Lost Tradition: Pac-12 Conference Decimated By Four Defections to Big Ten
August 9th, 2023 - 20:21
If the "Left Coast" thought outlook was bleak when Southern California (103 seasons) and UCLA (97) announced their intention last year to leave the Pac-12 Conference for the Big Ten at conclusion of 2023-24 campaign, it really took a turn for the worst this year when Oregon (104) and Washington (109) did likewise. They boast the four longest stints in an intact coalition before departing. The breakup of the SWC in mid-1990s dismantled the longest tradition. Following are the NCAA Division I schools departing for a different alliance after more than six decades years in a league:
| School | Longstanding League Member (Seasons) | Next Conference (First Season) |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 109 years in PCC/AAWU/Pac-8/Pac-10/Pac-12 (1916-24) | Big Ten (2025) |
| Oregon | 104 years in PCC/AAWU/Pac-8/Pac-10/Pac-12 (1916-24 except for 1960-64) | Big Ten (2025) |
| Southern California | 103 years in PCC/AAWU/Pac-8/Pac-10/Pac-12 (1922-2024) | Big Ten (2025) |
| UCLA | 97 years in PCC/AAWU/Pac-8/Pac-10/Pac-12 (1928-2024) | Big Ten (2025) |
| Baylor | 82 years in SWC (1915-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Rice | 82 years in SWC (1915-96) | WAC (1997) |
| Texas | 82 years in SWC (1915-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Texas A&M | 82 years in SWC (1915-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Southern Methodist | 78 years in SWC (1919-96) | Western Athletic (1997) |
| Virginia Military | 78 years in Southern (1926-2003) | Big South (2004) |
| Murray State | 73 years in Ohio Valley (1949-2022 except for 1962) | Missouri Valley (2023) |
| Texas Christian | 73 years in SWC (1924-96) | Western Athletic (1997) |
| Wichita State | 72 years in Missouri Valley (1946-2017) | American Athletic (2018) |
| Arkansas | 68 years in SWC (1924-91) | SEC (1992) |
| Iowa State | 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Kansas | 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Kansas State | 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Missouri | 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Nebraska | 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) | Big 12 (1997) |
| Maryland | 61 years in ACC (1954-2014) | Big Ten (2015) |