USC has friends, the USC friends are UCLA and the two Arizona schools. I have tried to explain the relationship to some on this board but they just can't grasp that Arizona and Southern California are joined at the hip in more ways than just the universities. USC even threatened to leave the PAC if the Arizona schools were not admitted back in the day.
"Young (UCLA Chancellor) had given their blessings to the potential expansion at the September meeting and that, as a result, he and USC felt double-crossed. Young then told us that Hubbard had stated, loudly, that if Washington and Stanford voted ‘no’ on the proposal, then USC would announce to the assembled press downstairs that, instead of the Pac-8 expanding with an invitation to UA and ASU, USC was instead providing public notice that it would be
withdrawing immediately as a member of the Pac-8. Young told J.D., Doug, and I that everyone had turned white in the meeting room and a recess was called.
Young turned to the three of us and asked “What should we do, if Jack does this?” And I remember that J.D. replied without a moment’s hesitation, “Chuck, you will stand next to Jack Hubbard and say that UCLA is joining USC in withdrawing from the Pac-8 also.” I was gulping, thinking that those guys in the media room had no clue as to the blockbuster announcement that might be forthcoming."
The Arizona schools are coming along with any B1G expansion out West, period, not even a worthy of discussion.