Reports: Pac-12, Big Ten and ACC discussing “alliance”

Good morning fellow Cougs. The football version of your Washington State Cougars are—depending on when you’re reading this—about to scrimmage, currently scrimmaging, or have already scrimmaged. The first scrimmage of the preseason is scheduled for this morning, though its setting will likely depend on the air quality in Pullman.

I’m sure we’ll learn a thing or two later in the day about what went down on the Palouse football field.

Before then, though, let’s take a macro look at something that will affect everybody in college football: a potential Pac-12-Big Ten-ACC alliance. Reports came out yesterday indicating the commissioners of the three aforementioned conferences have been in discussions about some sort of partnership. What that partnership will look like, nobody really knows, and nobody is really saying anything other than maybe they’ll schedule some games together.

You’ll notice the Big 12 isn’t part of this supposed alliance, as that conference still tries to stay afloat after its two big moneymakers announced their succession.

New Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff entered his new job and suddenly the college football landscape has changed. It’d be insane if he didn’t talk to the other commissioners, and while these headlines make for some interesting reading and sparks some curiosity, nothing is imminent. Of course, nothing is ever imminent until it is.

For our purposes, what does this mean for Washington State? Since football drives the bus in every athletic department, we’ll focus there. If scheduling is the only thing that comes out of this, then let’s assume WSU will meet some Big Ten and ACC teams each season. Will these be home and homes, or will the leagues try and create a big event out of the whole thing and play the games at neutral sites? Will the leagues tie their TV contracts together in some way? That seems like it would take some creative accounting.

And for the traditionalists out there: How will this affect the Rose Bowl?

Nobody knows anything right now, but it’s August and these are the kinds of things that make for some fun discussion this time of year. We’ll see what happens.

Links

WSU in ‘strict COVID management’ after football coach Nick Rolovich’s decision to not get vaccinated | The Spokesman-Review
PULLMAN — It feels like any other August on the football practice fields at Washington State, other than the mask coach Nick Rolovich and a few of his assistants wear.

Sources -- Pac-12, Big Ten, ACC in preliminary discussions about forming alliance, likely around scheduling
The Pac-12, Big Ten and ACC have had preliminary discussions about forming an alliance, likely built around scheduling but possibly other areas, sources told ESPN.

Abraham Lucas Named To Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List - Washington State University Athletics
Lucas is a three-time Outland Trophy Watch List selection.

Cougs picked fifth in preseason poll - Washington State University Athletics
WSU was picked in the top half of the conference for the third year in a row.

Jaylen Watson, Cougars crank up physicality with full pads: Notes and observations from day six of Washington State preseason camp | The Spokesman-Review
Washington State will hold 25 preseason practices before opening the season Sept. 4 against Utah State. The Spokesman-Review will be in attendance for each of those, tracking the relevant storylines, notes, depth chart developments and key plays as the Cougars ramp up to the 2021 football season. Below are observations from the sixth day of fall camp in Pullman.