Oklahoma OL Feels 'Terrible' for Pac-12 Teams Left Behind by Conference Realignment

NORMAN — Conference ties are shifting all across the country, quickly changing the landscape of college football.

Oklahoma was one of the first programs to headline the recent shakeup when the Sooners joined Texas in announcing a transition from the Big 12 to the SEC. Since then, plenty of teams have decided to switch allegiances, leaving some conferences in a better position, and some decimated.

The Pac-12 took by far the hardest hit of the bunch, losing eight members to the Big 12 and the Big Ten. Last summer, USC and UCLA got a jumpstart on the transition as the first two teams from the West Coast to move conferences.

Since then; Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, Washington, Oregon and Colorado have all announced that they too will be leaving the Pac-12 after the upcoming season. This has left Oregon State, Washington State, California and Stanford's athletic conference ties in jeopardy.

With only four schools and zero premier programs in football or basketball remaining in the Pac-12, the conference seems to be heading towards a dissolution. This means that the Beavers, Cougars, Golden Bears and Cardinal would all have to find another athletic conference to join if the Pac-12 is unable to find a way to replenish its field.

So far, it doesn't appear that the ACC, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 are interested in adding any of the aforementioned schools into their conference.

The Sooners have multiple players on their roster who transferred from one of these four programs, most notably left tackle Walter Rouse and right guard McKade Mettauer.

Mettauer, who transferred to Oklahoma from California following the 2021 season, said after practice on Monday that he is hoping his former school is able to find its footing in an unstable college football landscape.

"I feel terrible about it," he said. "I know a lot of guys that I roomed with are young, and they're going to be there for awhile. I really hope they do find a conference, or some guys to play. ... I want them to be able to get in a good conference because I'm going to be a Cal fan forever."

Mettauer continued on to reiterate that while he does wish his former school the best, the OU interior lineman is focused on fall camp in Norman.

"Obviously, Sooner number one, but I'm still going to cheer for the boys on the West Coast a little bit," Mettauer said. "I do feel bad for them and I hope that they do find a spot to play football. At the same time, I'm worried about us, I'm happy that we're moving to the SEC and I can cheer on the SEC whenever I'm gone."

Earlier in the summer, AllSooners asked Rouse, who transferred from Stanford to Oklahoma over the offseason, what he thought about conference realignment.

“I think it’s unfortunate, what’s going on,” Rouse said. "Despite (the fact) I left the Pac-12, I think it’s a great conference. I think it’s just sad that such rivalries — it’s not gonna be the same. Pac-12 After Dark — that’s a real thing. I used to watch that growing up, and then I was a part of it. I won some games in Pac-12 After Dark. Some of those traditions and what not, it’s just not gonna be the same. And I really hope that they can figure stuff out.”

The Pac-12 reportedly had a fallout due to its inability to secure a solid TV deal. With the conference's future in limbo, Oregon State, Washington State, California and Stanford will have to hope that the conference is somehow able to survive losing eight of its top programs.

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