Pac-12 Coach Bemoans State of Conference Amid Realignment: ‘It’s Unthinkable’

“We’ll look back at college football in 20 years and be like, ‘What are we doing?’”

As the Pac-12 faces the possibility of being picked apart by the Big Ten and Big 12 during the latest stretch of conference realignment, Washington State head football coach Jake Dickert spoke to reporters on Thursday to address the situation, calling the current state of the league “unthinkable.”

“The old question of, ‘How long would it take TV money to destroy college football?’ Maybe we’re here,” Dickert said. “To think, even remotely, five years ago the Pac-12 would be in this position, it’s unthinkable to think that we’re here today. And to think that local rivalries are at risk … to me, is unbelievable.”

"The old question how long would it take TV money to destroy college football? Maybe we're here."

Washington State Head Coach Jake Dickert (@CoachDickert) with some powerful words on the state of the Pac-12, with more schools rumored to be departing the conference soon pic.twitter.com/JjqDhStCtd

— Alex Crescenti (@alex_crescenti) August 3, 2023

Last month saw Colorado become the latest school to defect from the Pac-12, with the Buffaloes now set to return to the Big 12 next year. Their exit follows USC and UCLA opting to join the Big Ten in 2024 as well.

Meanwhile, the Big 12 is considering trying to add Arizona, Arizona State and Utah, while the Big Ten is believed to be targeting Oregon, Washington, Stanford and Cal.

While the ultimate conclusion remains to be seen, the rest of the conference is left standing on shaky ground. Dickert emphasized his belief in the Pac-12’s brand while lamenting the tidal wave of change that’s sweeping through college football.

“I know our place at the table, but, at the end of the day, Pac- 12 football, the Pac-12 brand, if we stay together, is really strong, and we’ll have a strong future. I firmly believe in that,” Dickert said. “So it’s important that we stay focused here in the now in maximizing what we can. But at the end of the day, we’ll look back at college football in 20 years and be like, ‘What are we doing?’”