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I totally agree. I think that the PAC, Big 12, and ACC have to put aside any pride or homerism so that we can put together a conference that will be viable and competitive for the long term future. I think if we all stick to our own conferences now we are only delaying the inevitable, which will be another big shake up and may result in the conferences joining up anyway, only in a more desperate attempt in 5 or 10 years.

Ohhh man haha. They were SO pissed about that. I heard a bunch of them moaning about that call just last year when you guys played them! I'll bet they did let you have it. They are LITERALLY the sorest losers I've ever been around. I'll say at least one of those calls was pretty bad, but good grief...it happens! I can tell you this, they've been on the opposite side of that sort of thing way more than most. For instance we had them all but beat in the 1983 version of Bedlam. Up 20-18 with two minutes left in the game and the sooners were kicking off to us. After the game Barry Switzer would admit that he decided to not go for the onside kick. However there was miscommunication and the kicker thought he was still kicking the onside kick. So the sooners line up in a normal formation but the kicker mishits the kick which was a line drive knuckle ball that his Oklahoma State player Chris Rockins right in the side of the helmet. The sooners recovered, marched down the field and kicked the game winning field goal. They don't call it Sooner Magic for nothin! All that to say...they can't complain haha. '83 Bedlam

Haha! Well I'll say I was speaking more to the university and program...not to the fans themselves haha. I can say that OU is a good school with a good program...but their fans are in large part GOD AWFUL.

Well, I can't speak for all schools in the Big12 but I can say that most of the Oklahoma State fan base would be excited to be in the same league with Oregon and Washington. Is that our ideal? No, but not because of anything against Oregon or Washington. The ideal was the "old" Big12. Unfortunately the University of Texas wrecked that ship (and then bailed after seeing what they had done). That said, the Ducks and Huskies are incredible programs that have carried themselves with class and are very competitive on the field. There are many PAC schools who are great universities and have a TON of potential to be really attractive (the Arizona schools come to mind) but as of right now have really puny viewership numbers and what seems like pretty poor fan support. Hey you are preaching to the proverbial choir on the shell shocked feeling! Last summer the sky was LITERALLY falling for us. As the days and weeks went by though it became apparent that one way or another Oklahoma State was going to be alright (thank you Boone Pickens and Mike Gundy!) because of the work done the previous 15 years. And that's why I can say with a high level of confidence that one way or another Oregon is going to be okay when all the dust settles. You know I had not thought about USC/UCLA adding the prevention of Oregon coming along as a stipulation to joining the BIG10. That makes some sense in terms of how it would help them in recruiting...and that REALLY sucks. That's a very...Texas Longhorns thing to do. I think those are VERY legit concerns. Here are my two pennies. 1) I have thought many times during all this conference realignment that literally none of these decisions are being made with the student athletes in mind. It's 100% a money grab/arms race...and it's ugly to be honest. In fact I'll say that this ENTIRE CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT can be traced back to the greed and power of one school. But that's a LONG story. I hate the distant travel that many conferences are facing. 2) I think the only team that the Big12 would maybe balk at is Oregon State...only because their numbers are so bad and their stadium is so small. Honestly both their stadium and TV viewership compare more closely with Big West or Sun Belt conference numbers than they do PAC or Big12 numbers. That said I truly applaud a fan base that actually cares about their instate rival (even if not on game day ha) enough to want to stand up for them. Maybe you guys should get on the phone with the Sooners and talk some sense into them! If it were up to me I'd drop two or more of the incoming schools (UCF, BYU, Cincy, Houston) so that we could take Oregon St, WSU, and Cal if that's what it took to get the Ducks and Huskies to come along.

I'm a little surprised at the idea that you guys would rather pick up some big west teams than to be in a league with some of the Big 12 schools that pull equal to or near the TV viewership that the Ducks and Huskies do. How big are the SDSU and SJSU stadiums? Hell, I don't care what we call the conference. It can stay the PAC. I just think the most financial and competitive benefit would come from some sort of PAC/Big 12 (and eventually ACC) conference.

I think if something happens with the ACC this year or next then you are correct and Clemson/FSU/Miami/UNC would immediately go to the powerhouse conferences. I actually think if the ACC rides out it's current GOR and those schools get to see what happens to the Trojans, Sooners, Longhorns, Bruins (or Auburn, Penn St, etc) when they are thrown into the absolute gauntlet that those conferences will be, I really think they will be much more inclined to form a 3rd power conference.

THIS. I feel the same way about Oklahoma State's situation. If a PAC/Big12/ACC combo could happen to form a 3rd mega-conference I really feel that would be the best route. And truthfully, in terms of on the field competition, that conference would be very very good. But if you continue to add all of the top programs to two different conferences that only two teams can come out at the top you're just...limiting yourself in a way. I don't know if the 3rd super conference would pull a TV deal as big as the BIG or SEC's contract but I actually do think it would be fairly close.

The way I've thought about this possibility is it's about survival. Staying, at least, moderately relevant and having access to the playoffs. Even if it's until 2036 when the ACC GOR ends at which point there would be another reshuffle either to the BIG and SEC or the cream of the crop from the PAC/Big12 and ACC forming a 3rd mega conference. Until then this may be the best option.

I agree with the brand value. I feel like you guys were about a decade ahead of us in the "re-birth" of your program (new stadium, biggest Nike uniform deal behind you guys, etc) and that we really did use the Duck model to put a new brand on our program and it has largely worked. Again we're just a decade behind and in fly-over country. Whether it's with the BIG10 or with a re-worked PAC12 you guys will be okay. I do think, one way or another, we will end up with a 3rd megaconference that will include some of the PAC/Big12/ACC schools. Not sure exactly when or how that will look but I think it's inevitable.

I have had so many mixed emotions about that evening haha. I can sum it up by saying, what he did and had to say I 100% back. HOW he went about it.....not so much. I'll say this, that tirade put him on the map ha.

In reference to your comment that Oregon isn't the equivalent of TTech or Oklahoma State...I actually don't disagree with you, I just don't understand why that's the case. The reason it feels confusing is that all I ever hear about in this whole conference realignment circus is that it's driven by football TV money which is all tied in with how many eyeballs do each school draw when they are on TV. IF that's the case from 2015-2019 Oklahoma State ranked 19th in the country in terms of TV ratings with Oregon at 26th and TTech at 38th. And yet, I'm with you in terms of just...sensing that Oregon is more "valuable" than Oak State. I just don't understand why. Is it the perceived ceiling of each school? Is it academics? Oklahoma State is an R1 research university (next step up is AAU), so while it's no Stanford it's considered very solid academically (on paper anyways). What are your thoughts there?

I appreciate the welcome! I too have really enjoyed the Ducks offense over the years. As I recall that offense rolled right over us back in 2008 or 2009 haha. I hate that the desire for money has overcome the love of tradition in college football but that is where we find ourselves. Again I think both our programs will be okay in the end.

Greetings. An Oklahoma State fan here to see what the temperature was out west. We've been living this craziness for the last year. It's not good for the blood pressure, the emotions, or the soul for that matter. Fairly sure I've cycled through the stages of grief 2 or 3 times haha. I don't think schools like UO or UW or Oklahoma St or Baylor really need to worry....in the long run anyways. As I do think eventually the top 64 schools or so will eventually be in a new situation. It's all about eyeballs on TVs and both the Ducks and Cowboys move the needle there. (See link below for some interesting look at the numbers) Average TV Ratings 2015-2019 It's schools like Oregon St and Kansas that need to be concerned. Although KU's bball program will likely save it's backside. Just to lighten the mood. My home message board orangepower.com decided the Big12 and Pac12 should mesh and call it the Biggie Pac with (naturally) the Pac schools being the west schools and the Biggie schools being the eastern most schools. Somebody even made a graphic to go with it. Made me lol. My advice...just take deep breaths! It's likely this rollercoaster isn't finished ha. With pockets like Phil Knight's and the solid TV numbers/performance UO has you guys will absolutely land on your feet. Edit: My biggest hope is that we can somehow take the creme de la creme of the Pac12/Big12/ACC. THAT would actually make for a splash. ACC GOR is the biggest hurdle to that though.