The Big Ten is expected to extend formal invitations to Oregon and Washington to join the league, with the official vote coming as soon as Friday afternoon, according to multiple reports.
The two programs have been the primary focus of any future Big Ten realignment and signals the league’s full-on embrace of a westward expansion.
Bringing aboard the Ducks and Huskies would bring the Big Ten’s membership to 18 teams as soon as the 2024 season. Current Pac-12 members Southern California and UCLA will also join the conference next summer.
This latest round of conference realignment also strongly indicates the eventual demise of the Pac-12, which has already lost Colorado back to the Big 12 and could see its remaining members scramble for a permanent home amid the league’s deeply unsettled future.
With the losses of Colorado, Oregon and Washington, the Pac-12 would enter next year with just seven members: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon State, Stanford, Utah and Washington State.
The remaining members could band together and pursue a media-rights deal with a partner such as Apple, which could offer the Pac-12 a tier-based payment model based on overall subscriptions.
Given that uncertainty, however, current members may likely pursue other opportunities. Some could be future options in the Big Ten, such as Stanford and California. From a geographic and rivalry perspective, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah would be strong fits for the Big 12. Adding this threesome would bring the Big 12 roster to 16 teams.
