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Big Ten Voting to Add USC and UCLA as Members from 2024

In the midst of seismic changes in college athletics, Big Ten voted Thursday to add Southern California and UCLA as conference members from 2024.

The expansion to 16 teams will expire Pac-12's current media rights agreement with Fox and ESPN, making Big Ten the first conference to spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

This announcement came almost a year after Oklahoma and Texas officially accepted the invitation to the Southeastern Conference in July 2025.

"Ultimately, Big Ten is a great base for USC and Trojan horse athletics. We're moving into a new world of college sports," said Mike Bourne, USC athletic director. rice field. "We are thrilled that our values ​​are in line with the league's affiliates. We also benefit from the stability and strength of the conference. The athletic performance of the Big Ten institutions; the conference is ours. Increased visibility, exposure, and resources that bring student athletes and programs, and the ability to expand engagement with passionate graduates across the country. ”

Big Ten was previously to the country's largest media market. Built on the expansion of, this move allows conferences to keep pace with the SEC as one of the most powerful entities in college sports.

The Big Ten has expanded twice in the last few years, with Nebraska in 2011 and Maryland and Rutgers in 2014.

USC and UCLA meet the Big Ten academic profile. Both schools are one of the 65 members of the Association of American Universities, which is made up of prestigious research universities. All Big Ten Schools except Nebraska are members.

"Pac-12 is always sharing our values, continuing to innovate and working hard for student athletes and many fans," said Martin, UCLA Athletes Director. Jarmond says. "At the same time, each school faces its own challenges and circumstances, and we believe this is the best bet for UCLA at this time. For us, this move provides more certainty in a rapidly changing era. And we guarantee that we will continue to be university athletics leaders for future generations. "

The transition to Big Ten will significantly improve USC and UCLA's bottom line. prize.

Pac-12 distributed only $ 19.8 million per school in fiscal year 2021, which is the lowest of the Power5 conferences. Big Ten's school distribution was $ 46.1 million, second only to the SEC's $ 54.6 million.

Pac-12 struggled to keep track of the conference television network, but Big Ten Network is the most established conference network.

USC and UCLA take a step infootball, both in terms of visibility and competition.

The "Pac-12 After Dark" video game, which starts from midnight to midnight in most countries, makes it difficult for meetings to be exposed. Pac-12 has teamed only twice in the College Football Playoff, Oregon (2014 season) and Washington (2016).

Losing flagship schools like USC and UCLA will be a big blow to the Pac-12, which has long had a friendly relationship with the Big Ten, best shown in the Rose Bowl partnership. prize.

Last August, the Big Ten, Pac-12, and Atlantic Coast Conference formed an alliance following the participation of Oklahoma and Texas in the SEC. At the conference, 41 members said they would take a collaborative approach to envisioning the future of athletics. The three meetings set up some sports scheduling arrangements and pooled resources to promote the welfare of athletes.

If Big Ten adopts two of Pac-12's largest brands in less than a year, the future of the alliance will look uncertain.

USC and UCLA will break the conference relationship a century ago.

The USC attended the Pacific Coast Conference in California, Oregon, Oregon, Stanford, Washington, and Washington in 1922, followed by UCLA in 1928. Pac-8 in 1968, Pac-10 in 1978, and Pac-12 in 2011.

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