We now have some clarity on CASH for COUGS and Beavs....

[M-I-Coug]

Tallying cash available to Washington State, Oregon State for rebuilding Pac-12​

Jon WilnerMarch 30, 2024 at 2:40 pm
The process required eight months, a lawsuit, a negotiated settlement, clarity from the College Football Playoff, readings and re-readings of the Rose Bowl contract, an entire basketball season and multiple rounds of the NCAA Tournament. But finally, we have clarity on the cash.

It’s time to calculate the pot ‘o gold waiting for Washington State and Oregon State.

Once the other 10 schools depart the Pac-12 this summer, the Cougars and Beavers will have sole access to the conference’s assets and revenue.

They have time to plot a course of action, but not an unlimited amount.

the latest from jon wilner​

NCAA rules provide a two-year grace period for conferences gutted by realignment. Once the summer of 2026 arrives, the Pac-12 must have at least eight schools. Otherwise, WSU and OSU must join another conference.

Based on four key revenue streams, the Cougars and Beavers seemingly have enough cash to create strategic flexibility, maintain athletic operations at a reasonable level and attempt to lure other schools into a rebuilt conference.

How much cash?

With the Pac-12 eliminated from the men’s NCAA tournament, we can tally the revenue and assets available during the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years — the crucial 24-month period in which WSU and OSU will be alone in open water.

The revenue due to the conference prior to that period (i.e., this spring) must be shared with the outbound schools, which officially depart at the close of business on Aug. 1, according to the negotiated settlement.

The four primary revenue buckets for the Cougars and Beavers are:

— Conference distributions withheld from the outgoing schools

— College Football Playoff payments

— The Rose Bowl contract

— NCAA Tournament unit distributions

Let’s take them one at a time.

Conference distributions withheld​

Earlier this week, WSU and OSU finalized the negotiated settlement with the 10 outbound universities. Section 2 addresses conference revenue generated in the 2023-24 competition year.

Each of the departing schools will have $5 million withheld in the following timetable:

“The $5,000,000 per Departing Member amount will be withheld on the following schedule: one million dollars ($1,000,000) from each Departing Member’s first Fiscal Year 2024 Distribution; two million dollars ($2,000,000) from each Departing Member’s April Fiscal Year 2024 Distribution; and two million dollars ($2,000,000) from each Departing Member’s June Fiscal Year 2024 Distribution.”

Additionally, each outbound school is responsible for a $1.5 million “supplement contribution” to the conference.

The amount can be withheld from the 2024 distributions this spring or repaid to the conference by Dec. 31. If that deadline isn’t met, then (per the settlement): “The Conference shall be entitled to a binding and enforceable order from the Special Master.”

The math: $6.5 million withheld from 10 schools is $65 million for WSU and OSU.

College Football Playoff payments​

Because of the NCAA’s grace period, the Cougars and Beavers are eligible for their full share of the CFP revenue per the terms of the contract signed a decade ago, when the four-team event was created.

That 12-year contract runs through the 2024 and 2025 seasons. While WSU and OSU will be treated as at-large teams with regard to their access to the playoff, they remain full-share Power Five members — just like the 10 outbound schools.

A full share is roughly $6 million per year.

The math: $6 million for each school for two years is $24 million.

Rose Bowl revenue​

In addition to the CFP payments, the Cougars and Beavers have sole access to the terms of the Rose Bowl’s agreement with the Pac-12, its longtime partner. That deal remains in place for the next two seasons, to coincide with the CFP’s contract cycle.

And it’s a whopper: The Pac-12 receives approximately $50 million annually as part of the agreement with the Granddaddy.

The math: $50 million for two years is $100 million.

NCAA Tournament revenue​

This is the most complicated piece of the cash calculation, with the amount of revenue based on tournament success over a rolling timeframe.

In simplest terms, the process works as follows:

Each game played is worth one unit. Each unit carries a six-figure dollar value paid to the team’s conference over six years, beginning the following spring.

So the money due to the Pac-12 this spring from the NCAA Tournament is based on the units accumulated by all the member schools from 2018-23. And it will be shared by all the schools, since the payment period falls within the 2024 fiscal year.

Sponsored​

But the cash headed to the Pac-12 in the spring of 2025, based on units accumulated in the 2019-24 tournaments, is available only to WSU and OSU. The outbound members won’t take their units with them to their new leagues.

How much? The Pac-12 accumulated the following units:

2019: 7
2020: 0 (no tournament played/no units allocated)
2021: 19
2022: 7
2023: 7
2024: 10

That’s 50 units to be paid next spring, when each unit will carry a value of $350,000 (approximately).

In the spring of 2026, the Pac-12 will be paid for 43 units at $360,000 per unit (approximately).

(WSU and OSU will compete as affiliate members of the West Coast Conference for the next two seasons. The revenue from any NCAA units earned would go solely to the permanent WCC schools, according to the contract.)

The math: 50 units at $350,000 each in the spring of 2025 is $17.5 million, and 43 units at $360,000 each in the spring of 2026 is $15.5 million — for a two-year total of $33 million.

If the Pac-12 exists beyond the summer of 2026, the conference would continue to collect the NCAA units earned to this point through the end of the six-year payout cycle.

But that amount — approximately $30 million — would be distributed from the spring of 2027 through the spring of 2030.

In other words, it would not be available to WSU and OSU during the two-year NCAA grace period, as they stay afloat and work to rebuild the conference.

That said, the ‘Pac-2’ schools have a substantial amount of cash available from their four primary revenue streams.

Conference withholdings: $65 million
CFP payouts: $24 million (approx.)
Rose Bowl: $100 million (approx.)
NCAA units: $33 million

The grand total during the critical 24-month window: roughly $222 million.

It guarantees them nothing, except a fighting chance.

Jon Wilner: jwilner@bayareanewsgroup.com

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Tallying cash available to Washington State, Oregon State for rebuilding Pac-12​

Jon WilnerMarch 30, 2024 at 2:40 pm
The process required eight months, a lawsuit, a negotiated settlement, clarity from the College Football Playoff, readings and re-readings of the Rose Bowl contract, an entire basketball season and multiple rounds of the NCAA Tournament. But finally, we have clarity on the cash.

It’s time to calculate the pot ‘o gold waiting for Washington State and Oregon State.

Once the other 10 schools depart the Pac-12 this summer, the Cougars and Beavers will have sole access to the conference’s assets and revenue.

They have time to plot a course of action, but not an unlimited amount.

the latest from jon wilner​

NCAA rules provide a two-year grace period for conferences gutted by realignment. Once the summer of 2026 arrives, the Pac-12 must have at least eight schools. Otherwise, WSU and OSU must join another conference.

Based on four key revenue streams, the Cougars and Beavers seemingly have enough cash to create strategic flexibility, maintain athletic operations at a reasonable level and attempt to lure other schools into a rebuilt conference.

How much cash?

With the Pac-12 eliminated from the men’s NCAA tournament, we can tally the revenue and assets available during the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years — the crucial 24-month period in which WSU and OSU will be alone in open water.

The revenue due to the conference prior to that period (i.e., this spring) must be shared with the outbound schools, which officially depart at the close of business on Aug. 1, according to the negotiated settlement.

The four primary revenue buckets for the Cougars and Beavers are:

— Conference distributions withheld from the outgoing schools

— College Football Playoff payments

— The Rose Bowl contract

— NCAA Tournament unit distributions

Let’s take them one at a time.

Conference distributions withheld​

Earlier this week, WSU and OSU finalized the negotiated settlement with the 10 outbound universities. Section 2 addresses conference revenue generated in the 2023-24 competition year.

Each of the departing schools will have $5 million withheld in the following timetable:

“The $5,000,000 per Departing Member amount will be withheld on the following schedule: one million dollars ($1,000,000) from each Departing Member’s first Fiscal Year 2024 Distribution; two million dollars ($2,000,000) from each Departing Member’s April Fiscal Year 2024 Distribution; and two million dollars ($2,000,000) from each Departing Member’s June Fiscal Year 2024 Distribution.”

Additionally, each outbound school is responsible for a $1.5 million “supplement contribution” to the conference.

The amount can be withheld from the 2024 distributions this spring or repaid to the conference by Dec. 31. If that deadline isn’t met, then (per the settlement): “The Conference shall be entitled to a binding and enforceable order from the Special Master.”

The math: $6.5 million withheld from 10 schools is $65 million for WSU and OSU.

College Football Playoff payments​

Because of the NCAA’s grace period, the Cougars and Beavers are eligible for their full share of the CFP revenue per the terms of the contract signed a decade ago, when the four-team event was created.

That 12-year contract runs through the 2024 and 2025 seasons. While WSU and OSU will be treated as at-large teams with regard to their access to the playoff, they remain full-share Power Five members — just like the 10 outbound schools.

A full share is roughly $6 million per year.

The math: $6 million for each school for two years is $24 million.

Rose Bowl revenue​

In addition to the CFP payments, the Cougars and Beavers have sole access to the terms of the Rose Bowl’s agreement with the Pac-12, its longtime partner. That deal remains in place for the next two seasons, to coincide with the CFP’s contract cycle.

And it’s a whopper: The Pac-12 receives approximately $50 million annually as part of the agreement with the Granddaddy.

The math: $50 million for two years is $100 million.

NCAA Tournament revenue​

This is the most complicated piece of the cash calculation, with the amount of revenue based on tournament success over a rolling timeframe.

In simplest terms, the process works as follows:

Each game played is worth one unit. Each unit carries a six-figure dollar value paid to the team’s conference over six years, beginning the following spring.

So the money due to the Pac-12 this spring from the NCAA Tournament is based on the units accumulated by all the member schools from 2018-23. And it will be shared by all the schools, since the payment period falls within the 2024 fiscal year.

Sponsored​

But the cash headed to the Pac-12 in the spring of 2025, based on units accumulated in the 2019-24 tournaments, is available only to WSU and OSU. The outbound members won’t take their units with them to their new leagues.

How much? The Pac-12 accumulated the following units:

2019: 7
2020: 0 (no tournament played/no units allocated)
2021: 19
2022: 7
2023: 7
2024: 10

That’s 50 units to be paid next spring, when each unit will carry a value of $350,000 (approximately).

In the spring of 2026, the Pac-12 will be paid for 43 units at $360,000 per unit (approximately).

(WSU and OSU will compete as affiliate members of the West Coast Conference for the next two seasons. The revenue from any NCAA units earned would go solely to the permanent WCC schools, according to the contract.)

The math: 50 units at $350,000 each in the spring of 2025 is $17.5 million, and 43 units at $360,000 each in the spring of 2026 is $15.5 million — for a two-year total of $33 million.

If the Pac-12 exists beyond the summer of 2026, the conference would continue to collect the NCAA units earned to this point through the end of the six-year payout cycle.

But that amount — approximately $30 million — would be distributed from the spring of 2027 through the spring of 2030.

In other words, it would not be available to WSU and OSU during the two-year NCAA grace period, as they stay afloat and work to rebuild the conference.

That said, the ‘Pac-2’ schools have a substantial amount of cash available from their four primary revenue streams.

Conference withholdings: $65 million
CFP payouts: $24 million (approx.)
Rose Bowl: $100 million (approx.)
NCAA units: $33 million

The grand total during the critical 24-month window: roughly $222 million.

It guarantees them nothing, except a fighting chance.

Jon Wilner: jwilner@bayareanewsgroup.com

Nice find M-I! Good f-ing job.

So the only missing thing I see is the Pac-2's normal share of the Pac-12's distribution for FY 2024. Sumbitch though. That is some money. DON'T F-IT AWAY SCHULZ YOU DUMB BASTARD!

Of course our media rights will be shit next year and beyond. If we win the WCC in BB and make the tournament we apparently get nothing out of it. Nice negotiating whoever the F cut that deal. Quackkoff? Teresa? Schulz? Chun?

So the penalty for joining some far-flung ACC-based league is at least $30M (BB revenues for the 4 remaining years). That is not chicken feed.

We need some seriously smart and savvy people in charge of things, starting right F-ing now. It ain't Teresa Gould, Anne McCoy and certainly not Tri-Cities Schulz. Sign up John Johnson or JD Wicker. Sign your price, guys.

And NO f-ing giving this money away! We already got F-ed on the MW and WCC deals. DO THE REVERSE MERGER WITH THE MW! For FY 26 if possible. FY 25 is set.

 

[Meister_Rebel]

Nice find M-I! Good f-ing job.

So the only missing thing I see is the Pac-2's normal share of the Pac-12's distribution for FY 2024. Sumbitch though. That is some money. DON'T F-IT AWAY SCHULZ YOU DUMB BASTARD!

Of course our media rights will be shit next year and beyond. If we win the WCC in BB and make the tournament we apparently get nothing out of it. Nice negotiating whoever the F cut that deal. Quackkoff? Teresa? Schulz? Chun?

So the penalty for joining some far-flung ACC-based league is at least $30M (BB revenues for the 4 remaining years). That is not chicken feed.

We need some seriously smart and savvy people in charge of things, starting right F-ing now. It ain't Teresa Gould, Anne McCoy and certainly not Tri-Cities Schulz. Sign up John Johnson or JD Wicker. Sign your price, guys.

And NO f-ing giving this money away! We already got F-ed on the MW and WCC deals. DO THE REVERSE MERGER WITH THE MW! For FY 26 if possible. FY 25 is set.

Doing the reverse merger and the Pac-2 keeping all that cash for yourselves might be a hell of deal. That money could go a long way if they don't blow it. I'm looking forward to see what the Pac-2 do going forward. Will they use all that money to rebuild or keep it for themselves?

 

[mikalalas]

Doing the reverse merger and the Pac-2 keeping all that cash for yourselves might be a hell of deal. That money could go a long way if they don't blow it. I'm looking forward to see what the Pac-2 do going forward. Will they use all that money to rebuild or keep it for themselves?

The money either does not help, or help as much, IF WSU, OSU, PAC 2 reverse merges WHOLE ENTIRE MWC into PAC, relegating the PAC to MAC, C-USA, AAC, MWC, status.

The better, best way forward, is to EITHER:

1. Only Cherry pick BSU, Fresno St, SDSU, UNLV leave rest behind, because if no SETTLEMENT between PAC, MWC, then that's all that can afford. Then add Memphis, Tulane, or Pray that ACC falls apart to be able to add ACC leftovers, or adding ACC leftovers in addition to Memphis Tulane.

That option cost about $200 million(IF add Memphis, Tulane), $105 million if only take BSU, Fresno St, SDSU, then add ACC left overs. $140 million if add BSU, Fresno, SDSU, UNLV+ ACC leftovers.


2. Add Top 6,7 MWC teams(BSU, Fresno, SDSU, UNLV, Airforce, Utah St, CSU)

A.only those MWC, would cost about 200 mil.

B. Adding Memphis, Tulane in addition to MWC, would cost a total of 270 mil.

C. Adding ACC leftovers in addition to MWC, the total would be about 200 mil

3. Teresa Gould, Schultz, Gloria, MWC presidents, etc, workout about a 135 million settlement to let the PAC take the top 6,7 MWC.

A. Adding Memphis, Tulane in addition to MWC, total would be about 200 mil.

B. Adding ACC leftovers in addition to MWC, and the total would be about 135 million

4. The top 9 MWC teams vote to dissolve MWC, and join PAC, leaving 3 behind. Total cost. ZERO.

A.Adding Memphis, Tulane, USF, in addition to MWC, total cost would be about 40 to 67 to 93 million

B. Adding ACC left overs in addition to MWC, total cost would be ZERO. In addition to MWC and Memphis, Tulane, USF, and the total cost would be about 40 to 67 to 93 million.


5. Reverse Merging Whole entire MWC into PAC. Cost: Zero, Relegating PAC to MAC, C-USA status


The best out of those choices ate:

1. Take only BSU, Fresno St, SDSU + ACC leftovers for $105 mil. Leaves, saves 117 mil to pocket for running the PAC conference.


2. The working out a settlement with MWC, for top 6,7 MWC + ACC leftovers for about 135 million. That leaves about 87 million to run PAC conference


3. Take the top 9 MWC, add Memphis, Tulane, add ACC leftovers, total cost: about 40 to 60 mil, that leaves about 160 mil to run the PAC


Adding the top 6,7 MWC, without a settlement is too expensive at about 270 million, so is not a viable option.


Reverse Merging whole entire MWC into PAC is not a viable option as it relegates PAC to MAC, C-USA status

 

[Meister_Rebel]

Reverse Merging whole entire MWC into PAC is not a viable option as it relegates PAC to MAC, C-USA status

Nonsense. The MWC is one of the better G5 conferences. Best basketball and probably the best football. WSU & OSU will secure all of us as the top G5.

 

[Dave_86]

Nonsense. The MWC is one of the better G5 conferences. Best basketball and probably the best football. WSU & OSU will secure all of us as the top G5.

Oh! Oregon State joining the entire MWC makes the MWC better? Now how does this make Oregon State better???

It doesn't.

Oregon State is a legit Power 4 school:
* Football finished the 2023 season ranked #20 in the nation
* Right now women's basketball is in the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament
* Baseball is currently ranked #6 in the nation (RPI rating)

Beaver baseball has won 3 national championships in the last 20 years. No other school in the nation has won as many in that time.

Why should Oregon State be some kind of charity organization and join the entire MWC? To benefit Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Utah State??? You're kidding, right?

Schools like Boise State and San Diego St. want out of the MWC. Then why should we join?

P.S. We do not think we're any better than WSU. Not for a moment. Besides, we still haven't gotten over all those beatings Mike Price gave us in football.

 

[M-I-Coug]

Nonsense. The MWC is one of the better G5 conferences. Best basketball and probably the best football. WSU & OSU will secure all of us as the top G5.

Yeah, and the Mountain West Conference CHAMPION, (the BEST of the MOUNTAIN WEST) gets to play a 7-5, or 6-6 Power-5 school in the prestigious (everyone gets a trophy and a Dairy Queen) bottom feeder Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk!

 

[Meister_Rebel]

Oh! Oregon State joining the entire MWC makes the MWC better? Now how does this make Oregon State better???

It doesn't.

Oregon State is a legit Power 4 school:
* Football finished the 2023 season ranked #20 in the nation
* Right now women's basketball is in the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament
* Baseball is currently ranked #6 in the nation (RPI rating)

Beaver baseball has won 3 national championships in the last 20 years. No other school in the nation has won as many in that time.

Why should Oregon State be some kind of charity organization and join the entire MWC? To benefit Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Utah State??? You're kidding, right?

Schools like Boise State and San Diego St. want out of the MWC. Then why should we join?

P.S. We do not think we're any better than WSU. Not for a moment. Besides, we still haven't gotten over all those beatings Mike Price gave us in football.

Read what I said again in context to my reply to a post.

 

[CougPatrol]

Right now, I think all of the discussions should be tabled for another year until we have clarity on the ACC fallout. I'm not in love with a MWC reverse merger as it stands today....BUT....if some type of East/West conference alliance materializes where our reverse merged MWC partners up with a dozen decent programs from the ACC & AAC to form a 24-team conference, that might work. Even at the G5 classification, the conference champion would get an NCAA bid. That right there means that there would be fan excitement all season if the MWC champ plays off with the East pod champ with an NCAA bid on the line. The 24-team field would also be an extremely strong basketball and Olympic sports conference.

The worst thing we can do right now is let panic force our hand. This is only the beginning of realignment musical chairs. The SEC & B!G will cherry pick their favorite schools, but there will still be a lot of solid programs ranked 48-100 looking homes. I will continue to maintain that WSU (and Oregon State) should focus on maintaining a Western regional presence. A West/East pod of 24 schools, in my mind, is the way to go.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Yeah, and the Mountain West Conference CHAMPION, (the BEST of the MOUNTAIN WEST) gets to play a 7-5, or 6-6 Power-5 school in the prestigious (everyone gets a trophy and a Dairy Queen) bottom feeder Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk!

Which 7-5 UCLA played in in 2023. The MW bowl schedule is not great but could be improved as the new Pac-11-12-13.

Mountain West Sends Seven Teams to Bowl Games

themw.com

 

[95coug]

Tallying cash available to Washington State, Oregon State for rebuilding Pac-12​

Jon WilnerMarch 30, 2024 at 2:40 pm
The process required eight months, a lawsuit, a negotiated settlement, clarity from the College Football Playoff, readings and re-readings of the Rose Bowl contract, an entire basketball season and multiple rounds of the NCAA Tournament. But finally, we have clarity on the cash.

It’s time to calculate the pot ‘o gold waiting for Washington State and Oregon State.

Once the other 10 schools depart the Pac-12 this summer, the Cougars and Beavers will have sole access to the conference’s assets and revenue.

They have time to plot a course of action, but not an unlimited amount.

the latest from jon wilner​

NCAA rules provide a two-year grace period for conferences gutted by realignment. Once the summer of 2026 arrives, the Pac-12 must have at least eight schools. Otherwise, WSU and OSU must join another conference.

Based on four key revenue streams, the Cougars and Beavers seemingly have enough cash to create strategic flexibility, maintain athletic operations at a reasonable level and attempt to lure other schools into a rebuilt conference.

How much cash?

With the Pac-12 eliminated from the men’s NCAA tournament, we can tally the revenue and assets available during the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years — the crucial 24-month period in which WSU and OSU will be alone in open water.

The revenue due to the conference prior to that period (i.e., this spring) must be shared with the outbound schools, which officially depart at the close of business on Aug. 1, according to the negotiated settlement.

The four primary revenue buckets for the Cougars and Beavers are:

— Conference distributions withheld from the outgoing schools

— College Football Playoff payments

— The Rose Bowl contract

— NCAA Tournament unit distributions

Let’s take them one at a time.

Conference distributions withheld​

Earlier this week, WSU and OSU finalized the negotiated settlement with the 10 outbound universities. Section 2 addresses conference revenue generated in the 2023-24 competition year.

Each of the departing schools will have $5 million withheld in the following timetable:

“The $5,000,000 per Departing Member amount will be withheld on the following schedule: one million dollars ($1,000,000) from each Departing Member’s first Fiscal Year 2024 Distribution; two million dollars ($2,000,000) from each Departing Member’s April Fiscal Year 2024 Distribution; and two million dollars ($2,000,000) from each Departing Member’s June Fiscal Year 2024 Distribution.”

Additionally, each outbound school is responsible for a $1.5 million “supplement contribution” to the conference.

The amount can be withheld from the 2024 distributions this spring or repaid to the conference by Dec. 31. If that deadline isn’t met, then (per the settlement): “The Conference shall be entitled to a binding and enforceable order from the Special Master.”

The math: $6.5 million withheld from 10 schools is $65 million for WSU and OSU.

College Football Playoff payments​

Because of the NCAA’s grace period, the Cougars and Beavers are eligible for their full share of the CFP revenue per the terms of the contract signed a decade ago, when the four-team event was created.

That 12-year contract runs through the 2024 and 2025 seasons. While WSU and OSU will be treated as at-large teams with regard to their access to the playoff, they remain full-share Power Five members — just like the 10 outbound schools.

A full share is roughly $6 million per year.

The math: $6 million for each school for two years is $24 million.

Rose Bowl revenue​

In addition to the CFP payments, the Cougars and Beavers have sole access to the terms of the Rose Bowl’s agreement with the Pac-12, its longtime partner. That deal remains in place for the next two seasons, to coincide with the CFP’s contract cycle.

And it’s a whopper: The Pac-12 receives approximately $50 million annually as part of the agreement with the Granddaddy.

The math: $50 million for two years is $100 million.

NCAA Tournament revenue​

This is the most complicated piece of the cash calculation, with the amount of revenue based on tournament success over a rolling timeframe.

In simplest terms, the process works as follows:

Each game played is worth one unit. Each unit carries a six-figure dollar value paid to the team’s conference over six years, beginning the following spring.

So the money due to the Pac-12 this spring from the NCAA Tournament is based on the units accumulated by all the member schools from 2018-23. And it will be shared by all the schools, since the payment period falls within the 2024 fiscal year.

Sponsored​

But the cash headed to the Pac-12 in the spring of 2025, based on units accumulated in the 2019-24 tournaments, is available only to WSU and OSU. The outbound members won’t take their units with them to their new leagues.

How much? The Pac-12 accumulated the following units:

2019: 7
2020: 0 (no tournament played/no units allocated)
2021: 19
2022: 7
2023: 7
2024: 10

That’s 50 units to be paid next spring, when each unit will carry a value of $350,000 (approximately).

In the spring of 2026, the Pac-12 will be paid for 43 units at $360,000 per unit (approximately).

(WSU and OSU will compete as affiliate members of the West Coast Conference for the next two seasons. The revenue from any NCAA units earned would go solely to the permanent WCC schools, according to the contract.)

The math: 50 units at $350,000 each in the spring of 2025 is $17.5 million, and 43 units at $360,000 each in the spring of 2026 is $15.5 million — for a two-year total of $33 million.

If the Pac-12 exists beyond the summer of 2026, the conference would continue to collect the NCAA units earned to this point through the end of the six-year payout cycle.

But that amount — approximately $30 million — would be distributed from the spring of 2027 through the spring of 2030.

In other words, it would not be available to WSU and OSU during the two-year NCAA grace period, as they stay afloat and work to rebuild the conference.

That said, the ‘Pac-2’ schools have a substantial amount of cash available from their four primary revenue streams.

Conference withholdings: $65 million
CFP payouts: $24 million (approx.)
Rose Bowl: $100 million (approx.)
NCAA units: $33 million

The grand total during the critical 24-month window: roughly $222 million.

It guarantees them nothing, except a fighting chance.

Jon Wilner: jwilner@bayareanewsgroup.com

It’s not generational wealth, but it’s enough to get WSU out of the red and back to a clean slate with a small nest egg.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Oh! Oregon State joining the entire MWC makes the MWC better? Now how does this make Oregon State better???

It doesn't.

Oregon State is a legit Power 4 school:
* Football finished the 2023 season ranked #20 in the nation
* Right now women's basketball is in the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament
* Baseball is currently ranked #6 in the nation (RPI rating)

Beaver baseball has won 3 national championships in the last 20 years. No other school in the nation has won as many in that time.

Why should Oregon State be some kind of charity organization and join the entire MWC? To benefit Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Utah State??? You're kidding, right?

Schools like Boise State and San Diego St. want out of the MWC. Then why should we join?

P.S. We do not think we're any better than WSU. Not for a moment. Besides, we still haven't gotten over all those beatings Mike Price gave us in football.

Dave - I had not realized that you were a Beaver.

So meister is a friendly UNLV guy. Don't come on our board and toss shit at him.

OSU is a legit P4 school, as is WSU. But we got screwed and left behind. Being on your high horse is going to get you exactly zero. "We" are talking reverse merger, to preserve whatever cache the Pac has left. And yes it will elevate the MW teams. And it is better than the 2 year deal we cut, paying A LOT to be the red-headed MW stepchild and play in the WCC's high school gyms and get no share of any NCAA money.

Thinking the preferred solution is to spend all our money luring East Coast schools out here, and/or joining some patched-up conference and losing our BB allocations, is stupid.

 

[Coug90]

The ACC is on the verge of implosion. There are about to be a bunch of other current P5 teams without a home. The Big12 can’t compete without Texas and Oklahoma and will need west coast slots and viewers. Nobody knows what the landscape will look like in 2 years, other than there will continue to be a lot of movement. We have the good fortune of time and money from the p12. Let’s see what happens, WSU is a solid brand in the college sports land-cape.

I still think it’s far more likely we end up in a conference with ACC castoffs and B12 teams than anything being discussed here. All of this reverse merger talk is premature, let’s see how everything out east plays out.

I also think it’s more likely Cal, Furd, Udump and Whoregon come crawling back than WSU ending up in a G5. Those schools all made horrible decisions and signed up for college athletics hell with their moves. By signing into conferences at a massive resource and geographic disadvantage, they will get slaughtered by their conference colleagues in all sports and will have to spend 3X the amount of money doing it.

 

[CougPatrol]

I also think it’s more likely Cal, Furd, Udump and Whoregon come crawling back than WSU ending up in a G5. Those schools all made horrible decisions and signed up for college athletics hell with their moves. By signing into conferences at a massive resource and geographic disadvantage, they will get slaughtered by their conference colleagues in all sports and will have to spend 3X the amount of money doing it.

I don't see Cal, Furd, UW, and Oregon crawling back. What I see happening is a reconstituted West coast division of a super conference. I think the B!G will eventually add Stanford and Cal to give them the strongest 6 programs on the West coast. That's OK, because there will still be a lot of strong West coast programs for WSU and OSU to build around.

There's a lot of unnecessary panic within our fanbase right now. The NW is a steadily growing region, and WSU is one of the top-4 public schools in the region. That's not going to change. We need to use this time to self examine and improve the areas that can be improved on. Academics, faculty satisfaction, student experience, etc. We've been a top research University for decades, yet we rank dismally low in the admittedly lame US News & World Report Top-Universities rankings. Despite their subjective nature, it's a data point that prospective students and parents use when searching for schools, and we need to make strides there.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

The ACC is on the verge of implosion. There are about to be a bunch of other current P5 teams without a home. The Big12 can’t compete without Texas and Oklahoma and will need west coast slots and viewers. Nobody knows what the landscape will look like in 2 years, other than there will continue to be a lot of movement. We have the good fortune of time and money from the p12. Let’s see what happens, WSU is a solid brand in the college sports land-cape.

I still think it’s far more likely we end up in a conference with ACC castoffs and B12 teams than anything being discussed here. All of this reverse merger talk is premature, let’s see how everything out east plays out.

I also think it’s more likely Cal, Furd, Udump and Whoregon come crawling back than WSU ending up in a G5. Those schools all made horrible decisions and signed up for college athletics hell with their moves. By signing into conferences at a massive resource and geographic disadvantage, they will get slaughtered by their conference colleagues in all sports and will have to spend 3X the amount of money doing it.

To your point, I think one of the most viable solutions in the near term for WSU and OSU is that the Big 12, ACC, WSU, OSU and the top 4 or so teams from the MWC all form a coalition (I know...feel free to laugh). Play hardball with the B1G and SEC and be willing to go to court if there is any angle that would give them leverage.

The B1G and SEC cannot survive on their own even if their delusions make them think that they can. Unfortunately, all of college football is ran by a bunch of short sighted idiots that are more worried about the short term than the long term. They'll bow and scrape and hope for the best because table scraps are better than what they fear the alternative to be.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

The ACC is on the verge of implosion. There are about to be a bunch of other current P5 teams without a home. The Big12 can’t compete without Texas and Oklahoma and will need west coast slots and viewers. Nobody knows what the landscape will look like in 2 years, other than there will continue to be a lot of movement. We have the good fortune of time and money from the p12. Let’s see what happens, WSU is a solid brand in the college sports land-cape.

I still think it’s far more likely we end up in a conference with ACC castoffs and B12 teams than anything being discussed here. All of this reverse merger talk is premature, let’s see how everything out east plays out.

I also think it’s more likely Cal, Furd, Udump and Whoregon come crawling back than WSU ending up in a G5. Those schools all made horrible decisions and signed up for college athletics hell with their moves. By signing into conferences at a massive resource and geographic disadvantage, they will get slaughtered by their conference colleagues in all sports and will have to spend 3X the amount of money doing it.

I disagree on the 4 traitors coming back. Ever. Nowhere, and I mean nowhere on the web is the Pac-2 mentioned in conjunction with the ACC or Big-12 except on this board.

I see no reason to sit on our asses for 2 years frittering away our money waiting for more shoes to drop. How has that worked out so far? SDSU is mentioned. That tell you something?

We have crap leadership. Teresa and Anne are lightweights. Anne has been at WSU for 23 years. Basically waiting out Saneholz's retirement and being internally promoted. Nothing personal against either. Just not up to this task. Schulz, aside from a couple of OK moves, sucks and needs to go. But that won't happen. Our Pullman Provost is inadequate.

OSU is whimpering about how they deserve better. OK, jump at all those P4 offers and leave WSU as the Pac-1 with ALL the money. Their President is nothing special either.

Just accept our lot in life, do the reverse merger and work on being the best G5 conference by far. Stay out West where we have always belonged.

 

[Coug90]

I disagree on the 4 traitors coming back. Ever. Nowhere, and I mean nowhere on the web is the Pac-2 mentioned in conjunction with the ACC or Big-12 except on this board.

I see no reason to sit on our asses for 2 years frittering away our money waiting for more shoes to drop. How has that worked out so far? SDSU is mentioned. That tell you something?

We have crap leadership. Teresa and Anne are lightweights. Anne has been at WSU for 23 years. Basically waiting out Saneholz's retirement and being internally promoted. Nothing personal against either. Just not up to this task. Schulz, aside from a couple of OK moves, sucks and needs to go. But that won't happen. Our Pullman Provost is inadequate.

OSU is whimpering about how they deserve better. OK, jump at all those P4 offers and leave WSU as the Pac-1 with ALL the money. Their President is nothing special either.

Just accept our lot in life, do the reverse merger and work on being the best G5 conference by far. Stay out West where we have always belonged.

Disagree all you want. Panic seldom leads to successful long term results and that’s what they all did. Oregon may be ok because they have the Nike piggy bank to draw from but UW, Furd, and Cal are F’d. They are all at enormous financial disadvantages in their own conferences. Not good in the world of NIL.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Disagree all you want. Panic seldom leads to successful long term results and that’s what they all did. Oregon may be ok because they have the Nike piggy bank to draw from but UW, Furd, and Cal are F’d. They are all at enormous financial disadvantages in their own conferences. Not good in the world of NIL.

Ok, so if you are right that makes 6. We need at least 2 more to be a conference in 2 years. Realistically 6. Who? And what about our cash windfall? I assume that you think they will bail back in after 2 years?

 

[Coug90]

Ok, so if you are right that makes 6. We need at least 2 more to be a conference in 2 years. Realistically 6. Who? And what about our cash windfall? I assume that you think they will bail back in after 2 years?

ACC and Big 12 teams. I just said above that both those conferences are doomed.

 

[triscuit one]

Don't see a need to rush. We have some short term cash to get us in a good position. Use it appropriately, and get in place to jockey for a better position. If we don't get into a Big 12 type situation we can look at a restructured Pac. If we loose out on a SDSU or BSU when we restructure it was likely to happen anyways. No need to box ourselves into a worse case situation right away

 

[95coug]

ACC and Big 12 teams. I just said above that both those conferences are doomed.

Hard to say what’s going to happen, although it’s only a matter of time until FSU, Clemson, and probably UNC & Miami move to the Big 10 & SEC.

I’d just about bet that once that happens, the Big 10 & SEC break away from the NCAA and form their own association. At that point, all of the flagship programs will be gone, and the remaining Big 12, ACC, and orphan teams will re-form into regional divisions and band together for survival.

 

[triscuit one]

Does it need to "break away"? The newest CFP is already stacked to SEC and B10. ACC is next in line as a power conference. If it falls and both SEC and B10 pick up who they want they should be given 35-40% of the $. Big 12 would get 15-20% depending on who they grab with the scraps going to the rest. Why break away and set up that mess it minimal increase in profit.

 

[95coug]

Does it need to "break away"? The newest CFP is already stacked to SEC and B10. ACC is next in line as a power conference. If it falls and both SEC and B10 pick up who they want they should be given 35-40% of the $. Big 12 would get 15-20% depending on who they grab with the scraps going to the rest. Why break away and set up that mess it minimal increase in profit.

Because why share anything?

Greed and arrogance are what’s in play. If the ACC fails, the Big 10/SEC will take their share and try to push the Big 12 toward failure too.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

Because why share anything?

Greed and arrogance are what’s in play. If the ACC fails, the Big 10/SEC will take their share and try to push the Big 12 toward failure too.

You are absolute right that the bigger picture issue here is that by taking more money than everyone else, the SEC and B1G are putting their thumb on the scale. In the longer term, they will continue to do so as they try to make other conferences fail. At some point, everyone else is going to look around and realize that their media value without the SEC and B1G is just as much as with them...and they won't be fighting with one hand behind their back and they'd have a chance to win a championship without fighting uphill.

The SEC and B1G are betting on the fact that human beings are genetically geared towards being front running, t-shirt wearing douchebags and unfortunately....they aren't wrong. The other conferences allow themselves to be pillaged and raped because they've decided that being ****ed over by the Power 2 is better than not having sex at all. They don't realize that the end goal is to make everyone else irrelevant at all costs or maybe they do and they just lack the courage to fight back.

 

[95coug]

The SEC and B1G are betting on the fact that human beings are genetically geared towards being front running, t-shirt wearing douchebags and unfortunately....they aren't wrong.

This is 100% true. What they’re overlooking is that these people aren’t invested, and won’t invest deeply. They’ll buy a t-shirt, they won’t buy season tickets. They won’t donate. They probably won’t pay for premium networks. Their investment ceiling is very low. And it’s even lower if their natural capital inclination is to follow a different team who’s not in contention.

 

[Coug90]

You are absolute right that the bigger picture issue here is that by taking more money than everyone else, the SEC and B1G are putting their thumb on the scale. In the longer term, they will continue to do so as they try to make other conferences fail. At some point, everyone else is going to look around and realize that their media value without the SEC and B1G is just as much as with them...and they won't be fighting with one hand behind their back and they'd have a chance to win a championship without fighting uphill.

The SEC and B1G are betting on the fact that human beings are genetically geared towards being front running, t-shirt wearing douchebags and unfortunately....they aren't wrong. The other conferences allow themselves to be pillaged and raped because they've decided that being ****ed over by the Power 2 is better than not having sex at all. They don't realize that the end goal is to make everyone else irrelevant at all costs or maybe they do and they just lack the courage to fight back.

Guilty as charged. Not all of us can be humble turtleneck and sweater-vest wearers like you flat 😉

 

[Flatlandcoug]

Guilty as charged. Not all of us can be humble turtleneck and sweater-vest wearers like you flat 😉

Most of us have been front-runners at some point. I'm a Steelers fan because they were good in the 70's. Pulled that t-shirt on and never took it off. Never made it to see a game in Pittsburgh yet either. The veritable definition of front-running, t-shirt wearing loser.

 

[cr8zyncalif]

This is 100% true. What they’re overlooking is that these people aren’t invested, and won’t invest deeply. They’ll buy a t-shirt, they won’t buy season tickets. They won’t donate. They probably won’t pay for premium networks. Their investment ceiling is very low. And it’s even lower if their natural capital inclination is to follow a different team who’s not in contention.

I think this is the main point. Arrogance and a sense of entitlement have caused much of the SEC & B10, as well as ESPN, to assume that they can pull an audience even after alienating a chunk of fandom. If you buy that assumption, then their decisions (regardless of ethics) are logical. However, I believe that is a mis-placed assumption. What they are doing to college football in particular is going to shrink the viewing audience. Throw in another round of CTE publicity and the disgust level will shrink the viewing audience...and make a lot of these decisions look bad in hindsight.

 

[dgibbons]

Guilty as charged. Not all of us can be humble turtleneck and sweater-vest wearers like you flat 😉

You never wear a polo? You a mouth breather too?

Rolling smilies....