Remaining Pac-2 teams have no path to the Big 12: Report

The Pac-2, aka the Pac-12’s remaining two institutions, Wazzu and Oregon State, won’t be folded into the Big 12 under any circumstances despite a recent quickly-killed rumor that they could. College football insider Jim Williams reported as much in the wake of Cal, Stanford, and SMU joining the ACC; adding that he wants to see UConn join the Big 12 sometime down the line.

“I supported UCONN to the Big 12 but then they landed the 4 PAC schools,” Williams posted on X. “I don’t see the B12 expanding – but when they do I hope UCONN makes it.”

Don’t feel too bad for Oregon State and Wazzu, though. The two Pac-2 schools hold a ton of leverage…

Pac-2 schools Wazzu and Oregon State own the Pac-12

Quite literally, as Sports Illustrated’s Mike McDaniel explains, Pac-2 schools Wazzu and Oregon State own the Pac-12’s intellectual property as long as they don’t leave for another conference in the Power Five or Group of Five levels.

“Mountain West inclusion, or independence, could be the best course of action for the last two Pac-12 holdovers, according to Jon Wilner of The Mercury News,” McDaniel prefaced before saying, “There is also the far-fetched suggestion that the two teams could try to rebuild the Pac-12 by raiding rival leagues.

“The latter suggestion, at this point, remains unlikely, but could make the most sense for both Washington State and Oregon State. This is because the Pac-12 bylaws suggest that the Cougars and Beavers would control the conference’s assets if the legal entity were to remain intact. If the two schools depart for another conference, such as the Mountain West, the conference assets would be divided by 12 across all former member institutions.”

Wazzu and Oregon State are set to have highly dramatic seasons that could have major implications for the entire sport in 2023.

The Buffs play the Cougs on November 17 in Pullman and host the Beavers in Boulder on November 4.