EUGENE, Ore. -- There could be more shake-ups on the way to the PAC-12 conference after USC and UCLA announced they were heading to the Big Ten.
USC and UCLA’s decision to jump the PAC-12 ship and sail east to the Big Ten caught many by surprise, including Oregon State University alumnus Brandon Lucas.
“I was actually hoping that it wasn't true just because I love the conference so much, and when you have two of your most prestigious schools in USC and UCLA wanting to leave the conference, it's shocking,” Lucas said.
2022 University of Oregon graduate Joe Byone said he was surprised by the move given the distance the two teams will now have to travel for away games.
“I am not a fan because the Pacific Athletic Conference, right, these two teams in Southern California -- going to go play Rutgers? That's not going to make a whole lot of sense to me,” Byone said
USC and UCLA will not start play in the Big Ten until 2024. The Bruins are scheduled to visit Autzen Stadium to play the Ducks in October. UO said they do not have a comment at this time. OSU sent out a statement yesterday.
Just this morning the PAC-12 board of directors met and said they gave the conference the green light to explore all expansion options.
“They are probably going to look at teams like a Fresno State or Boise State, Byone said.
Both Byone and Lucas told KEZI they hope Oregon and Oregon State stay put to preserve the rivalry, but would understand if one or both of them wanted to explore other options
“As a Beaver fan, or really as any remaining fans of the concerned, you don’t want to see the PAC-12 or PAC-8 -- or whatever you want to call it right now -- you don't really want to see those teams leave and the conference really be eliminated,” Lucas said.
Whatever happens next, both Ducks and Beavers fans agree we are in uncharted territory, and that this may only be the beginning.
