When Cal and UCLA kicked off on Saturday night, the Pac-12 (as we know it) was on its last legs concerning regular season action. “Pac-12 After Dark,” as it’s affectionately known, had one of the hilariously harmless mistakes that are much more common during late-night battles. After a UCLA touchdown, the graphic flashed showing the name placeholder, an unfilled marker for the yardage on the score, and that it was a rushing play although the actual score was a passing play.
UCLA scores on an XX-YD Rush by Firstname Lastname. pic.twitter.com/kA4cYvxr4M
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 26, 2023
Those things simply don’t happen at 3:30 p.m. It was a lighthearted moment in a game that was otherwise uncompetitive. Keeping with the Pac-12 spirit, Cal pulled off an upset when most of the East Coast was asleep. The only thing missing was an insane comeback for it to be a “Pac-12 After Dark” classic (one of the conference’s contending teams participating also would’ve elevated things). The Golden Bears left the Rose Bowl with a 33-7 victory and bowl eligibility. This game was also a send-off to this rivalry, as Cal is bolting for the ACC (it doesn’t make sense to anyone), and UCLA will be in the Big Ten next year.
The conference’s final game with the original Pac-10 plus Utah and Colorado comes on Friday night. The #6 Oregon Ducks and #4 Washington Huskies will compete in Las Vegas on Friday for the Pac-12 championship. Whoever wins that battle will likely be in the College Football Playoff, so the stakes are high.
The Remains of the Pac-12
After this season, 10 of the Pac-12’s full members are joining other conferences. Oregon (joined the Pac-12 in 1915), Washington (1915), USC (1922), and UCLA (1928) are all heading to the Big Ten. Cal (1915) and Stanford (1918) will be members of the Atlantic Coast Conference next year. Arizona (1978), Arizona State (1978), Colorado (2011), and Utah (2011) are now Big 12 schools.
That leaves Oregon State (1915) and Washington State (1917) as the only programs remaining. After 108 years, the Conference of Champions is hanging on by a thread. It was a phenomenal run, but as always, money meant more than memories or emotions to the college football powers that be. Long live the Pac-12.
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