Big Ten university presidents voted Thursday night to accept the applications of USC and UCLA to join the conference, marking a seismic shift in the collegiate athletic landscape. The Trojans and Bruins will leave the Pac-12 for their new league in 2024 as the Big Ten expands from coast to coast in a move that rivals the SEC’s poaching of Oklahoma and Texas from the Big 12 last year.
The upcoming move comes as the Pac-12’s media rights deal expires in 2024 and as the Big Ten negotiates a new media rights deal that could top $1 billion a year. As for the Pac-12, the change puts the league and its commissioner, George Kliavkow, in a precarious position. On Thursday, Klyavkov completed one year of work.
USC and UCLA are two of the Pac-12’s most valuable brands, both in terms of success and visibility. Their entries into the Big Ten would create a second superconference along with the expanding SEC. Both will be 16 teams after USC and UCLA move to the Big Ten when Texas and Oklahoma enter the SEC, which is scheduled to happen in 2025.
As this latest realignment saga plays out, CBS Sports will continue to cover this developing story with live updates below.
Add Comment