UPDATE: Oregon and Washington will join the Big Ten starting in the 2024-25 academic year.
College conference realignment has seemingly struck again as the Big Ten continues to lean heavily into the big part of its name by reportedly looking to add Washington and Oregon.
This would bring four West Coast teams to the Midwest-based conference, bumping it up to 18 teams. It also would leave the once-proud Pac-12 with just a handful of schools left after Colorado and Arizona depart for the Big 12.
Rumors are still swirling that Arizona State and Utah could also make moves in the near future.
Here’s the thing: This stinks. For years, conferences have told fans that student-athletes trying to form unions or get paid will be what crushes college athletics. Instead, it’s conferences trying to secure the biggest bag for TV contracts and media rights.
I’m not naive. I understand money talks and football is king. But these moves aren’t beneficial to student athletes or fans. Here are my biggest complaints when it comes to conference realignment.