The Pac-12 as we know it has been obliterated. As of now, only four programs remain in the league beyond the 2023-24 school year.
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly, who rose to prominence during his successful stint as head coach of the Oregon Ducks, lamented the demise of the Pac-12 during an appearance on “The GoJo Show” this week.
“A lot of my fondest experiences as a coach are in this league,” Kelly said. “It’s just hard to actually really fathom that there’s four teams left right now.”
“It’s just sad that when you think of the history and tradition of this league, a year from now there’s not even going to be a PAC-10 or a PAC-12. That’s going to be hard.”
– Chip Kelly on the last days of the PAC-12https://t.co/8jP6cbLeq0 pic.twitter.com/eP943XGxuM
— GoJo and Golic (@GoJoandGolic) August 23, 2023
Kelly went on to concede that UCLA and USC were “the impetus” behind the collapse of the Pac-12 with their decision to leave for the Big Ten, but still said it’s disheartening seeing what has happened to the league.
“It’s just sad that when you think of the history and tradition of this league, a year from now there’s not even going to be a PAC-10 or a PAC-12,” Kelly said. “That’s going to be hard.”
UCLA and USC announced their move to the Big Ten last summer. They will join the league in 2024, along with fellow Pac-12 defectors Oregon and Washington.
Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are all Big 12-bound, leaving Cal, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State as the last four standing.
The ACC has had discussions about adding Cal and Stanford, but thus far, the league doesn’t have the votes to pass the measure.