"I was very sad": Hollywood actor recalls feelings towards Washington's departure from Pac-12

Conference realignment is nothing new for college football, but with the rise of NIL and the transfer portal, conferences are adding new teams with much greater regularity. After 107 seasons in what came to be known as the Pac-12, the Washington Huskies jumped on the bandwagon, joining the Big Ten along with former Pac-12 members in Oregon, USC and UCLA.

On Monday's episode of "The Triple Option" podcast, former Washington player Joel McHale discussed Washington's Pac-12 departure and the fall of the conference.

"I was very sad about (Washington leaving the Pac-12), because it was what the West Coast was," McHale said (Timestamp: 35:43). "That was our league. I understand why everybody did it, because of the consolidation of power to be competitive with the SEC, and I understand why it happened. It was just an ugly moment when it all happened."

McHale also said that he "feels bad" for the remaining Pac-12 schools: Washington State and Oregon State. The Pac-12 has already begun adding new schools to rebuild the conference following the latest conference realignment.

Pac-12 set to welcome four Mountain West Conference programs

The Pac-12 wasted no time getting to work to rebuild the conference after losing 10 schools in realignment, adding four Mountain West Conference programs in September.

On Sept. 12, the Pac-12 shocked the FBS landscape, adding Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State, with the four schools set to join after next season. The conference also added Utah State later on.

The Mountain West wouldn't let go of its programs easily though, as the conference attempted to enforce a $55 million price tag, which prompted a lawsuit from the Pac-12.

The 2025 season will mark the final year of the "Pac-2" as five new teams will join the conference in 2026. The Pac-12 also added Gonzaga in a move for one of college basketball's most storied programs. Washington may be out of the conference, but the Pac-12 is proving resilient despite its losses.