NEW: Washington State, Oregon State ABANDONING PAC-12 To Join Big 12 in Expansion IS ULTIMATE GOAL!

In the ever-shifting landscape of college athletics, the Big 12 Conference faces a strategic decision in its expansion considerations. While programs like North Carolina State, Wake Forest, and Pittsburgh offer established East Coast presences, a compelling, data-driven argument can be made for extending invitations to the Pacific Northwest's Washington State and Oregon State. This case is built on key metrics including media market penetration, competitive consistency, and strategic geographical positioning. Here are bulleted reasons, supported by hard facts, for why the Big 12 should prioritize the additions of Washington State and Oregon State: 1. Unlocking New and Underserved Media Markets: The addition of Washington State and Oregon State would grant the Big 12 access to significant West Coast media markets, a region currently untapped by the conference. According to 2023 Nielsen DMA (Designated Market Area) rankings, the Seattle-Tacoma market, where many Washington State alumni reside, is the 12th largest in the nation. The Portland market, central to Oregon State's viewership, ranks 22nd. In contrast, the ACC already has a strong foothold in the regions of the other candidates. The Raleigh-Durham market (NC State) is ranked 24th, and the Charlotte market (near Wake Forest) is 21st. The Pittsburgh market comes in at 26th. Adding these schools would lead to market overlap and redundancy for a national conference. By expanding west, the Big 12 would introduce its brand to millions of new potential viewers and increase its national appeal. 2. Demonstrably Stronger and More Consistent Viewership: Despite recent conference instability, Washington State and Oregon State have maintained respectable television viewership, a key indicator of fan engagement and brand strength. In the 2023 college football season, a year marked by uncertainty for the Pac-12, Washington State still commanded an average of 597,000 viewers for its televised games. This figure is notably higher than that of Wake Forest, which averaged 498,000 viewers in the same season. While NC State and Pittsburgh had higher average viewership in 2023, the Pacific Northwest schools offer a dedicated late-night broadcast window, a valuable asset for television partners seeking to maximize their programming schedules and capture a national audience across different time zones. 3. Recent On-Field Competitiveness and Program Trajectory: In the crucial sport of football, both Oregon State and Washington State have demonstrated recent success and a positive trajectory. In the 2022 season, Oregon State finished with a 10-3 record and was ranked in the final AP Poll, a feat not matched by NC State (8-5), Wake Forest (8-5), or Pittsburgh (9-4) that year. Washington State achieved a 7-6 record in 2022 and has consistently produced competitive teams that have reached bowl eligibility in eight of the last ten full seasons. This level of consistency is a strong indicator of a program's ability to compete and win within a Power Five conference structure. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGYTime to fuel up and turn it up with 5-hour ENERGY®️ Transfusion! Go to https://5hourenergy.com today and use my promo code LOCKEDONGOLF to receive 20% off your order. This offer is only valid until September 30th on one order and cannot be used with other promotions. The code is not good on subscription orders.  GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE at www.monarchmoney.com/lockedoncollege for 50% off your first year. FanDuelRight now, new customers can get ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBig12?sid=YouTube Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/drakectoll Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LOBig12 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.