COLUMBUS – The Big Ten announced Friday that Oregon and Washington would be joining the conference next August.
Meanwhile, the Big 12 completed its raid of the embattled league by adding Arizona, Arizona State and Utah.
With roots that date back a century and more NCAA championships than any other, the Pac 12 is down to four schools and facing extinction because it was unable to land a media rights agreement to match its competitors.
After the Big Ten paved the way Friday morning for the Pacific Northwest rivals to join, the Ducks were first to make it official with a unanimous vote by the school’s 13 trustees.
The Big Ten a short time later said its presidents’ council had voted to accept Oregon along with Washington and become an 18-team coast-to-coast conference, with four West Coast members.
Southern California and UCLA had jumped to the Big Ten previously and officially become members next August.