I've always felt a reverse merger with the MWC, in which OSU and WSU keep all of the Pac-12 revenue (and possibly share some with the merged teams) and the historic, instantly recognizable conference name brand is the best approach.
Regional, competitive competition against schools with similar academic and athletic profiles and reasonabl…
I've always felt a reverse merger with the MWC, in which OSU and WSU keep all of the Pac-12 revenue (and possibly share some with the merged teams) and the historic, instantly recognizable conference name brand is the best approach.
Regional, competitive competition against schools with similar academic and athletic profiles and reasonably similar athletic budgets. No flying all the way across the country for a volleyball or soccer game, or conference track/cross country meet.
A rebuilt 13-team Pac (WSU, OSU, 11 full-time MWC) should be able to get a decent TV contract. Programs in Seattle, Portland, Denver, Bay Area, Fresno, SLC, Albuquerque, Las Vegas and San Diego markets, which are not insignificant.
Chasing after the Ohio States, Alabamas and Georgias of the college football world is folly. Play a 9-game conference schedule, maybe Oregon or another P4 team, a Big Sky opponent and maybe a MAC foe.
Will it be the Pac-12 of old? No. But that ship has sailed. It will be a very solid, competitive, regional league that will generally rank # 5 or #6 and regularly compete for the fifth automatic CFP berth, and get 3-4 teams into the NCAA basketball tournament every year.
I also think after losing millions and millions in the ACC, Cal might be willing to return to West Coast-based competition. I'd take them in a heartbeat. Arrogant Stanford and their snobby academic pinheads can GFT.
If all OSU and WSU can do is "merge" with the Mountain West, it will be the end of athletics as we have known them at both schools. OSU would have to cut 35% or more from its current athletic budget. Programs would be cut, coaches would leave, coaching staffs would shrink, recruiting budgets would drop, etc., etc. I like the idea of a regional conference, but there is no money in it for OSU (or WSU) to join the MWC via a merger or reverse merger. It's already been reported that such a league would only get $7 million to $10 million tops per school for its TV deal. Not good for the future of OSU as an athletic program or as a university.
Once you equate Oregon State University with the same academic profiles as the Mountain West schools, you've lost all credibility. Ditto with the athletic budgets and athletic profiles. How many of the MWC football schools cracked the AP Top 10 recently? OSU did it in November 2023. Nice try, but no.
And OSU dropped from the top 10 like a stone. We were overrated at the time.
Utah State, Colorado State, Wyoming, Nevada and Washington State are all land-grant universities with a similar academic profile to OSU. USAFA is an outstanding engineering school. like OSU.
There won't be a full merger w/MW. There's not enough revenue there across the entire conference base. But good chance you will see SDSU, CSU, then some of UNLV, Boise State, Tulane, UT San Antonio, Memphis
I do think Utah is also in play. I think Stanford ends up in Big 10. Cal won't be in the Big 10
I also see a shot at OSU/WSU in the Big12. Big 12 is going to get killed in tv on the west coast unless there are teams.
I've always felt a reverse merger with the MWC, in which OSU and WSU keep all of the Pac-12 revenue (and possibly share some with the merged teams) and the historic, instantly recognizable conference name brand is the best approach.
Regional, competitive competition against schools with similar academic and athletic profiles and reasonably similar athletic budgets. No flying all the way across the country for a volleyball or soccer game, or conference track/cross country meet.
A rebuilt 13-team Pac (WSU, OSU, 11 full-time MWC) should be able to get a decent TV contract. Programs in Seattle, Portland, Denver, Bay Area, Fresno, SLC, Albuquerque, Las Vegas and San Diego markets, which are not insignificant.
Chasing after the Ohio States, Alabamas and Georgias of the college football world is folly. Play a 9-game conference schedule, maybe Oregon or another P4 team, a Big Sky opponent and maybe a MAC foe.
Will it be the Pac-12 of old? No. But that ship has sailed. It will be a very solid, competitive, regional league that will generally rank # 5 or #6 and regularly compete for the fifth automatic CFP berth, and get 3-4 teams into the NCAA basketball tournament every year.
I also think after losing millions and millions in the ACC, Cal might be willing to return to West Coast-based competition. I'd take them in a heartbeat. Arrogant Stanford and their snobby academic pinheads can GFT.
If all OSU and WSU can do is "merge" with the Mountain West, it will be the end of athletics as we have known them at both schools. OSU would have to cut 35% or more from its current athletic budget. Programs would be cut, coaches would leave, coaching staffs would shrink, recruiting budgets would drop, etc., etc. I like the idea of a regional conference, but there is no money in it for OSU (or WSU) to join the MWC via a merger or reverse merger. It's already been reported that such a league would only get $7 million to $10 million tops per school for its TV deal. Not good for the future of OSU as an athletic program or as a university.
Viable alternative, please. I'm waiting.
Once you equate Oregon State University with the same academic profiles as the Mountain West schools, you've lost all credibility. Ditto with the athletic budgets and athletic profiles. How many of the MWC football schools cracked the AP Top 10 recently? OSU did it in November 2023. Nice try, but no.
Viable alternative, please. I'm waiting.
And OSU dropped from the top 10 like a stone. We were overrated at the time.
Utah State, Colorado State, Wyoming, Nevada and Washington State are all land-grant universities with a similar academic profile to OSU. USAFA is an outstanding engineering school. like OSU.
There won't be a full merger w/MW. There's not enough revenue there across the entire conference base. But good chance you will see SDSU, CSU, then some of UNLV, Boise State, Tulane, UT San Antonio, Memphis
I do think Utah is also in play. I think Stanford ends up in Big 10. Cal won't be in the Big 10
I also see a shot at OSU/WSU in the Big12. Big 12 is going to get killed in tv on the west coast unless there are teams.
There's still dominos to fall
God, no! Just, no!
Viable alternative, please.
There isn't one. Some people don't like that, but their preferred vision is an unrealistic fantasy.