Pac-12 commissioner-elect weighing options for Oregon State, Washington State
Pac-12 commissioner-elect Teresa Gould is focused on helping Oregon State and Washington State, the conference's two remaining members, position themselves for the future.
"That strategic piece is really being bold and being aggressive, being intentional and really attacking these challenges head on, but also being open-minded and making sure that we're considering all options," Gould said Thursday, according to ESPN's Kyle Bonagura.
"That is probably the most important and urgent piece of my role, is to partner with the leadership on both campuses to forge that future path for their two campuses and their athletic programs," Gould added.
The Pac-12 is facing an existential crisis after 108 years of operation, as 10 of its members are poised to join other Power 5 conferences beginning July 1. The soon-to-be two-team conference struck a scheduling agreement with the Mountain West Conference for the upcoming football season, and both the Beavers and Cougars will be affiliate members of the West Coast Conference in 12 sports, including men's and women's basketball.
The Pac-12 commish confirmed that there haven't been any discussions about a formal merger with the Mountain West or reverse merger that would tie Washington State and Oregon State to the league.
Gould, who has served as the Pac-12's deputy commissioner since 2018, will become the first female commissioner of a Power 5 conference when she officially takes over for George Kliavkoff on Friday. She signed a two-year deal with the Pac-12 that coincides with the NCAA's grace period that allows the league to operate as a two-team conference in 2024 and 2025.
The Pac-12 plans to operate under the Pac-12 brand for at least another academic year and will keep its network studio in San Ramon, California. It's unclear what the TV broadcasting rights will be for the conference's remaining members going forward. Gould remains "encouraged about the interest for those media rights" and is optimistic that there will be an announcement in the near future.