Two of California's biggest
college football teams football, USC and UCLA were notified on Thursday night their application to join the Big Ten
has been accepted and kicks off in 2024. Previously, the schools were two of the Pac-12's flagship programs.
USC and UCLA to leave Pac-12 and join Big Ten in 2024
The conference presidents and chancellors of the Big Ten voted unanimously on Thursday evening to add the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA), ESPN reported.
"The Big Ten announced today that the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles will become conference members effective August 2, 2024, with competition to begin in all sports the 2024-25 academic year," Big Ten Conference announced on Twitter.
"The unanimous vote today signifies the deep respect and welcoming culture our entire conference has for the University of Southern California, under the leadership of President Carol Folt, and the University of California, Los Angeles, under the leadership of Chancellor Gene Block," Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren said.
Pac-12 "surprised and disappointed"
In a statement released later on Thursday, the Pac-12 said it was "extremely surprised and disappointed" to learn that UCLA and USC were leaving.
The Pac-12 is home to many of the world's best universities, athletic programs and alumni, representing one of the most dynamic regions in the United States," the Pac-12 said in a statement. "We've long been known as the Conference of Champions, and we're unwavering in our commitment to extend that title."
Finances played a key role in the move
It's not only the Pac-12 that is having financial pressures; they are being felt in the ACC and beyond.
Conference revenue projections can vary, not always being linear. Current projections have the SEC and Big Ten making nearly double the amount of some of the other Power 5 leagues later this decade.
"College athletics is changing, and UCLA has always led in times of change," UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond told ESPN. "For the sake of our student-athletes, and for preserving the legacy of Bruin excellence, we cannot afford to stand still."
Reportedly, an exploration of finances and what would be required to make a move feasible has been underway for weeks, a source told ESPN. Finances were a key role in the move, but other factors such as brand, competitiveness and an overall future landscape for the sport played a larger role.
"USC and UCLA have to make the decisions to position them best for the long term," a source familiar with the decision told ESPN. "The future is so uncertain we need to be operating from a position of strength."