Pac-2 Forever.
Good evening, Coug fans!
It was announced earlier this afternoon that your dear Washington State Cougars and Oregon State Beavers, better known as the Survivors of the Pac-12, or, as we lovingly know them: the Pac-2, have retained the ties to the Pac-12 bowls this upcoming season.
I first saw the news on an ESPN headline (here), and couldn’t be more excited.
But- what does it mean?
On June 12th, the fallen conference announced it had solidified deals with the Holiday Bowl, the LA Bowl, the Sun Bowl, the Independence Bowl, the Las Vegas Bowl, and the Alamo Bowl for the 2024/2025 season. More information about the dates of those times can be found here.
Those bowl games had previously agreed to deals that ran through 2025, and while I’ll be the first to admit certain legal circumstances soar over my head, but I assume given how difficult the realignment process has been, it could be rationalized that those bowl games might try to seek a way out. However, as we see now, the contracts will stand through the 2025 season!
The bowl committees will keep their selection the same, among both current and former Pac-12 Schools. And who controls the revenue, again?
But aside from all that, it’s an opportunity for WSU and OSU athletes to compete at the level they’re used to- which is ideal for student athletes and fans alike. The most important aspect of the post-season, right?
Every article I read about this (at least five) all pretty much said the same things, and ended with the same quote, but that novelty didn’t wear off with each read. I’m choosing to take this win as a beacon of hope, that we’ll be able to either build the conference into something amazing again, or enjoy the extra revenue for a season or two, and climb to great heights when it’s time.
Go Cougs, and Go Beavs!