Oregon Ducks officially join the Big Ten: 5 things to know

It’s official: As of Friday, the Oregon Ducks have joined the Big Ten Conference.

The B1G logo now adorns the field at Autzen Stadium, and is visible on football jerseys, volleyball uniforms, and news conference backdrops. Expect plenty of trips to the Midwest, including football games at historic venues in Michigan and Wisconsin this season.

The Pac-12 era has come to an end. Here are five key points as Oregon, along with Washington, USC, and UCLA, enters the Big Ten:

1. Financial Impact
For their initial six years in the Big Ten, the Ducks (and Huskies) will receive just 50% of the media rights payout under the conference’s revenue-sharing system, averaging around $32.5 million annually. This is still more than they would have earned in the Pac-12, and the expanded Big Ten presents additional revenue opportunities, especially if the football team performs well nationally.

2. Increased Travel Costs
The Oregon athletic department will face higher travel expenses, estimated to be about $4 million more this fiscal year compared to the last, according to Athletic Director Rob Mullens. The department’s budget will rise by $17.5 million to $162.5 million this year.

3. Rivalry Games
Oregon will continue its annual rivalry game against Oregon State, but it will occur earlier this year. The Beavers will host the Ducks on Sept. 14 at Reser Stadium. Additionally, UO women’s soccer will play its first Big Ten game against the Beavers in an exhibition in Corvallis on Sunday, and volleyball will start its preseason with an exhibition against Oregon State on Aug. 24.

4. Big Ten Expansion
Despite its name, the Big Ten has had more than 10 teams since the early 1990s, with Penn State joining as the 11th member. Nebraska became the 12th in 2011, and Rutgers and Maryland joined in 2014. With the addition of the four West Coast schools in 2024, the conference now has 18 teams.

5. Comparing the Ducks
Earlier this year, we analyzed the historical performance of the Big Ten’s 14 original members before the new additions. We also evaluated how Oregon stacks up against all 17 of its new conference rivals, including its West Coast counterparts.