Report: Big Ten not expected to add any more Pac-12 teams after USC, UCLA
The question about which Pac-12 teams might follow USC and UCLA to the Big Ten has reportedly been answered. It doesn’t sound like any more teams are doing to dart at this point.
The Los Angeles Times’ Ryan Kartje reported none of the other Pac-12 teams are expected to leave the league to join the two schools in the Big Ten. That means Oregon and Washington — two schools who’ve been looked at as possible departures — appear safe for now.
USC and UCLA shook the college athletics landscape with the move, just the latest conference realignment dominoes to fall. The decision to leave the Pac-12 comes less than one year after Texas and Oklahoma announced their stunning departures from the Big 12 to join the SEC, which kicked off realignment.
Big Ten officially announces additions of USC, UCLA
USC and UCLA announced it earlier, but the Big Ten made it official, as well. Both schools will join the league in 2024.
Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren released a statement announcing the moves, which will take the league to 16 teams in just a few years. Now, the conference stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific — and conference realignment continues to be a huge part of the college football landscape.
“As the national leader in academics and athletics for over 126 years, the Big Ten Conference has historically evaluated its membership with the collective goal to forward the academic and athletic mission for student-athletes under the umbrella of higher education,” Warren said in a statement. “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.
“I am thankful for the collaborative efforts of our campus leadership, athletics directors and Council of Presidents and Chancellors who recognize the changing landscape of college athletics, methodically reviewed each request, and took appropriate action based on our consensus.”
Big Ten presidents unanimously approved the two schools’ invitations to join the conference in a vote Thursday