Is the Pac-12 ending? Exploring conference realignment scenario for Teresa Gould's former powerhouse in 2024

The Pac-12 has undoubtedly been the most troubled conference in the college athletics landscape over the last two years. The League suffered an unfortunate implosion last summer after most of its members left it due to its inability to secure a suitable media deal. Will this be the end of the Pac-12?

Is the Pac-12 ending?

The Pac-12 was expected to collapse after it became certain that 10 of its 12 teams won't return to the Conference in 2024. However, the two remaining schools in the League, Oregon State and Washington State, will work to ensure its survival.

The League will see USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington move to the Big Ten. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah will transition to the Big 12. Stanford and Cal, the last two teams to confirm their exit, will join the Atlantic Coast Conference.

So, the Pac-12 might have a future in the college athletics landscape. The Beavers and the Cougars are desperate to retain their Power Five status, focusing on rebuilding the League. The two schools are working hand-in-hand to ensure the League's survival.

The NCAA has handed the Conference a two-year grace period to meet membership requirements before taking action regarding the League's eligibility. This gives the League's decision-makers enough time to devise a bold and viable survival plan.

Oregon State and Washington State have made some joint decisions in their bid to save the Conference. One is firing George Kliavkoff, the Conference's commissioner, and hiring Teresa Gould as the new commissioner.

An expansion is on the cards

Without a doubt, the only route to survival for the Pac-12 is to embark on an expansion before the expiration of the grace period given by the NCAA. The League's administration, led by Teresa Gould, seems committed to working on that.

The Conference will look to the Group of Five conferences to add new members before 2026. The Mountain West Conference and the American Athletic Conference are the likely destinations for the League to scout new members to survive.

The Pac-12 can merge with either the MWC or AAC. The ACC is the likely option after it agreed to let Oregon State and Washington State play as pseudo-members of the Conference for the next two seasons.