Conference realignment and the downfall of the Pac-12 is The Associated Press Sports Story of the Year. Over a span of six weeks this past summer, the Pac-12 was ripped apart and redistributed by its competitors.
The final Pac-12 version of the Civil War will play a role in which team plays No. 4 Washington in the Pac-12 championship game. Win and the Ducks are in. Lose and No. 16 Arizona beats Arizona State, the Wildcats head to Las Vegas.
No. 21 Duke and No. 22 Colorado have jumped into the Associated Press Top 25 college football poll after scoring the biggest upsets of the opening weekend of the season.
College sports realignment will bring big challenges to fans who travel to see their teams on the road. Longer plane rides and potentially higher costs are two key challenges.
The four remaining Pac-12 schools, California, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State, will have options if they are looking for another conference.
A mass exodus has led to a seismic shift in the Pac-12 Conference. The “Conference of Champions” suffered what could be crushing blows after five schools announced defections from the league within hours of each other.
A group of Big Ten presidents has begun discussing the possibility of adding more West Coast schools to the conference if the Pac-12 continues to crumble.