Mountain West and Pac-12 Schools Fail to Agree on Football Scheduling
The deadline for the Mountain West and Washington State and Oregon State to renew their football scheduling arrangement has passed without an agreement. The conference stated that schedules for next season are now being planned without the Pac-12 schools.
While this announcement does not completely rule out future arrangements, the Mountain West typically releases its conference football schedule in December. For the 2025 season, the Mountain West and its member institutions are moving forward with their schedules.
Oregon State and Washington State are continuing to operate as a two-team league this season and intend to do so in 2025 as well, following the departure of 10 Pac-12 schools to other power conferences this year.
To fill out their football schedules, Washington State and Oregon State agreed to play six games against Mountain West schools that do not count towards conference standings. The deal involved a payment of about $14 million to the Mountain West for this year.
While there was potential to extend the agreement for another year, the sides could not come to terms by the deadline.
Oregon State currently has seven football games booked for next season, including a game against Washington State. Washington State has six games scheduled, including a conference game against the Beavers.
Mountain West schools have the option to arrange games independently with Oregon State and Washington State as well.
In addition to football, Oregon State and Washington State have also formed a scheduling agreement with the West Coast Conference for basketball and other Olympic sports. However, Oregon State’s baseball program is operating independently this year.
Both schools are taking advantage of an NCAA rule allowing them to function as a two-team conference for two years. The funds accumulated through these agreements aim to help rebuild the Pac-12 conference.
Lastly, the agreement with the Mountain West included provisions for additional fees if Oregon State and Washington State attempt to add Mountain West schools to the Pac-12.
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