As the Pac-12 dissolves before our very eyes, four remaining schools are left in limbo. One of those teams is Stanford, as the Cardinal have been loyal to the Pac-12 through the entire realignment process but are potentially without a future home as teams around them find new conferences to join.
In response to Oregon and Washington’s move to the Big Ten, Stanford president Marc Tessier-Lavigne and athletic director Bernard Muir released a statement, saying that the school was focused on “analyzing the available options.”
Apparently, though, the message wasn’t good enough for many fans and observers who sounded off in regard to Stanford’s statement.
The irony of this statement, coming from 2 men who did their best to kill opportunity for so many student-athletes. Why does MTL even have a say anymore? https://t.co/YHtdn85KW9
— Ann Killion (@annkillion) August 5, 2023
#Stanford failed to adapt to a changing business environment. That's not smart. https://t.co/KGeysN2qT9
— Top 10 College Football Talk (@Top10CFBTalk) August 5, 2023
I thought these guys were supposed to be smart. https://t.co/fINSxWNe5H
— Scotch Buff (@Toylab1) August 4, 2023
— Jalen Reeves (He/Him) (@JalenReeves_10) August 4, 2023
This is what you say when you have nothing to say https://t.co/duXB75QlG3
— uh oh, an error was encountered (@RickyProphete) August 4, 2023
I'm sure there are good reasons why not but my view of Stanford was always that it was unique and it could go West Coast ND. I'm sure I'm wrong. https://t.co/uj29N9AkIT
— Ryan Burns (@FtblSickness) August 5, 2023
As spots in the Big Ten and Big 12 fill up, Stanford may have to be creative to find a stable conference for its athletic future. Or the Cardinal could consider going independent, like Notre Dame, but that option would present a whole other range of challenges.
Either way, the Pac-12’s collapse has forced Stanford, Washington State, California and Oregon State to reevaluate their current standing in collegiate athletics.
