UCLA and University of Southern California will be leaving their decades-old affiliation to the Pac-12 Conference. This is a major shift to the Big Ten.
This stunning announcement signifies that the Big Ten, which is headquartered in Rosemont (Illinois), will have member schools as far as Los Angeles, New Jersey, and College Park (Maryland) by fall 2024.
In separate statements, UCLA and USC confirmed their move on Thursday. They acknowledged their long history in the Pac-12 as well as the many opportunities that the Big Ten offers student-athletes. The rivalry between the two schools will not change as they move conferences.
“In addition, it means increased resources for all our teams, academic support to mental wellness and health,” said UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Black, and Athletics Director Martin Jarmond in a statement. This move may increase travel distances for teams but the Big Ten membership might allow for more efficient transportation options.
UCLA stated that the shift will result in better TV times for road games. Fans of Pac-12 football have complained for years about the late-night kickoff times that are set by TV networks under their current TV deals.
In a statement, Mike Bohn, USC Athletics Director, stated that the Big Ten offers greater visibility, exposure, and resources as well as the “stability, strength, and stability of the conference”.
Kevin Warren, Big Ten Commissioner, stated that USC and UCLA had submitted applications to join the league and that the League’s Council of Presidents and Chancellors voted unanimously in favor of adding the schools.
They will be joining the conference at the beginning of the 2024-25 seasons.
This is the most shocking development in the radical realignment major college sports. It has also led to other affiliations that are geographically limited, driven by TV rights to football.
Based in Birmingham, Alabama the Southeastern Conference now extends as far north as Columbia Missouri and will reach Austin Texas by 2025.
The Big 12 Conference is headquartered in Irving Texas. It has been associated with the Great Plains for a long time. By 2023, it will be spread west to Provo (Utah) and south to Orlando (Florida).
The USC and UCLA departures are a devastating blow to the San Francisco-based Pac-12. It was established in 1915 as the Pacific Coast Conference by the University of California at Berkeley, Washington University and Oregon Agricultural College.
The Pac-12 stated that it was shocked and disappointed by the decision.
The statement stated that “We have been known for years as the Conference of Champions” and was unwavering in its commitment to extend that title. “We will continue to create innovative programs that directly benefit member institutions and we look forward partnering with potential members to help us pioneer college athletics together.
USC joined the league 1922, UCLA in 1928. The Pac-12 now includes Washington State and Stanford as well as Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado.
In a desperate effort to save the century-old alliance, the Pac-12 announced Friday that its board of directors had given league officials permission “to explore all options.”
According to a conference statement, “The 10 university chancellors and presidents are committed to a shared vision of academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes.”
Poachers could target Oregon, a football powerhouse with close ties to Nike and Washington, which have won two of six Pac-12 titles.
