An institution must submit a written application for admission to the Big Ten Conference, which must then be accepted by at least 70% of the Big Ten COP/C.
The University of Oregon and the University of Washington will join the Big Ten Conference as of August 2, 2024, with competition starting in all sports for the 2024–25 academic year, according to a unanimous vote of the Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors (COP/C).
With the addition of the schools, the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA), a group of top-tier research institutions committed to advancing their academic missions, will also include Oregon and Washington.
According to University of Oregon President John Karl Scholz, “I’m thrilled that the University of Oregon has the opportunity to join the nation’s preeminent academic-athletic conference.” Our student-athletes will compete at the highest level of collegiate athletic competition, and our alumni, friends, and supporters will be able to spread the Oregon spirit throughout the nation.
University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce said, “The Big Ten is a thriving conference with strong athletic and academic traditions, and we are excited and confident about competing at the highest level on a national stage.”
“My number one concern must be to act in the best interests of our student-athletes and our University, and this decision will help ensure a strong future for our athletics programme,” said the president.
COP/C Chair and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert Jones said, “The Big Ten Presidents and Chancellors are pleased to welcome the University of Oregon and the University of Washington to the Big Ten Conference.
“It is very easy to see how our member institutions and the full range of academic, athletic, and research excellence align. We are happy to have them here and are looking forward to working and competing with them in the years to come.”
Oregon’s athletic director, Rob Mullens, stated that joining the Big Ten Conference would give the school a “transformational opportunity to change the short- and long-term trajectory of our university and athletics department.”
“The University of Oregon is grateful to the Big Ten presidents and chancellors for accepting our application to join the conference. The stability and exposure of joining the Big Ten is very beneficial to the university. We are excited for our student-athletes to have the chance to compete in this conference, which has some of the top programmes in the country for every sport.”
“We have a great deal of respect and appreciation for the Pac-12 and its cherished traditions. The college athletic landscape has also changed significantly in recent years, according to Washington’s director of athletics Jennifer Cohen.
Our teams are best positioned for future success because of the Big Ten’s history of academic and athletic success as well as its long-term stability, and we are excited about the chance to compete at the highest level against some of the best programmes in the nation.
An institution must submit a written application for admission to the Big Ten Conference, which must then be accepted by at least 70% of the Big Ten COP/C. This afternoon, the Universities of Oregon and Washington formally submitted their applications to join the Big Ten Conference. Following a conference call meeting, the Big Ten COP/C unanimously approved both applications.
“According to Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti, we are thrilled to welcome the Universities of Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten Conference.
Petitti stated that, “We look forward to establishing enduring connections with the universities, administrators and staff, student-athletes, coaches, and fans. The combination of academic and athletic excellence offered by both institutions will be a great fit for our future.”