Oregon State, Washington State Reportedly Nearing Unique Conference Plan After Pac-12 Mass Exodus

The Beavers and Cougars may have tentatively found a home.

Since news of the departure of eight of the Pac-12's members broke over the summer, the fate of Oregon State and Washington State has been a hot topic in college athletics.

However, a new report indicates the Beavers and Cougars and taking steps toward settling an uncertain future.

According to a Thursday morning report from Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports, Oregon State and Washington State are in negotiations to create a football scheduling alliance with the Mountain West—an arrangement that could potentially pave the way for a merger down the road.

Washington State and Oregon State will be the two remaining members of the Pac-12, and are reportedly in talks with the Mountain West on a scheduling agreement for the future :: Andrew Wevers/USA TODAY Sports

Under a potential agreement, Mountain West teams would play seven conference games in 2024 and ’25 to go with at least one game against either the Beavers or Cougars. The two Pac-12 schools would nominally act as independents, ineligible for Mountain West honors.

Per Dellenger, the agreement would require a long-term commitment to the Mountain West from Oregon State and Washington State and language preventing the two schools from poaching “only a portion of [Mountain West] schools” at a future time.

The Beavers and Cougars—whose schools currently control the Pac-12's assets after a Tuesday court injunction—are a combined 12–8 in football this season.