NJDuck Moderator No. 1 Share Posted June 11, 2023 Wilner: The Oregon vs. Washington football game is now the Pac-12's highest profile rivalry now that USC and UCLA have bolted to the Big Ten. Before we dive into the timing of the game, let’s take a broader view of that fabulous rivalry. In the post-USC edition of the Pac-12, the Oregon-Washington matchup will be the premier game on the schedule and should be treated that way. Under former commissioner Larry Scott, the conference placed far too much emphasis on treating every school equally. Oregon State and Arizona State, for example, seemed to carry as much weight at the executive level as Washington and USC. It was nonsense. The SEC doesn’t treat South Carolina and Mississippi State the same as Alabama and LSU. The Big Ten doesn’t treat Minnesota and Purdue the same as Ohio State and Michigan. In a prosperous and thriving conference, the big brands lead. They lead in the boardroom and on the field. And it’s the commissioner’s job to manage the stakeholders and ensure harmony even though everyone knows where the clout lies. Moving forward, the Pac-12 should lean into its strengths, and Oregon-Washington is the strength. From that standpoint, the logistics seem clear: Give the teams a bye the week before the game. The extra week would help with injuries — you want the teams at their best — and it would create two weeks of hype. The conference should take every opportunity to promote the coaches and players during the build-up. Schedule the rivalry for the final Saturday of October every year. https://tucson.com/sports/pac-12-hotline/pac-12-mailbag-the-importance-of-the-oregon-washington-game-colorado-smoke-and-more/article_cbe57f02-0758-11ee-9cf4-030499842075.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
