Oregon State and Washington State are deep in talks to finalize a football scheduling agreement for the 2024 season, according to Yahoo Sports. The deal would include significant financial incentives for the 12 Mountain West schools. League presidents met Monday night to discuss the arrangement, sources confirmed to CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd.
The proposed scheduling model would involve a “7+1” format, which would feature Mountain West schools playing seven games against conference opponents and then one against either Oregon State or Washington State. The agreement would generate 12 additional games for the “Pac-2” in exchange for approximately $14 million direct payment to the Mountain West. The scheduling agreement would only be in practice for the 2024 season. One source told Dodd, however, the arrangement being discussed is a “1+1,” meaning both sides would exercise to option to continue the model in 2025. Oregon State and Washington State would then be on the hook for a $28 million total payment to the Mountain West.
OSU and WSU would not be eligible for the Mountain West Championship Game nor an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff, which expands to 12 teams next season. CFP sources confirmed to Dodd they would be eligible for an at-large berth should they finish in or around the top 12.
Oregon State and Washington State are planning to use an NCAA rule that gives them two years to reach the eight-member conference minimum, meaning the pair could go through the 2024 and 2025 seasons as a two-team conference. In practice, the duo will function more as independents. The partnership with the Mountain West allows the schools to fill six much-needed slots on the schedule, along with a scheduled game against each other. Washington State and Washington have also agreed in principle to extend the Apple Cup rivalry through at least 2028 as the Huskies move to the Big Ten in 2024.
After the 2025 season, the “Pac-2” will either need to grow the conference to eight members or disband altogether. There is no concrete plan at this time for the league, but a future merger with the Mountain West remains a possibility.
Mountain West home games would involve its existing television contract with Fox and CBS Sports Network. The “Pac-2” will negotiate their own separate contracts with television providers for home games.
Long-term stability
The “Pac-2” schools have been…
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