Big Ten admits Oregon, Washington amid realignment dominoes

The Big Ten has voted to admit Oregon and Washington to the conference, expanding its membership to 18 universities.

The Big Ten Conference made a significant decision on Friday, voting to admit the University of Oregon and the University of Washington as new members. This move will expand the conference's membership to a total of 18 universities. The official effective date for the addition of these two current Pac-12 programs is set for August 2, 2024, as announced by the Big Ten in a news release.

Illinois chancellor Robert Jones, who serves as the chair of the Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors, expressed his satisfaction with the decision. In a statement, he said, "The Big Ten Presidents and Chancellors are pleased to welcome the University of Oregon and the University of Washington to the Big Ten Conference. When considering the full spectrum of academic, athletic, and research excellence, the alignment with our member institutions is extremely clear. We are excited to welcome them and look forward to collaborating and competing with them in the years ahead."

The addition of Oregon and Washington follows the previous move of UCLA and Southern California from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, also set to take effect in 2024. This expansion demonstrates the Big Ten's commitment to growth and its desire to strengthen its position as a leading conference in collegiate athletics.

New Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti expressed his enthusiasm for the new members, stating, "We look forward to building long-lasting relationships with the universities, administrators and staff, student-athletes, coaches, and fans. Both institutions feature a combination of academic and athletic excellence that will prove a great fit for our future."

This realignment decision comes in the midst of other changes in collegiate conferences. Colorado and Arizona have chosen to leave the Pac-12 to join the Big 12 starting next year. Meanwhile, the Pac-12 is facing challenges in securing a new media rights deal for football and other sports. In addition, reports have surfaced that Arizona State and Utah have applied for membership in the Big 12.

There are also discussions about potential future expansion plans for the Big Ten involving Stanford and Cal, as reported by Yahoo Sports earlier this week. The four remaining Pac-12 teams are Stanford, Cal, Oregon State, and Washington State.

Overall, the Big Ten's decision to admit Oregon and Washington demonstrates its commitment to growth and excellence in both academics and athletics. This move will undoubtedly reshape the landscape of collegiate sports and create new opportunities for collaboration and competition among universities. The future looks promising for the Big Ten Conference as it continues to evolve and solidify its position as a powerhouse in collegiate athletics.