College football realignment: Paul Finebaum on Big Ten interest in Oregon, Washington

Oregon and Washington have been floated as potential additions for the Big Ten down the road
College football realignment: Paul Finebaum on Big Ten interest in Oregon, Washington
College football realignment: Paul Finebaum on Big Ten interest in Oregon, Washington /

As the college football conference expansion and realignment process rolls along, much of the attention seems to be centered around what will happen in the Pac-12, which is still scouting a new media deal, but where some schools do appear to be looking for a way out should the numbers not be right.

Two names that stuck out right away in that conversation were Oregon and Washington, arguably the last major brands remaining in the Pac-12, and which were rumored to have already spoken informally with representatives from the Big Ten. Nothing official ever came of those talks, but long-time college football analyst Paul Finebaum wonders if a merger might become a real possibility in the future.

"They really don't need them," Finebaum said, via The Marchand and Ourand Podcast. "And knowing the intricacies of conference realignment, it takes a long time to bring a school in. I've watched this in the SEC a couple of times."

That long time it takes to bring on new schools may have led the Big Ten to have those informal talks with both schools as soon as possible, meetings that insiders reported were happening as early as last year, around the time the league announced its intention to add USC and UCLA.

Logistics seem to be the big thing in the way of the Big Ten going west, especially given the long trips schools will have to take to play road games, but given that the conference is adding two schools in Los Angeles starting next summer, it's clear that where you are on the map is irrelevant to decision makers as long as the move pays.

"It's a nightmare from a scheduling standpoint, but I think it's a grab, right now, and they're attractive," Finebaum said. "Why do you want them? Because people are interested in watching Oregon and Washington. They're very big names and very big brands. And forget geography. We've exhausted that conversation."

College football expansion rumor mill up to now


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Every move that happened on July 1

Update on Notre Dame's future realignment plans

Big 12 rules out 1 team for realignment

SEC would consider 2 ACC schools

Big Ten scouts up 10 teams for expansion

Big 12 teases new expansion plans

Momentum on Colorado, Big 12 reunion

Seven ACC teams looking into options

ACC responds with bold plan amid expansion rumors

Finebaum predicts major conference could collapse

(PF)


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James Parks
JAMES PARKS

James Parks is the founder and publisher of College Football HQ. He previously covered football for 247Sports and CBS Interactive. College Football HQ joined the Sports Illustrated Fannation Network in 2022.