several notable athletes and coaches over the years, including Stanford women's coach Tara VanDerveer, a Hall of Fame head coach who has inspired players and coaches alike during her nearly four decades on the West Coast. VanDerveer has won three of the five national championships claimed by Pac-12 schools since the NCAA began its women's tournament in 1982.
The Pac-12 has also been known for its intense rivalries, such as the Apple Cup rivalry games between Washington and Washington State, and the Civil War rivalry between Oregon and Oregon State. These traditions have been a significant part of the Pac-12's legacy and have contributed to the rich history of college basketball.
However, in recent years, the Pac-12's value in college basketball has declined, and the conference has undergone significant changes. Several teams have announced their departure from the Pac-12, including UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington, who have moved to the Big Ten Conference. This has led to a reshaping of the conference landscape, with new rivalries emerging and traditional ones being disrupted.
The impact of the Pac-12's changes extends beyond basketball. The conference realignment moves were driven by the pursuit of increased revenue from football-based TV contracts. As a result, athletes across all sports will face increased physical and mental strain due to more demanding travel schedules.
Despite the impending changes, the Pac-12's legacy in basketball will endure. The conference has left an indelible mark on the sport, and its impact will continue to be felt even as the landscape of college basketball evolves.
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Frequently asked questions
The Pac-12 is changing due to conference realignment, which is being done to increase revenue from football-based TV contracts.
Oregon State and Washington State are the two remaining Pac-12 teams and are currently embroiled in litigation to determine whether they can take control of the conference's assets and rebuild it. It is possible that they will join the Mountain West Conference.
The Pac-12's basketball legacy will live on, but the landscape of the sport will change. While new rivalries will emerge, traditional rivalries will be harder to maintain.
There will be scheduling challenges, particularly with West Coast teams joining predominantly East Coast leagues, which will increase travel time and costs, as well as physical and mental strain for athletes.
