Oregon State and Washington State have been set adrift together this year, as their Pac-12 conference mates have all preemptively defected to the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12.
However, the Beavers and Cougars have made the most of their sticky situation. First, both teams started 3–0 and cracked the Top 25 ahead of their meeting Saturday. Then, on Thursday, the two schools’ leaders unveiled a joint Zoom background with both institutions’ logos.
The background seemingly nodded to Oregon State and Washington State’s shared predicament as agricultural institutions left behind by their more moneyed, cosmopolitan rivals. More than that, however, it generated a warm, good-humored reception from college football fans battered by three straight realignment-centric summers.
Wazzu and Oregon State are so united they created special zoom backgrounds. Just needs a sponsor. pic.twitter.com/s7GNWFc6P8
— Tim Booth (@ByTimBooth) September 21, 2023
The Sickos Committee, college football’s favorite humor account, applauded the so-called “Pac-2.”
The Pac-2 will not be shaken. https://t.co/VFrV42nB6z
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) September 21, 2023
Some poked fun at the amusing juxtaposition of the schools’ logos.
The Coog looks like a weird Pac Man that’s trying to eat the Beav https://t.co/3thQOiOTkk
— Pregame Empire (@PregameEmpire) September 21, 2023
The ill-fated past alliance between the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 was name-checked.
this is the real alliance https://t.co/eE5lFNT0fd
— The Smoking Musket (@smokingmusket) September 21, 2023
Observers floated potential modifications to reference the Beavers and Cougars’ lawsuit against the conference.
A little disappointed we didn't get the Pac-12 logo with the Beaver logo gnawing one side of the "1" and the Cougar biting the other side https://t.co/EdU5C8vAEv
— David Ubben (@davidubben) September 21, 2023
Oregon State and Washington State fans defended the arrangement, shading their peers in the process.
It’s called brotherly love. The rest of the conference wouldn’t get it. https://t.co/QPizUx79qf
— Digital DAM 🦫 (@TheDigitalDam) September 21, 2023
The moral of the story: wherever the Beavers and Cougars end up, they’ll have no shortage of fans across the country to cheer them in their next adventure.
