Joining the WCC

Thanks for the info. I wonder if the lack of an official announcement (one way or the other) means they are leaving the door open to either option. I can't imagine the WCC saying "no" if you later decided to join for baseball.


This is only true for the 1st month of the season. Once the other leagues begin playing their conference schedules, you are severally limited on the number of teams that have availability. Essentially, your only options are the teams in leagues that have an odd number of teams.

I could be mistaken, but I think the WAC, Big West, Mtn West and Big 10 will all have an odd number of teams.   I think ACC gets to an odd # with SMU/Cal/Stanford? 

Still extremely challenging, but that's roughly 40-50-ish schools in play.  Could certainly see them working out something with Cal and Stanford and have no doubt they'll continue to do something with Oregon, especially mid-week games.


Of course, could also result in a SOS hit if you're relegated to playing mid to lower level WAC teams for example.

SMU doesn't have baseball, so ACC wouldn't happen. I do see a weekday trip or preseason weekend series with both Cal and Stanford. Big10 also has odd teams, so they could easily schedule any of the traitor schools. There does appear to be alot of options for an independant schedule for us, and the Cougs for that matter.

It certainly not just schedule anyone you want. Once conference play begins your left only with teams that have bye weekends. Then are those teams/choices going to want to travel on a off weekend when they can scheduled a gimme at home for revenue. As for SOS, again how many of the quality teams will want another top tier series? Would they even consider traveling?

I'm not sure OSU wants to be in the position of taking "leftovers" that will schedule. Or be road warriors to get on the schedule of quality teams.

I'm just not so sure how many teams with conference byes are going to be excited adding a great team for a series. Let alone travel.

“We are leaning into an independent schedule,” Barnes said. “Why? For baseball, the level we played at, we’re able to play a national schedule. None of our other sports can pull it off. The RPI that it will create, and the opportunities are really strong.”

Barnes said he is working with baseball coach Mitch Canham and others to produce next year’s schedule. It will include series and single games against schools from the SEC, Big 10, Big 12, current Pac-12 and other western United States-based conferences. He said schools from the Power conferences “are very interested, because of what our baseball program has done over the years.” Barnes said an independent schedule would include a home schedule “that our fans are used to seeing, including Surprise (Arizona).”

The other baseball option is joining another conference as an affiliate, which could include the WCC, Western Athletic, Big West and Mountain West. But the feedback on producing an independent 56-game schedule would have to turn significantly negative for OSU to consider an affiliate conference membership in baseball.

“Baseball, because of the level we’ve played, our program is best served as playing under the Pac-12 banner with an independent schedule. To build a schedule that is representative of what we’re used to, to keep that program at highest level,” Barnes said.

Our brand is there, but you highly underestimate teams like the SEC wanting another tough series once they are in conference play. And, I can't imagine and SEC traveling once their conference play starts.

The B10 with (17) teams in '25 (I think) might be an option, especially with UW, Oregon, UCLA, SC close by. But, with the travel they are already doing are UCLA, SC going to come to Corvallis?

The B12 with (16) teams in '25 (I think... 13 this year add 4 teams but Colorado doesn't have baseball??) will probably be out unless it is games during preseason. But, who knows if even number conferences will still offer BYE weekends?? Again will Utah, Arizona, ASU be willing to travel to Corvallis if they did have an open?

On the surface it just doesn't seem like OSU is going to build a better schedule than it has with a conference, especially if it doesn't want to be on the road more. Most high quality teams want the upper echelon competition before conference play, but as OSU's mid week, and BYE weekends have shown, not many want it once league play begins. But, it'll be interesting to see.

FWIW... these large conferences are just ridiculous. Since this is a baseball board... you have 16 teams... 3-game series with at most 10 of the 15 possible opponents... teams possibly skipping some of the top, or bottom teams... seeding a league tournament is then highly bias and how many teams are in those conference tournaments? If they do pods or divisions they same thing exists. Look at the B10 football divisions, it wasn't ever equitable as far as talent/teams.

It's all just horse pucky.