WCC commissioner Stu Jackson says future affiliation with Washington State, Oregon State 'not totally in our control'

Jackson affirmed on Talking Zags that WSU and Oregon State will look to either join a power conference or rebuild the Pac-12 'in some manner'

The West Coast Conference temporarily boosted its competitive field in men's and women's basketball when it added Washington State and Oregon State as affiliate members for two years beginning in the 2024-25 academic year. The Cougars and Beavers had been left out of the latest conference realignment shuffle that brought an end to the current Pac-12, as the other 10 member institutions flocked to the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC.

Washington State and Oregon State will be eligible to compete in WCC tournaments across 12 sports starting next fall, but their future affiliation with the conference is up in the air past 2026.

"Any relationship with both schools going forward is not totally in our control," said WCC commissioner Stu Jackson on Talking Zags. "I mean, it's no big secret; they are going to use these two years to do one of two things, Oregon State and Washington State. They're either going to explore the possibility of joining one of the power four conferences, or they're going to try to rebuild the Pac-12 in some manner."

Jackson discussed the WCC's partnership with Oregon State and Washington State, and much more, with Dan Dickau and Adam Morrison on a special Las Vegas episode of Talking Zags. Watch the full discussion with Jackson in the video above.

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Produced by Thomas Gallagher.

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