As July begins, college football conference realignment and expansion are officially underway, marking a significant shift for major programs nationwide.
The Pac-12 has been particularly impacted, with other conferences such as the Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC luring away many of its former member schools, leaving the Pac-12 with just two remaining schools: Oregon State and Washington State. The conference’s website was updated accordingly, removing the logos of departed members and highlighting the diminished lineup.
Last offseason marked a low point for the Pac-12, as realignment movements reshaped collegiate athletics across the board. Notably, the Big Ten gained a strong foothold in the Los Angeles media market by adding USC and UCLA, while the Big 12 responded to the departure of Texas and Oklahoma by expanding to include Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and Arizona State.
In an effort to prevent further losses, the ACC also poached Stanford and Cal from the Pac-12. As a result, the remaining Pac-12 schools are left to compete against mostly Mountain West opponents, leading to increased travel and logistical challenges for athletic programs.
The Pac-12 has officially removed all former schools from its website: pic.twitter.com/YcsrKd1v08
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) June 29, 2024
However, these changes are expected to bring substantial financial gains for the conferences involved. This drastic realignment leaves the Pac-12 with just two schools to navigate the future. What are your thoughts on the impact of this recent college football conference realignment on the Pac-12 and the broader landscape of collegiate athletics?
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