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Charles Fischer

University Of Oregon To Join Big Ten Conference In 2024 (Press Release)

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EUGENE, Ore. August 4, 2023 – The University of Oregon will join the Big Ten Conference in 2024.

“I’m thrilled that the University of Oregon has the opportunity to join the nation's preeminent academic-athletic conference,” said UO President Karl Scholz. “Our student-athletes will participate at the highest level of collegiate athletic competition, and our alumni, friends, and fans will be able to carry the spirit of Oregon across the country.”

 

The Big Ten Conference voted Friday to accept Oregon effective August 2, 2024. The UO will remain in the Pac-12 Conference for the duration of the Pac-12's existing media rights agreements.

 

The move will benefit UO students and faculty, said Scholz, who, while dean and provost at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, helped shape and observed the benefits of the Big 10 Academic Alliance over the last decade.

“The connections we will make with some of the leading research institutions in the world will provide new opportunities for our students, staff, faculty, and university stakeholders,” said Scholz. “The agreement we’ve reached with the Big 10 Conference will help ensure a bright future for the University of Oregon. We are grateful and look forward to a long, robust partnership."

 

 Recruiting on Fire FP.jpg

Autzen Stadium vs. Michigan State in 2014

 

In coming years, the UO will prioritize the long-held traditions, including competition across all sports with Oregon State University. The alliance puts UO student-athletes on a national stage, said UO Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Rob Mullens.

 

“Accepting membership into the Big 10 Conference is a transformational opportunity for the University of Oregon to change the short and long-term trajectory of our university and athletics department,” said Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens. “The stability and exposure of joining the Big 10 are of great benefit to the University of Oregon, and we are grateful to the Big 10 presidents for inviting us to join the conference. We look forward to the opportunity for our student-athletes to compete in this league, which includes many of the best programs in the nation in every sport.”

 

With less than two months on the job as the UO’s 19th president, Scholz has already demonstrated leadership through the evolving landscape of changing college athletics.


“President Scholz’s calm and insightful style have been invaluable during the conference realignment process and leading to the final deal,” said Steve Holwerda, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “We are fortunate to have him at our helm.”

 

About the University of Oregon

The UO is a Carnegie R1 research university and a member of the Association of American Universities. The UO faculty includes a Nobel Prize winner, a MacArthur fellow, a pair of National Medal of Science winners and a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize. The UO has more than 500 student-athletes who compete in 20 sports. UO teams have taken home 38 national championships.

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Mr. FishDuck

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Both would have had seven in the top 25?  Whew!

 

 

Mr. FishDuck

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This will take some getting used to...

 

 

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Mr. FishDuck

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Granted their will be many varied opinions on this subject, including mine. Many will nit pic the details and the optics, thats okay......

 

Congratulations to the U of O for this excellant move to sit at the big table.

 

No uncertainty of the future for athletics. The future of CF and the CFP runs thru the BIG and SEC. No matter the decisions we are now part of the decision making process.

 

Linear exposure at the highest level will enhance recruiting for our Ducks. So many pro's.....

 

Now we can continue our DOMINANCE of uw, usc and ucla. And take the program to the highest level climbing over tOSU, Michigan and Penn State.

 

The BIG took a giant leap forward with best of the west. And our Ducks did too.

 

Now lets win a Natty for PK and the fans.

 

The icing on the cake is foiling usc's back stabbing plans.......

 

Holy moly, glad this old chapter is ending and the big time is upon us.

 

Now the talking heads at FOX, ABC and others have no reason to talk us down.

 

GO DUCKS.......

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How far Oregon has to travel to play every team in the Big Ten Conference

 

The Oregon Ducks are reportedly heading to the Big Ten Conference, per multiple reports that came out on Friday morning.

 

Whether you love the news or hate the news, it appears that the future has been set, and the Ducks will now be joining up with the USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins, and Washington Huskies once again in a conference with Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State.

 

While the competition on the football field will be excellent to watch, one of the main downsides of this expected partnership is the travel that will coincide with these games, both for teams and for fans.

 

There is still a small contingent of teams on the west coast, but for the most part, Oregon will be asked to travel to the Midwest and the east coast multiple times per year now in order to play in-conference games.

 

So how far will they actually be traveling in order to get to all of their opponents? We looked it up.

 

DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

Gas up the jets, the Oregon Ducks are going to be hitting the road next year.
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This is a bittersweet day for sure.  The death of the Pac-12 brings me no joy, but knowing that Oregon will have a seat at the big table going forward makes me really optimistic about the future.

 

Once the new CFP format is announced I'm guessing 8-9 teams from the B1G/SEC to be in it every year.  Throw in ND whenever they have a 10-win season and that doesn't leave much room for the rest.

 

The Pac-12 and college football as we once knew it is gone.  Adapt or die is the law of the jungle.

 

 

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MTk5ODQ3MTYwNzE4NTY3MDQw.thumb.webp.68450405a479972690823c4c7e300adf.webp

 

 

A new era begins. 

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https://collegefootballnews.com/cfn/oregon-and-washington-to-the-big-ten-will-be-amazing-eventually

 

With ASU, Arizona and Utah all going to the Big 12, I would say this is the swan song for the PAC. Hopefully you guys can keep the Civil War Game alive. Along with Washington and the Apple Cup.  Utah gets their Holy War game back. 

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On 8/4/2023 at 4:31 PM, GatOrlando said:

https://collegefootballnews.com/cfn/oregon-and-washington-to-the-big-ten-will-be-amazing-eventually

 

With ASU, Arizona and Utah all going to the Big 12, I would say this is the swan song for the PAC. Hopefully you guys can keep the Civil War Game alive. Along with Washington and the Apple Cup.  Utah gets their Holy War game back. 

According to the UO president: "In coming years, the UO will prioritize the long-held traditions, including competition across all sports with Oregon State University."

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Oregon QB commit Luke Moga comments on Big Ten move

The latest from the Ducks commit out of the state of Arizona...

Oregon is officially headed to the Big Ten and it could not be a more exciting development for recruits like Luke Moga.

 

The three-star quarterback from Phoenix (Ariz.) Sunnyslope committed to the Ducks in April, choosing Oregon over two dozen other scholarship offers, and was back in Eugene at the end of last month when the quiet period window opened.

 

With realignment setting the college football landscape ablaze and the Ducks making the switch from the Pac-12, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound prospect now readies for his final high school season knowing he’s headed to play in a new conference.

 

247SPORTS.COM

The latest from the Ducks commit out of the state of Arizona...

 

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According to the UO president: "In coming years, the UO will prioritize the long-held traditions, including competition across all sports with Oregon State University."

 

Excuse me, Mr. President, but if you had "prioritized the long-held traditions" you would not be leaving a conference in which your university had participated for over 100 years; you would not be betraying our long-time partners, rivals and fellow Northwesterners; and you would not be sacrificing the interests of your fans and student-athletes to enrich television executives who care nothing for those traditions 

 

I am disgusted. 

 

Is there any chance that a petition can be organized? Mr. Fishduck made the observation a few days ago that very few fans anywhere favor these realignments. Why not speak out? 

 

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I hope so for fans of both teams. I think State rivalries are really fun. When you have two or more big universities playing for bragging rights at the end of the year, it makes a meaningless season finale mean something. It's what makes high school and college football fun. In Florida, I would take great joy in ending an FSU run to the playoffs. Even if we have three losses and are out of the race. Knocking them off gives the season meaning. 

 

Imagine Oregon State playing for a spot in the conference title game, then imagine Oregon beating them for that spot. I imagine that would be sweeter than beating any other team on your schedule. Outside of winning the title yourself, beating your rival so they can't have it is a good secondary achievement.

 

Time will tell if the President sticks to their word.

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 It’s obvious I’ve lived way too long. The schools west of Mississippi have been dealt a death blow. Never to be relevant again in college sports. 
 

 We will live with horrible schedules and most road games will be a disaster. The powers of the league won’t send their flagship programs to get their butt whooped at Autzen or Lake Washington to go home with a loss in the near  future.
 

 Whatever credibility our top 4 schools in the pack ? have learned over several generations now has to be re-earned. That will be a steep hill to climb for all involved down to the mascot.  
 

 Maybe the Nike swoosh can save us because these are dark times my friends.

 

 OH IMHO

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On 8/3/2023 at 2:23 PM, Charles Fischer said:

As I ponder it...I do NOT like what Canzano is doing.  He is beginning a narrative that will be used later blaming, "Oregon was the reason the Pac-12 folded."

 

It will play well with his Oregon State readers.

 

On 8/4/2023 at 8:04 PM, Triphibius said:
According to the UO president: "In coming years, the UO will prioritize the long-held traditions, including competition across all sports with Oregon State University."

Would you rather see the school’s athletic department fall further behind and wind up going into the red? Be a realist, you would leave

 

your current job if you were offered a $50K raise, this is no different 

 

On 8/4/2023 at 8:04 PM, Triphibius said:

Excuse me, Mr. President, but if you had "prioritized the long-held traditions" you would not be leaving a conference in which your university had participated for over 100 years; you would not be betraying our long-time partners, rivals and fellow Northwesterners; and you would not be sacrificing the interests of your fans and student-athletes to enrich television executives who care nothing for those traditions 

 

I am disgusted. 

 

Is there any chance that a petition can be organized? Mr. Fishduck made the observation a few days ago that very few fans anywhere favor these realignments. Why not speak out? 

 

 

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On 8/4/2023 at 3:55 PM, noDucknewby said:

Adapt or die is the law of the jungle.

Except it is not a jungle, but is a human designed system.
 

This system has flaws that allows a media oligopoly (the so-called linear media) have influence into areas (conference design and membership) that arguably they shouldn’t have.

 

This has lead to a diminished experience of sports for many of us, and financial disaster, unearned financial disaster, for the most vulnerable schools.
 

This human designed system is also creating record profits for a relatively narrow group of people who are isolated from the harms of their actions. 

 

 

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What other choice did Oregon have? It sounded as though Oregon preferred to stay in the PAC but the media deal was atrocious ($10M less per year vs. the Big XII with no linear TV coverage). If we stayed, Oregon’s program would have been on a steadily declining path to irrelevance.
 

No, thank you. 

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On 8/4/2023 at 4:31 PM, GatOrlando said:

Hopefully you guys can keep the Civil War Game alive.

From Brandon Marcello on Twitter/X:

 

Does Oregon want to play Oregon State every year in all sports after leaving the Pac12? Oregon AD Rob Mullens: "Absolutely."

 

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Mr. FishDuck

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From James Crepea on X/Twitter:

 

UO president John Karl Scholz: "We anticipate averaging over $50 million" annually in total media rights."

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Mr. FishDuck

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***SIGH***

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On 8/4/2023 at 7:35 PM, Annie said:

According to the UO president: "In coming years, the UO will prioritize the long-held traditions, including competition across all sports with Oregon State University."

Start by buying out the back end of the TX Tech H+H and buying out the Baylor and OK St H+Hs. Replace with Oregon State and do the same for the OOC games scheduled with Michigan State and Ohio State. Also, if need be, in order to get the Beavers on the schedule dump the 2 for 1's with Boise and Utah St. No B1G team should be doing a 2 for 1 with a G5 conference. 

 

Oregon doing all it can to keep OR ST on the schedule would be a nice olive branch for the Beavers and any disturbed state legislators. 

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On 8/4/2023 at 9:06 PM, Charles Fischer said:

From Brandon Marcello on Twitter/X:

 

"Does Oregon want to play Oregon State every year in all sports after leaving the Pac12? Oregon AD Rob Mullens: "Absolutely."

 

 

OK, Rob. starting in 2024 lose the scheduled games with B12 teams and replace them with the Beavers.

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3 former Oregon Ducks discuss program’s move to Big Ten: ‘You either adapt or you die’

 

They made their name as athletes in the Pac-10/Pac-12 as stars for the Oregon Ducks and later played in the NFL.

They carry the pride of having helped the Ducks win conference championships after decades of program mediocrity.

 

To see their conference crumble does not sit well with Joey Harrington, Kenjon Barner and George Wrighster. But they definitely support the Ducks’ move to the to the Big Ten in 2024 given the alternatives.

 

WWW.OREGONLIVE.COM

Joey Harrington, Kenjon Barner and George Wrighster support the Ducks’ move to the to the Big Ten in 2024 given the alternatives.
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Mr. FishDuck

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Besides joining a more stable and lucrative conference I see some additional benefits:
 

With three west coast partners, (USC, UCLA, UW) the travel issues are easier than what the LA schools were initially anticipating.  


No more Thursday or Friday games, unless out of conference.

 

No more “PAC 12 After Dark.”  Instead, early evening starts and day games.  
 

If promises are kept and we continue to play OSU, I’m not sure there is much downside.  
 

 

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Some great love given to Oregon fans...

 

 

BTW...if you have not seen the B1G Network...it is not just better than the Pac-12 Network--it is miles ahead.  Our audience just got a TON bigger.

 

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Mr. FishDuck

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Goodness, glad I have the BIG 10 Network. So much fun to hear positive words about the Ducks and huskies.

 

BIG announcers are excited about adding 2 Top 25 Media markets. And excited about the 4 West Coast teams.

 

GO DUCKS........

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On 8/4/2023 at 5:49 PM, lownslowav8r said:

Except it is not a jungle, but is a human designed system.
 

This system has flaws that allows a media oligopoly (the so-called linear media) have influence into areas (conference design and membership) that arguably they shouldn’t have.

 

This has lead to a diminished experience of sports for many of us, and financial disaster, unearned financial disaster, for the most vulnerable schools.
 

This human designed system is also creating record profits for a relatively narrow group of people who are isolated from the harms of their actions. 

 

 

Metaphor dude.

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On 8/4/2023 at 4:24 PM, GatOrlando said:

MTk5ODQ3MTYwNzE4NTY3MDQw.thumb.webp.68450405a479972690823c4c7e300adf.webp

 

 

A new era begins. 

Great time to start a new 12 year run against the Mutts!

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On 8/4/2023 at 7:25 PM, noDucknewby said:

Metaphor dude.

I know, but a metaphor often used to remove human agency for the cause for a crappy system. 😉

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What remaining, departing Pac-12 schools said as 5 more teams leave conference

 

August 4, 2023 will be marked as a historic day in college sports as the Pac-12 conference, with roots dating back to 1915, lost five schools to the Big Ten and Big 12.

 

Below are the statements from each conference, departing and remaining school’s leadership.

 

WWW.OREGONLIVE.COM

See the statements from each conference, departing and remaining school’s leadership amid a historic day in college sports
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