We are in unprecedented territory with the upcoming 2024 college football season. The FBS world looks to operate under a “Power Four” plus two teams from the “Pac-2” next season.
Ten of the 12 members of the Pac-12 found new homes with four heading to the Big Ten, four heading to the Big 12, and two more heading to the ACC. That leaves just Oregon State and Washington State to fend for themselves. That is where the Mountain West comes into play according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports.
According to the recent report from Dellenger, the two remaining schools are close to finalizing a deal with the Mountain West in a scheduling alliance for the 2024 season. The report also indicates that it could be extended into 2025.
The alliance is built around what’s termed a “7+1” format where Mountain West teams play seven conference games — not eight — plus one game against either Washington State or Oregon State. There is an option to extend the deal to the 2025 season as well.
The two Pac-12 members will not be eligible for the MWC championship and will compete as quasi-independents under the Pac-12 banner. Those Mountain West schools with previously scheduled non-conference games against one of the two schools will play the other as well during the same season.
There has been speculation about Oregon State and Washington State joining the Mountain West or a reverse merger. In that scenario, the teams in the Mountain West would accept both teams but under the Pac-12 banner. Perhaps that is to keep the Power Five autonomy. The other Power Five conference would need a 60% vote in favor of keeping them as one of the five power conferences.
It remains to be seen if that will indeed be the case, but for now, this gives both the Beavers and Cougars opponents in 2024 outside of their “nonconference” slates that were already agreed upon prior to the mass exodus of teams.
As it sits right now, Oregon State is scheduled to play Idaho State, Boise State, and Purdue. Washington State is currently scheduled to play Portland State, San Diego State, Washington, and San Jose State. The scheduling alliance feels similar to what the ACC did for Notre Dame during the COVID year.