In 2024–25, the University of Washington will move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten Conference. It’s one more huge step for an Athletic Department that’s always embraced big challenges and opportunities.
Three weeks after Washington became the 42nd state in the nation in 1889, UW took the field on Thanksgiving Day for their first Football game. There was no coach. Four starters had never played the sport. And we lost, 20-0.
That humble start gave birth to a proud and passionate Husky Nation, which has never wavered in its support for every sport at Washington. Throughout the decades, our donors and fans have taught us that, win or lose, we’re always better together. As we like to say, the strength of the Dawg is the Pack.
So, together, we’ll be joining the Big Ten Conference next year and cheering on the Huskies as they face teams like Michigan and Penn State next season. We’ll also work to retain historic rivalries as Oregon, UCLA, and USC also move to the Big Ten.
As UW President Ana Mari Cauce said to sports reporters after the announcement, our departure from the Pac-12 is “a bittersweet moment … (however) embracing the future does not require dishonoring the past.” It was a hard decision, but it was the right decision to ensure that the legacy of Washington Athletics endures.
“We’re excited that our players will be on a more visible national stage and that so many new fans and potential recruits around the nation will be introduced to all of Washington’s outstanding sports programs,” says Football Head Coach Kalen DeBoer. “And the resources we’ll have will be phenomenal for Husky Athletics.”
Softball Head Coach Heather Tarr agrees: ““This is an incredible opportunity to perpetuate the Washington brand across the entire country. It links us to networks we’ve never been able to reach before, playing in different time zones and in front of bigger crowds on the road. Softball and other UW sports have always been able to recruit well nationally, but the increased visibility in the Big 10 will be a boon to those efforts.”
We’ve come a long way since that very first Football game back in 1889. Today, there’s never been a more exciting time to be a Husky fan. We’re already on the road to a stellar final year in the Pac-12 and are gearing up for the next era of Washington Athletics. With the support of Husky Nation, the future looks brighter than ever!
