In a bid to secure a new home for their athletic programs, Oregon State and Washington State have engaged in discussions with the West Coast Conference (WCC) for an affiliate agreement. Sources have revealed that the agreement, which is currently being worked on, is expected to be finalized by the end of this week, pending any unforeseen obstacles.

As per the agreement, selected athletic teams from both Oregon State and Washington State, most notably the basketball teams, will compete as affiliate members in the WCC. Their games will count towards the league standings, and they will have the opportunity to participate in conference tournaments, with the chance of securing the league's automatic qualifying spot in the NCAA basketball tournaments, as well as other NCAA championships.

While the specific details of the deal remain unclear, it is anticipated that there will be a financial incentive package for the WCC. The WCC, a nine-school conference comprised of members from California, Washington, and Oregon, will benefit from the inclusion of these two prominent athletic programs. However, it should be noted that the discussions between Oregon State, Washington State, and the WCC specifically revolved around basketball and certain Olympic sports, with baseball excluded from the proposed package.

Both Oregon State and Washington State, the remaining members of the collapsed Pac-12 conference, have been actively seeking a new conference affiliation for their other sports. They recently entered into a scheduling partnership with the Mountain West conference for the upcoming season and potentially 2025 as well. However, their dialogue with the WCC has advanced considerably over the past few days, signifying a potential landing spot for their athletic programs.

The two universities intend to operate as a two-team conference for the next two years, taking advantage of a grace period granted by the NCAA. This grace period allows them to potentially rebuild the Pac-12 conference. Notably, the NCAA will recognize them as a conference until the 2025-26 academic year. Nevertheless, this recognition does not afford them the ability to retain the Pac-12's automatic qualifying spots to NCAA championships. The eligibility for automatic qualifying spots requires a sport-specific minimum of six participating members, in accordance with NCAA bylaws. Hence, the move to the WCC, or any other conference, will open the pathway for all athletic teams to compete for such automatic qualifying spots.

Overall, the prospective affiliation between Oregon State, Washington State, and the West Coast Conference holds significant implications for the future of their athletic programs. As negotiations near a conclusion, it remains to be seen how this new partnership will shape the landscape of intercollegiate sports on the West Coast.