Could new Oregon president push Ducks to the Big Ten?

Oregon has a new university president, one who could possibly get the Ducks into the Big Ten.

With the University of Oregon hiring John Karl Scholz as its next president, it might create an easier pathway for the Ducks to join the Big Ten Conference.

Scholz took over on Monday for Michael Shill, who left for Big Ten member Northwestern. Prior to arriving in Eugene, Scholz was the provost at the University of Wisconsin, another Big Ten league member. Though he was unable to comment about Oregon’s possible move to the Big Ten, Scholz was a proponent of conference expansion and was heavily in favor of the USC and UCLA additions.

Here is what Scholz said in a statement when USC and UCLA decided to leave for the Big Ten.

"“This expansion helps solidify the Big Ten Conference as the one, true national powerhouse conference, with member universities, teams, and fans stretching from coast to coast. As importantly, it adds two outstanding academic institutions to the Big Ten, the premier Power Five academic conference in the country.”"

Obviously, Scholz is going to do what is in Oregon’s best interest now, but the Big Ten is a real fit.

New Oregon president suggests Duck may join the Big Ten at some point

Frankly, Oregon and Washington are the two schools keeping the Pac-12 alive. One would think if one goes to the Big Ten, the other will follow too, leaving their little brother in-state universities behind to probably join a revamped Mountain West at that point. Given that the Four Corners schools are a good fit an expanded Big 12, Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten makes sense.

If the Big Ten were to go from a 16-team league to an 18-team one, one would think Oregon and Washington would be the two most logical additions. They care deeply about sports, but also athletics. Cal and Stanford are academic behemoths, but they leave a lot to be desired on the team sports side of things. Plus, Oregon and Washington gives them the Portland and Seattle markets.

Overall, it is way too soon to see Oregon jump ship for the Big Ten because if they are going to do it, they have to do it with Washington. The only way this gets sped up is if Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah bolt for the Big 12 first. Then, it really doesn’t matter how well-acquainted Scholz is with his new league. After all, he knows more about the one he just left for the Pac-12.

Ultimately, all eyes are on the Pac-12 and what becomes of it in perhaps the last wave of conference realignment. The league’s inability to get a competitive media rights deal suggests that this league may not make it past the next academic term. All we know is everything should be settled by July 1, 2024. That is when USC and UCLA leave and the new playoff format will begin.

If you are looking for the next domino to fall, let’s keep a close watch on things going on in Eugene.

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