After reports circulated on Thursday night that Washington and Oregon were mulling an exit to the Big Ten, and that Arizona was finalizing a deal to head to the Big 12, it appears that the Pac-12 may be aiming to save itself after all.
Oregon and Washington’s exit from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten lost momentum overnight, according to a report from Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic. ESPN’s Pete Thamel added to that report, noting that with a Pac-12 meeting set for 10 a.m. ET, there’s optimism that the league’s new grant of rights could be signed.
Thamel noted that the key linchpin is Oregon, as the Ducks are now expected to remain in the Pac-12 barring an 11th hour change. Thamel says that if Oregon stays, it could hold the league together, as Arizona has not yet finalized its deal with the Big 12 to leave the league.
The wheels of realignment continue to turn at a breakneck pace, but heading into Friday morning, it appears the Pac-12 may be on the verge of saving itself. There’s certainly more to come from this story as it continues to develop.
