Boise State & Oregon State Big 12 Conference Realignment: How Valid Are The Recent Rumors?

Three years ago, the Pac-12 nearly dissolved when most of its teams went to other power conferences.

All of them were gone but Oregon State and Washington State. That left OSU and Wazzu to try to patch together a new conference.

They did exactly that. Those teams, along with five from the Mountain West and one from the Sun Belt, will be starting its new era this football season. How the Pac-12 managed to stay alive, let alone end up this strong, is astounding.

But now rumors are surfacing on social media that Oregon State may be in talks to join a power conference, and OSU might not be the only one from the Pac-12.

Here’s more about the situation:

Oregon State Big 12 Rumors

Posts on X/Twitter the past few days have indicated leaders in Oregon State’s athletic department have been making a push to receive an invite to the Big 12.

There’s a few potential reasons for this. One is the possibility that Utah or other schools in the Big 12 might be making their own push to go to the Big Ten or SEC before the Protect College Sports Act is passed. That legislation could essentially freeze realignment for the power conferences for the foreseeable future.

So it would make sense that, even if Utah did just leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12 and even if Oregon State just helped solidify its new conference home, that some schools would want to hurry up and make a move before said move is no longer possible.

If they feel they need higher numbers, leagues like the Big 12 or ACC might want to add just a couple more members before they’re prevented from doing so.

Will Oregon State Football Join The Big 12?

It’s highly doubtful, at least not in the immediate future.

For starters, no reputable news organizations have reported anything about these Oregon State/Big 12 rumors. In fact, some reports suggest the contrary, that these conversations aren’t happening.

But of course, that won’t stop the Internet from doing its thing.

Here’s what makes me doubt that these Big 12 expansion rumors aren’t true:

• The Big 12 had a chance to add Washington State and Oregon State when the conference picked up four other schools from the Pac-12, but it didn’t. What has changed between now and then?
• Memphis, a school just as well-positioned for a jump to a power conference, offered $200 million to join the Big 12 last year, but the conference said no. Why would the Big 12 go for OSU but not Memphis in that situation?

Of course, this is conference realignment and college athletics we’re talking about. Anything can change, especially if the Big 12 starts losing schools. But as of this moment, I doubt Oregon State is going to the Big 12.

Boise State & Big 12 College Football Realignment Chatter

Similarly to Oregon State, some rumors have surfaced on social media about Boise State also potentially going to the Big 12.

But as mentioned before, Memphis was willing to pay $200 million for a Big 12 invite – and forego media distribution for five years – but it never came. Why would the Big 12 take Boise State now?

Boise State has obviously been competing with power conference teams for decades with a good amount of success. This isn’t anything against what the Broncos can do on the field.

But Boise State has yet to receive that power conference invite. Are the Broncos deserving? Sure. But a move hasn’t happened.

And unless there’s maybe some panic from the Big 12 (or any other power conference) to bolster its membership before the Protect College Sports Act goes into effect, I don’t see why the conference’s attitude on the matter has changed.

Which Teams Left The Pac-12 For the Big 12

Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah left the Pac-12 for the Big 12. Their first season in the Big 12 was 2024.