SEC presidents chair comments on USC, UCLA decision to leave Pac-12 for Big Ten

On3 imageby:Nick Schultz06/30/22

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The conference realignment dominoes started to fall a year ago when Texas and Oklahoma announced they’re leaving the Big 12 for the SEC. Thursday, more developments came as USC and UCLA reportedly decided to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten — and the SEC presidents chair weighed in.

Georgia president Jere Morehead commented on the ongoing situation on Thursday, calling out the many changes across the college football landscape. Not only is conference realignment ongoing, but questions remain about how NIL and the transfer portal impact the game.

“I think this latest development demonstrates the wisdom of actions taken last year by the SEC,” Morehead said, via The Athletic’s Seth Emerson. “We clearly are in a period of instability in college athletics, but I am confident Commissioner Sankey will continue to provide the SEC with outstanding leadership as we navigate significant and ongoing changes.”

The Big Ten presidents are reportedly set to meet Thursday night in what’s been considered a formality to approve USC and UCLA’s move to the league.

Pac-12 insider assesses blame for potential abrupt exit of USC, UCLA

The college football world got turned upside down on Thursday when Pac-12 insider Jon Wilner reported USC and UCLA were preparing to leave the league for the Big Ten. During an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show, he assessed what might be to blame for the decision.

Wilner said the SEC’s media deal with ESPN is likely a major factor in the Big Ten’s — and Fox’s — decision to pursue USC and UCLA. He also pointed to the two “super-conferences” as a huge development in college football, and Fox might have been looking to fiercely compete with ESPN as the Big Ten puts its next media rights agreement together.

“To me, it is clear — and this is just my own opinion — it is clear that Fox is behind this move,” Wilner said. “I think it is reasonable to presume this is Fox’s counterweight to ESPN getting the SEC with Texas and Oklahoma. Now, you’ve got two 16-team leagues and the two conferences have both scooped up the four universities that were really going to bring value, right? USC and UCLA bring value because of LA and USC’s tradition and UCLA basketball. Texas and Oklahoma, obviously, [have] value.

“So the four that were out there are now gone, and the SEC and the Big Ten split them up. ESPN and Fox split them up. Now, you’ve really got two super-conferences and if you’re the other three — I think if you’re the ACC, you’re worried. If you’re the Big 12 you’re worried. And if you’re the Pac-12, you are just dying.”