The USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins are expected to join the Big Ten Conference as early as 2024, per two separate reports on Thursday.
Jon Wilner of The Mercury-News first reported the potential move of the Pac-12’s two biggest programs.
Brett McMurphy of The Action Network then confirmed that report with a source who is about 90% confident the move will take place.
That was followed by a tweet from ESPN’s Pete Thamel stating that USC and UCLA’s Big Ten move could be officially announced within the next 24 hours.
The Big Ten, which currently sits at 14 members, would expand to 16 teams and would see it’s new footprint extend from coast to coast.
The move is surely a counter to the SEC extending invitations to the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns, who are set to join the conference in 2025. The ACC currently sits at 14 teams, while the Big 12 will have 12 following the addition of BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF and the departure of Oklahoma and Texas.
USC and UCLA leaving the Pac-12 will certainly weaken the conference, which could look to add teams from the Mountain West or even the Big 12. A merger with the Big 12 has also been mentioned.
Stay tuned as the wheel of conference realignment continues to spin with no end in sight.