Oregon State president releases statement, working to 'stabilize and rebuild' Pac-12
Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy is still trying to work through all the fallout of Pac-12 programs bolting for other leagues. However, she is working hard to keep the remaining teams connected.
In a Friday statement, Murthy claimed that preserving the Pac-12 is still “in the best interests of OSU student-athletes and the remaining universities.” Murthy went on to write the Beavers are “doing everything in our control to stabilize and rebuild the conference.”
Determining how Oregon State best does that is tricky, to say the least. The Pac-12 is down to just Oregon State, Cal, Stanford and Washington State beginning in 2024, but Cal and Stanford are reportedly being vetted and considered as potential additions to the ACC.
Even if the “Pac-4” remains committed, the next challenge involves luring enough teams away from current homes to rebuild a viable league and a media rights deal to pay for the new-look conference. The league also faces the potential prospects of losing Power 5 status and bowl tie-ins.
Nevertheless, Murthy wrote the program is prepared to face the challenges facing the league:
“As a trusted broker and convenor, Oregon State is playing an important role in navigating both the future of the Pac-12 and the realignment among universities across the Western United States more broadly,” wrote Murthy. “We are ready for this challenge. We are prepared for multiple possible scenarios and continue to pursue every opportunity for OSU student-athletes and the university.”
