(CNN)In the midst of a major shift in college sports, the two powerful universities in Southern California, UCLA and USC, Leave the Pac-12 conference for the Big Ten Conference on Thursday at the beginning of the 2024-25 season.
The two universities announced their intention to exchange meetings on Thursday in separate statements. Pac-12 said the move was "extremely surprised and disappointed."
They will attend meetings with the University of Michigan, Penn State University, Ohio State University, etc. and create a 16-member conference comparable to the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
In less than a year, a similar move shook the world of college football when Texas and Oklahoma accepted an invitation to join the SEC from the Big 12.
According to the USC, starting August 2, 2024, 10 people have voted to accept both universities as members.
This shift will have a significant impact on future media rights agreements. The USC states that it will confirm its current transaction with Pac-12 until it expires in 2024.
"Ultimately, Big Ten is the best home for USC and Trojan horse athletics. Sports." USC athletic director Mike Bourne said in a statement. “We also benefit from the stability and strength of the conference, the athletic performance of the Big Ten institutions, the visibility, exposure, resource enhancement and the ability of the conference to expand our engagement with passionate people for student athletes and programs. Alumni from all over the country. ”
"Big Ten membership provides Bruins with exciting new competitive opportunities and a broader national media platform for student athletes to compete and showcase their talents. Specifically, this move offers our student athletes a new partnership with organizations across the country, "said Martin Jarmond, UCLA President and Director of Athletics.
UCLA also emphasized "improving TV time slots for road games," acknowledging increased travel time to away games.
In that statement, Pac-12 said it would "continue to prosper" despite the departure of the two universities.
"We have long been known as the Champions Conference and are unwavering in our commitment to expanding its title," the Pac-12 Conference said in a statement. “We continue to develop new and innovative programs that directly benefit member institutions. We look forward to working with current and future members to open up the future of college athletics together.
CNN contacted Big Ten for comment.
