Two of the Pac-12’s flagship programs — USC and UCLA — were notified Thursday night that their applications to join the Big Ten Conference had been accepted. Both USC and UCLA will start competing in 2024.
The move comes nearly a year after both Oklahoma and Texas agreed to leave the Big 12 to join the likes of Alabama, Auburn and Florida in the Southeastern Conference.
The move gives both the SEC and Big Ten conferences 16 teams each in what pundits are calling “super conferences.”
Now the million dollar questions remains, does the Pac-12 fold — with other schools joining other conferences — or do they stick together and find two other schools (P5 or non P5), to help fill the void.
On Friday, the Pac-12 released a statement regarding UCLA and USC decision to depart.
“The Pac-12 Board of Directors met this morning and authorized the Conference to explore all expansion options. The 10 university presidents and chancellors remain committed to a shared mission of academic and athletic excellence on behalf of our student-athletes” the statement read.
Washington, Washington State, Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford, Cal, Colorado, Utah, Oregon and Oregon State are the remaining 10 schools.
Not wanting their conference to be next, sources say the Big 12 and ACC are looking at the possibility of taking several Pac-12 schools. While it’s safe to say that Washington and Oregon are hoping to join the SEC or Big Ten Conference, the reality is that there’s a good chance that it might not happen.
Pac-12 officials are trying to work out a TV deal in hopes to keep schools from jumpign ship, however, in the day and age of every school for himself, the most logical move would be for 4-6 Pac-12 schools (Oregon, Washington, Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado) to join the Big 12 Conference.
College football is clearly moving toward a superconference era and the never ending arms race that is collegiate athletics. And while USC and UCLA are in the spotlight, the biggest domino to fall will be which school is next and where do they go.
Just got off the phone with someone who believes this eventually leads to two megaconferences — the Big Ten and SEC — with 20 or more members apiece.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) June 30, 2022
