and include ‘mailbag’ in the subject line. Or hit me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline.Are Oregon State and Washington State joined in holy matrimony, ’til death do they part? If so, what is the best possible outcome for the duo? — @tailgatestateDuring a news conference Friday , Murthy was asked about OSU and Washington State acting together following the collapse of the Pac-12.That alignment is both natural and enforced.
The approved format grants automatic bids to the six highest-ranked conference champions, but that could change as a result of the Pac-12’s implosion. We believe their prospects for winning the new conference, and winning it with some regularity, are vastly better than their chances of winning an intact Pac-12 that featured Oregon, Washington and Utah.
But if the Cougars and Beavers rebuilt the Pac-12 with the entirety of the Mountain West membership, those schools could simply vote to dissolve their league and move under the Pac-12 banner. Without a conference, there would be no exit fees. The universities have yet to reach any conclusions as they attempt to determine the size of Pac-12 assets and liabilities. That process is not for the athletic directors and presidents but, rather, the attorneys and financial officers. And it could take several more weeks.
But as mentioned above, the fear of an antitrust lawsuit will force the heavyweights to preserve a playoff path for the Group of Five. Whether the actual figure is $183 million or $207 million or whatever, the Huskies and Ducks will be working at an extreme deficit relative to their competition and must find alternate sources of revenue to provide the needed resources to compete for playoff berths.