Pac-12 football: ‘Power Five’ override vote falls short

PULLMAN – By Monday’s deadline only 27 of the required 75 votes had been cast by NCAA member schools to override the Board of Directors’ decision to grant the five largest conferences autonomy meaning that soon the NCAA’s wealthiest conferences will be able to provide significantly more benefits to their student athletes.The autonomous structure will allow the 65 member schools of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC conferences to act on proposed changes to athlete stipends, insurance, scholarship length and healthcare.

The first changes can be voted into place during January’s NCAA Convention.

The NCAA would have been forced to reconsider the August legislation if 75 of the NCAA’s 345 member schools voted to override by Oct. 6. Only 27 elected to do so, including Seattle University of the Western Athletic Conference. None of the override votes came from Power 5 schools.

Washington State coach Mike Leach said that while the change may widen the gap between the schools at the wealthiest conferences and the rest, it may also level the playing field among the smaller schools, a reason perhaps that so few voted to override.

“In the end it could make the leagues more congruent with each other. I get a kick out of where the NFL’s got all the answers and obviously that’s baloney but in that league the best team’s only (a little) better than the worst team, as far as talent and all that,” Leach said. “In college for quite some time it’s been (a much bigger gap) and so I think it won’t have the effect of doing that overall but within leagues it could potentially draw teams closer.”

Buffs coach fined, reprimanded

A potentially game-changing interception was nullified by a pass interference call near the end of Colorado’s 36-31 loss to Oregon State on Saturday, prompting Buffaloes coach Mike MacIntyre to chase the officiating crew off the field. On Tuesday the Pac-12 formally reprimanded MacIntyre for his postgame actions, and fined the coach $10,000, which will be given to the Pac-12 student-athlete scholarship fund.

“The Conference assigns a high priority for administrators, coaches and student-athletes to support its officiating program,” said Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott in a statement. “Chasing and confronting an official or officiating crew after the contest fails to meet these high standards.”

Cracraft and Mayle tabbed

Two more Washington State receivers have been added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list as River Cracraft and Vince Mayle joined teammate Isiah Myers on Tuesday, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced Tuesday. The award is given annually to college football’s best receiver.

Only No. 5 Baylor has as many players on the award’s watch list.

The two recent additions are each coming off career performances in WSU’s 60-59 loss to California last Saturday. Cracraft caught 11 passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns, all career highs, in the defeat. The sophomore ranks fifth nationally with 8.6 receptions per game and No. 11 nationally with 576 total receiving yards despite missing the Nevada game.

Mayle set a school single-game record against the Golden Bears with 263 receiving yards, including a 90-yard touchdown. Only three other FBS receivers have surpassed his 703 receiving yards at this point in the season.

There is a fan component to the award. The public can vote on the Biletnikoff Award website. The fan tally will be used to determine one vote to determine semifinalists, finalists and the winner.