Oregon State, Stanford, Cal, and Washington State are the only schools left in the Pac-12. Here are the conferences each team should join.
The Pac-12 has had a rough couple of days. The team had already lost powerhouse programs in the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins to the Big Ten, but that was just the start of the exodus of programs, and the downfall of the Pac-12.
The Colorado Buffaloes left to return to the Big 12 last week. On Friday, Oregon and Washington officially made the move to the Big Ten to join USC and UCLA, while Arizona, Utah, and Arizona State joined Colorado in the Big 12. And just like that, the Pac-12 became the Pac-4. Only the Washington State Cougars, Stanford Cardinal, Cal Golden Bears, and Oregon State Beavers remain in the conference.
It will only be a matter of time before those four schools end up in a new conference. But where will they go?
College football realignment: Which conference should remaining Pac-12 schools join?
Stanford and Cal: Big Ten
Out of the four remaining programs, Stanford and Cal have perhaps the clearest path — the Big Ten.
In recent days, there were reports that the Big Ten were looking to swoop in on some of the Pac-12 teams, as the conference was struggling to land a lucrative media rights deal. It sounded likely that Apple TV would be the frontrunner. With that, reports indicated that the Big Ten was not only looking to add Oregon and Washington but also Stanford and Cal. That would bring the conference to a staggering 20 teams.
Of course, this would all be dependent on whether the Big Ten would consider adding two more schools, or if they are perfectly fine with leaving their expansion to Washington and Oregon.
Oregon State and Washington State: Mountain West
Pour one out for Oregon State and Washington State, as they may very well be on the outside looking in.
While their counterparts were able to find a new home or at least receive interest from the Big Ten and Big 12, that's not the case for these two programs. The Beaver and Cougars may very well find themselves unable to join a Power 5 conference, which does stink for them.
In terms of realistic options, the Mountain West does make the most sense. It is in their geographical area, but it would not be as lucrative of a deal. Going independent could be out of the question.
The options are limited for both Oregon State and Washington State. Hopefully, there is more clarity in the very near future.
