Oregon State and Wazzu delaying move to Big 12 to maintain Pac-12 legal war chest

Longtime college football radio host Greg Swaim reports that Oregon State and Wazzu are going to hold on to the Pac-12's assets for as long as possible before making a move to the Big 12 for the 2026-27 academic calendar.

"We've been talking about Wazzu and the Beavs joining the Big 12 for months, and while it's great that other reporters are now joining the cause, it won't be for at least two seasons so the two schools can hang on to the Pac-12 legal war chest they won in court this past Spring," Swaim wrote.

Swaim has pitched a 24-team league involving Oregon State and Wazzu, along with several ACC schools, joining the Big 12.

"Twenty-four teams in the Big 12, with six ACC teams, and WSU and Oregon State? Safety in numbers, entirely too strong to keep out, so after FSU and Clemson who are the last four you want? Card Nation, NCState, The U, VT, GT, and Pitt," Swaim said.

ESPN reports that it could be tough for Oregon State and Wazzu to get a power conference invite

In May, ESPN's Bill Connelly reported that it'd be difficult for Oregon State and Wazzu to receive a Power Conference invite from anyone -- flying directly in the face of what Swaim has been reporting for months.

"When it comes to future power-conference membership, it's hard to say anything particularly encouraging at the moment," Connelly prefaced before saying, "But as the Beavers face a future in either the Mountain West or a remodeled Pac-12 that strongly resembles the MWC, they can at least take heart in the fact that we have no idea what the future holds in terms of conference alignment and that, even though it's not really their fault they're in this position to begin with, if they field successful football teams moving forward -- more TCU, less UConn -- they could improve their lot a few years down the line."

Here's the catch, though: ESPN has every reason to downplay the Big 12 landing the two left-behind programs given the World Wide Leader's ACC ties. It's possible Connelly's reporting is a way to decrease their value in the eyes of whatever private equity firm the Big 12 is recruiting to help the conference expand.