LOS ANGELES—The University of Californiain–LA (UCLA) and the University of Southern California (USC) confirmed leaving the Pac-12 Conference in 2024, and announcing June 30 they will join the Big Ten Conference in a move that sent shock waves across the world of collegiate athletics.
The leaders of the Big Ten Conference voted Thursday to accept the two schools, effective Aug. 2, 2024.
The shift is a major blow for the “Conference of Champions,” robbing the Pac-12 of its two premiere athletic programs, and cuts the Pac-12 Conference to 10 teams, pending any future realignment.
UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley passes the ball during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Oregon, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
“Over the past three years, we have worked hard to ground our university decisions in what is best for our students,” USC President Carol L. Folt said in a statement. “With the Big Ten, we are joining a storied conference that shares our commitment to academic excellence and athletic competitiveness, and we are positioning USC and our student-athletes for long-term success and stability amidst the rapidly evolving sports media and collegiate athletics landscapes.”…