Report: Oregon, Washington Join Group of Schools Looking at Big 12 Move

The Pac-12 could lose over half of its members in less than a month's time.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Jul 5, 2022 3:13 PM EDT

CINCINNATI — College football's realignment wheels are churning, and the Big 12 isn't watching it from the sidelines. According to CBS Sports's Dennis Dodd, the Big 12 is in "deep discussions" to add not only Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, and Colorado—but also two football powers in Washington and Oregon.

The move would create an 18-team conference, the largest in the FBS.

"At least four teams are being considered with the potential for the Big 12 to add more as realignment continues to shake out," Dodd wrote. "Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah were mentioned specifically as the teams being targeted by the Big 12, sources tell CBS Sports. There is also consideration of adding Oregon and Washington."

Dodd even mentioned one source telling him that the two leagues (Pac-12/Big 12) could merge. This is all happening amidst an announcement from the Pac-12 that it is moving ahead of schedule on its next TV rights deal. The current contract with ESPN and FOX ends in 2024, while the Big 12's is up in 2025.

Dodd mentioned a source saying the Big 12 was looking at adding the new western teams quickly and then jumping ahead of the Pac-12 in rights negotiations. "All those things have been talked about," the source said.

College athletics is the wild west right now, literally, but UC's new league isn't resting on its hands in the face of a rapidly changing landscape.

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