September 23, 2023; Pullman, Washington, USA; Oregon State Beavers defensive back Jaden Robinson (4) breaks up a pass against Washington State Cougars wide receiver Josh Kelly (3) during the second half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook – USA TODAY Sports (USA TODAY USPW / Portal)
Days after their court victory, Oregon State and Washington State — the two remaining members of the Pac-12 — are moving forward with their future plans.
The schools have re-engaged with Mountain West officials as part of a two-year football planning alliance with the league and reached an agreement that could serve as the first step in a long-term partnership or even merger, sources tell Yahoo Sports.
Mountain West administrators held phone calls Wednesday to further discuss the details. More meetings are scheduled for Thursday, including a meeting of league presidents, presumably to give commissioner Gloria Nevarez permission to proceed with negotiations.
The two sides – Pac-2 and Mountain West – are believed to be close to agreeing terms on terms, but a deal has not yet been finalized and may not be finalized for several days. However, over the past two months, models for a possible planning alliance have been developed and socialized as Nevarez and her staff prepare for this possibility. Yahoo Sports reported on the proposals in a story last month.
Although there are many scheduling models, the most likely is the so-called “7+1” format, in which Mountain West teams play seven conference games – not eight – plus one game against either Washington State or Oregon State. They would alternate playing the game against OSU or WSU home and away over the course of the two-year cycle.
Games against OSU and WSU are not expected to count toward league standings. The two Pac-12 members are not eligible for the MWC Championship and will compete as quasi-independents under the Pac-12 banner.
Those Mountain West schools already scheduled to play non-conference games against one of the two schools will also play against the other in the same season. For example, San Diego State has games scheduled against Washington State, at home in 2024 and away in 2025. In the model, the Aztecs would also likely play Oregon State both years.
Three other schools would play two games against the Pac-12 duo in a single season as they have previously scheduled games, including Boise State (Oregon State, 2024), Fresno State (Oregon State, 2025) and San Jose State (Washington States, 2024).
The agreement, which is expected to include a lucrative financial package for Mountain West members, likely includes a long-term commitment to the conference with the intent of a full merger beyond this two-year cycle. Part of the agreement includes a financial penalty that may be levied against Oregon State and Washington State if the two programs attempt to acquire only a portion of MWC schools in the future.
September 23, 2023; Pullman, Washington, USA; Oregon State Beavers fans hold up a sign about the Pac 2 during a game against the Washington State Cougars in the second half at Gesa Field in Martin Stadium. Washington State won 38-35. Mandatory Credit: James Snook – USA TODAY Sports (USA TODAY USPW / Portal)
In terms of broadcast rights, Mountain West home games against OSU and WSU are regularly televised by MWC-TV partners Fox and CBS Sports Network. The league expects additional media rights revenue from these games to be distributed across the conference.
Oregon State and Washington State will likely negotiate separate broadcast agreements with those networks and possibly others to televise their own home games. The Pac-12’s television contract with ESPN and Fox ends after this academic year.
The planning alliance is currently only intended for football. Oregon State and Washington State are in discussions with other leagues to create affiliate memberships for their other sports.
On Tuesday, the two schools scored a victory when a Washington district court issued their preliminary injunction against the 10 exiting Pac-12 schools. The ruling gives OSU and WSU full governing authority over the league and its assets of more than $400 million this year. The ruling is delayed for now as the outgoing Pac-12 schools appeal.
The decision means the Cougars and Beavers could soon have access to millions of dollars in Pac-12 revenue from television contracts, the Rose Bowl and the NCAA basketball tournament bracket. This revenue is typically distributed to each school beginning with installments in December. Each school is entitled to approximately $35 million to $40 million.
The money could help the two schools pave their futures, including reaching such a deal with the Mountain West. The two entities — Pac-2 and Mountain West — have been involved sporadically in discussions about their shared future. That includes Mountain West schools merging with the two to compete under the Pac-12 brand, a way to preserve the league. Even if it is absurd and unlikely, a relegation model has also been discussed by some administrators.
This embedded content is not available in your region.
To retain the Pac-12’s assets – the league is entitled to more than $100 million in future assets – Washington State and Oregon State are preparing to become a two-school conference at least next year, perhaps even for two years operate. They take advantage of a two-year NCAA grace period. Conferences that have fewer than eight members have two years to reach the minimum eight members before they are no longer recognized as a conference.
In the short term, Oregon State and Washington State need to finalize their football schedules for 2024 and possibly 2025. An agreement with the Mountain West gives them seven opponents each year. The two programs already have three non-conference games scheduled – some against MWC teams – and could add more games, including continuing their in-state rivalry series with Washington and Oregon. However, a continuation of the Oregon-OSU and Washington-WSU games is not guaranteed.
The upheaval in the Pac-12 has led to changes in the sport’s postseason.
At their meeting last Thursday, FBS commissioners recommended a change to the expanded College Football Playoff format, agreeing to a model that would grant automatic qualifiers to the top five ranked conference champions and at-large berths to the next-best seven teams – a step up from a 6+6 model to a 5+7. The change must be approved by unanimous consent of the appropriate Board of Commissioners.
The commissioners also established a policy requiring a conference to have eight members in order for its champion to be automatically eligible for a qualifying spot. This policy does not require presidential approval, multiple CFP officials told Yahoo Sports.
Such a policy change excludes Oregon State and Washington State from automatic participation in the playoffs to win a Pac-2 league. They would only be entitled to a general berth.