“It’s really strange”: Michigan and Washington experience awkward conference moments in the CFP championship

The Washington Huskies felt a little bit like they were straddling two worlds as they took in the atmosphere during the College Football Playoff media day inside Houston’s downtown convention center.

The greatest set, of course, with the iconic Michigan block “M” on either side, was where the Big Ten Network was airing the event live. Next October in Seattle, the Wolverines—who had just exited the building to wild cheers from their supporters—will play Washington in the conference. It seems as though Saturday morning offered a glimpse into the future of the Huskies.

Still, it was difficult to let go of the recent past. The Washington players were unsure of their league assignment for the fall of 2024 as of late July. They didn’t appear confused about who they are supporting in Monday night’s national championship game, though, in spite of everything.

Edefuan Ulofoshio, a linebacker for Washington, described it as “really strange.” We’re not even going to be leaving the institution to join the Big Ten, so it doesn’t even feel true. It is somewhat depressing. The Pac-12 was home to many wonderful traditions. I have the utmost respect for this area. The Pac-12 is fantastic. My children would participate in Pac-12 sports.

The hypothetical children of Ulofoshio and all other youngsters raised on the West Coast with dreams of playing college football at the highest levels will not get that opportunity.

The final Pac-12 football game ever will be played between Washington and, with college athletics changing so quickly, how sure can any of us be that the Big Ten Conference will still exist in 20 years?

If the Huskies manage to pull off a little upset against Michigan, however, the bragging rights to this game would remain there forever for the next seven months.

“We might have Pac-12 logos on our jerseys still, I don’t know, for me I would say we’re the Pac,” Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze said. “I grew up watching Pac-12 football, and I’m a West Coast kid. I’m fond of the Pac-12 Conference and all the teams in it. Even though some of us have rivalries, I back the Pac. It’s surreal it’s going to come to an end. It’s going to be so different.”

On the other sideline Monday is a school that, at this moment, would caution Washington that the grass isn’t always greener.

Michigan as an institution remains fiery mad at the Big Ten — from the partnering universities, their athletic administrators and coaches to the league office, led by first-year commissioner Tony Petitti — for the handling of the NCAA’s investigation into the Wolverines’ sign-stealing methods.

The consternation over Petitti’s three-game suspension of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, announced late on a Friday afternoon before the Wolverines were set to play at Penn State the next day, is still reverberating — and probably will for some time.

Ironies abound in Ann Arbor: the teams that had wanted the Wolverines neutered now stand to gain financially from their success in the CFP, and the Big Ten gets to flaunt its chest after one of its teams defeated a Southeastern Conference powerhouse like Alabama in the semifinals.

“I would say it’s bittersweet, because obviously we wanted support from our conference and the teams we have played,” Michigan defensive end Braiden McGregor said. “Shout-out to the couple of coaches where after we played them, they were like, ‘They were that good.’ But then you have the other coaches, who go behind our backs, say stuff that may or may not be true. At the end of the day, we are all a part of the Big Ten. We support any Big Ten team that’s playing in the bowl games, especially if they’re playing SEC teams. We just want support from everybody else.”

Said Michigan safety Rod Moore, “I like it. It’s just the way of life. Everyone was against you to a point, we make it to the national championship, so the narrative flips, and it just makes us feel great, especially when they took Coach Harbaugh from us against Penn State and we didn’t even know they were going to do it.”

The Wolverines can now see that playing their three most difficult regular-season games without Harbaugh and under the direction of offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore strengthened them.

In that instance, they express gratitude to the Big Ten.

Defense tackle Kris Jenkins of Michigan stated, “It feels satisfying, and that’s been our whole mission ever since coach was suspended.” We wanted to demonstrate to everyone that no matter what happens to our squad, we will always be 10 toes down as a team. To be honest, it was enjoyable. We truly believed that we were supporting the “Michigan vs. Everybody” situation as it was unfolding.

There is more controversy in the Big Ten now than there was in August when the Huskies and Ducks moved to the Midwest. This is the Big Ten that Washington, USC, UCLA, and Oregon are joining. The league and one of its two dominant forces need to mend their differences, but that process hasn’t started yet.

The Big Ten-Michigan scenario won’t deter Washington from making a clean slate in the now-designated “Power Two” conference. Head coach Kalen DeBoer had to steer Washington toward stability as the team’s future was in jeopardy following the Pac-12’s early departures of USC and UCLA.

DeBoer stated, “There were still some unanswered questions about the Pac-12 and the ongoing work being done on the media piece that was out there.” “I told the recruiting staff to concentrate on UW, emphasize our tradition, emphasize how excellent our academics are, concentrate on our Seattle market, and concentrate on all the things that set us apart from the majority of other programs across the nation.” That gave us the impression that everything will work out no matter where we are.

After a while, Washington concluded that the Pac-12’s media arrangement with Apple, which focused mostly on streaming, was not the best course of action, and the Big Ten offered their assistance.

Now, Washington has the chance to finish the Pac-12 season as a champion. It’s obvious that the conference is ending at the pinnacle of its abilities, win or lose on Monday.

Analyst Yogi Roth of the Pac-12 stated, “Let’s not miss the moment.” “I would always repeat that to supporters. Hey, you might not be happy about a conference that has been around for a century collapsing, but let’s enjoy this moment in the most talented and competitive Pac-12 in my twenty years of monitoring and participating in this league.

Few people have put in as much effort as Roth, a former USC assistant under Pete Carroll, to improve the Pac-12 during its waning ten years. After going through his grieving process in the fall, Roth is currently attempting to secure employment for his loyal coworkers at the network.

This last season is all about the games, and Monday’s is the biggest, according to Roth. A Huskies victory won’t benefit the Pac-12, but he says he thinks the region would still be affected.

Roth remarked, “They understand what the West Coast is all about.” They speak for a league that faces prejudice from the national community. They wish to be seen doing that. They are responsible for this part of the nation. I believe that, conference realignment or not, that’s a good thing.