With conference realignment sending shockwaves, Pac-12 officials reportedly stranded in search of new opportunities 

Conference realignment is one of the many factors that ultimately ended the Pac-12 Conference. Ten of the 12 members from a year ago have now joined new conferences, leaving just the Oregon State Beavers and the Washington State Cougars in the league. However, more people are struggling outside of the schools: including the referees.

One person familiar with realignment is Mike Defee, a former official who is now supervising Conference USA and Mountain USA. He detailed the sentiment that more than just the schools have this sense of feeling due to conference realignment.

"We've been dealing with this every time we have realignment. It creates a ton of anxiety with officials. Guys are looking at, 'Are we going to be stable? Are we going to be around?'"

Even though there are people like Pac-12 field judge Brad Glenn who have been retained by the conference for the upcoming season, the feeling is tough to deal with as the future is a bit uncertain.

"It hurts like hell, I'm not going to pull punches. Even if I was not picked up [by the Pac-12], it would hurt." h/t CBS Sports

This is something that often gets overlooked as there are a lot of officiating crews that have to deal with this fear every time conference realignment happens it is similar to a merger in which conferences already have their staff so there are cuts or unnecessary positions.

What is the next conference realignment to happen similar to the Pac-12?

While it is difficult to predict the future health of conferences, the Atlantic Coast Conference appears to be in the worst shape. The ACC is following a similar path to the Pac-12, facing legal battles from the Florida State Seminoles and the Clemson Tigers.

The conference realignment has been dealing with the changes, but the health of the Atlantic Coast Conference is the most rocky out of the Power Four conferences. It will be interesting to see if the conference can stay put and not follow what happened to the Pac-12.