EUGENE — The University of Oregon Board of Trustees unanimously voted to approve joining the Big 10 Conference starting in Aug. 2024 during a Zoom conference call Friday afternoon.

The Oregon Ducks are now one of four Pac-12 programs to make the decision to join the Big 10, joining Southern California, UCLA and Washington.

“We’ve stayed true to our principals, which is student-athlete experience, connecting with our alumni and fans and competing for championships,” said Oregon director of athletics Rob Mullins. “This is the opportunity in a rapidly shifting collegiate athletic space to provide that premiere conference, both academically and athletically, for our Oregon Ducks.”

“I’m thrilled that the University of Oregon has the opportunity to join the nation’s preeminent academic-athletic conference,” said UO President Karl Scholz. “Our student-athletes will participate at the highest level of collegiate athletic competition, and our alumni, friends and fans will be able to carry the spirit of Oregon across the country.”

Scholz said the university will receive a partial share of the full media payout that each Big 10 university receives, but that amounts to a larger figure than what Oregon felt it would receive by staying in the Pac-12 Conference. The President added that Oregon would be eligible for a full share of the future Big 10 media rights agreements.

Oregon and Washington’s departure from the Pac-12 appears to be the catalyst for the conference’s downfall. Arizona, Arizona State and Utah are reportedly leaving for the Big 12 Conference, pending approval from the Big 12.

That leaves Washington State, Oregon State, California and Stanford are the four remaining Pac-12 universities that have not committed to joining a different conference in 2024.