The Nebraska Cornhuskers might have a new conference rival in the Oregon Ducks, thanks to Colorado shifting the landscape again.
The Buffaloes announced late last week that they were jumping ship from the Pac-12 and would instead join the Big 12. Not only is CU jumping conferences, but they’re doing it quickly. They’ll be in their new (old) home by July 1, 2024. That move could have a big impact on the future of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Unsurprisingly, Colorado’s departure has other Pac-12 teams discussing what’s next for the conference. And very soon, another Oregon Duck-shaped domino could drop. Last Thursday, just a day after the momentous news of Colorado leaving the conference, Duck officials were expected to hold a meeting.
When the report surfaced, there were any number of reasons why that meeting was supposed to take place. As of now, it does not appear whatever business was discussed there moved the needle. However, it sure feels like it could have been the first step towards Oregon leaving the conference.
If the Ducks do leave, a potential new home has long been rumored to be the Big 10. This meeting obviously wasn’t as earthshaking as Colorado’s meeting last week. There is no announcement of the move being official. But this stuff doesn’t always happen all that quickly. In fact, one of the reasons CU’s move was so shocking was how quickly everything took shape.
Nebraska Cornhuskers to add a new rival?
For what it’s worth, Big 10 commish Tony Petitti went to great lengths to try and convince the assembled media at Big Ten Media Days that he was not currently on the hunt for new conference members. That was, of course, before the Pac-12 took another step towards folding altogether. It was only hours beforehand, but still.
It seems unlikely that Washington and Oregon to the B1G rumors are going to go away anytime soon. They tend to get fueled when higher ups have the kind of meetings they did last week. As for when the Nebraska Cornhuskers might find out they have some new rivals?
It might come this week. It might come next month. It might not come at all.