The four remaining Pac-12 schools are still surveying their options following a turbulent summer that saw six conference members announce their intent to leave the league following the 2023-24 academic year.
While Stanford and Cal are being linked to the ACC, that leaves Oregon State and Washington State scrambling for a conference home, but they are receiving interest from two league in the Group of 5.
Mountain West leaders already have met with Washington State and are expected to speak with Oregon State soon as well, according to The Athletic’s Chris Vannini. The Cougars released a statement confirming their meeting with the MWC.
Additionally, according to the report, American Athletic Conference leaders have expressed interest in both schools and will be included in virtual presentation meetings next week. Although Mountain West offers both schools the chance to remain in a conference on the West Coast, the AAC has a more lucrative TV deal with ESPN than the Mountain West has with Fox and CBS.
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While those two teams try to determine their future, their intrastate rivals already have left the Pac-12. Oregon and Washington decided to join the Big Ten earlier this month, effective next season.
