ESPN is reporting that the University of Washington and the University of Oregon are finalizing a deal to join the Big Ten Conference.
Sources say the schools were expected to formally apply for membership today (Fri) and a Big Ten vote is expected to take place tonight.
The move would push the Big Ten to 18 schools starting in 2024.
The departures put Oregon and Washington’s former conference, the century-old Pac-12, in flux. Arizona has reportedly applied to and been admitted to the Big 12, although that deal has yet to be finalized. And conversations between the Big 12 and Utah and Arizona State have reportedly ramped up.
If Utah and Arizona State wind up leaving too, the Pac-12 would be stripped down to four teams – Washington State, Oregon State, California and Stanford.
