Ranking the West Coast Teams Joining the Big 10

It's a brave new world, isn't it? When Nebraska joined the Big 10, it was a bit odd to some fans, but at least felt like something of a good fit, from the standpoint of our football pedigree matching with the top end of the conference, as well as simple geography. It seemed a little weirder when Rutgers and Maryland joined a few years later, but there was regional precedent to the move with the addition of Penn State in 1993, and of course it was a strategic play for the conference to expand into the New York and Washington, DC media markets. 

Now we're adding USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington? It all seems so strange. Will it be hard for Washington to get the blood flowing when they play the likes of Northwestern, Indiana, and Purdue? Is Rutgers vs. UCLA a matchup America is dying to see? 

If you want to look at it through an optimistic lens, I would say this: in the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics, you want to have a seat at one of the good tables, and Nebraska currently does. The Big 10 and the SEC are the place to be right now, both from a financial standpoint and a stability standpoint. It’s nice to be in a conference that will likely get three to four teams in the playoff every year, and the $60+ million annual check doesn’t hurt either. Furthermore, while part of me misses the college football of our youth, the reality is it’s never coming back. So we might as well embrace the new world! Oregon will play Ohio State and Michigan this year. Those games will be must-see TV. Nebraska plays at USC this year, and at UCLA next year. Los Angeles in November, anyone? I'm excited to see the emerging rivalries and exciting matchups that will result from the new conference. 

In that spirit, let's welcome our West Coast brethren with open arms, by ranking each one's football teams as we head into the 2024 season. 

1) Oregon. As listeners to the Common Fan podcast know, I married an Oregon Duck. My wife and her family are big Duck fans, and as such, I've watched quite a few Oregon games over the last 15 years. I've also been to Eugene for several games; the Huskers don't play there until 2026, but it's a great college town and a fun stadium that I highly recommend Husker fans check out when the time comes. 

Now, onto the 2024 Ducks. I genuinely found it odd when……

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