3 important things to know about Pac-12 bowl games in 2024? A look at conference realignment effects

The Pac-12 is now left with two teams following the departure of 10 teams this offseason. The conference suffered an implosion in the previous offseason after it was unable to secure a lucrative media deal and there’s been a lot of uncertainties concerning the future.

With just Oregon State and Washington State left in the conference ahead of the 2024 season, there’ve been a lot of uncertainties regarding bowl ties-in. However, this was resolved by the conference on Friday. Here’s a look at three things to know about the Pac-12’s bowl games.

3 things to know about the Pac-12 bowl games

#1. The bowl agreement continues

Despite the breakup in the conference, the Pac-12 existing bowl agreement remains valid until the 2025 college football season. The conference announced this on Friday amid uncertainties clouding the issue over the past couple of months.

“We are thrilled to ensure Oregon State and Washington State student-athletes will continue to have opportunities to participate in the same level of premier postseason events as in years past,” said Merton Hanks, Pac-12 executive associate commissioner of football operations (via ESPN).

“From the College Football Playoff to our esteemed bowl partners, we are thankful for the cooperation among multiple parties, including our colleagues across each participating conference, to secure these events.”

The agreement ends at the same time as the two-year grace period handed to the conference by the NCAA elapses. Then, the Pac-12 must meet the membership requirement to remain recognized by the governing body.

#2. The 10 outbound teams remain eligible

Despite exiting the conference for another Power Five conference, the 10 departing Pac-12 teams retain their eligibility in the current bowl agreement as announced by the conference on Friday.

The conference has worked with the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12, where the 10 schools are departing for, to ensure the existing bowl agreement comes into play until 2025 after the teams join their conference. Therefore, the 0.500 win percentage remains sacrosanct for eligibility.

#3. The Pac-12 has six bowl tie-ins

The Pac-12 is currently in agreement with six bowl games for postseason tie-ins. These are the Holiday Bowl, Independence Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl, LA Bowl, Sun Bowl, Alamo Bowl and the ESPN Bowl.

All 12 teams previously signed six-year bowl agreements that run through 2025 and remain eligible for the bowl games. The Rose Bowl is now part of the College Football Playoff and won't be a Pac-12 tie-in bowl game in the next two seasons. The conference agreement with the Rose Bowl has been in existence since 1917.