Nebraska is no longer the westernmost outpost of the Big Ten Conference.
News began circling of the potential for USC and UCLA to join the Big Ten after Jon Wilner Tweeted that a source had told him of the plan for the two schools.
Source: USC and UCLA are planning to leave for the Big Ten as early as 2024. Move *has not been finalized* at the highest levels of power.
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) June 30, 2022
Multiple others quickly confirmed the report and several hours later, both USC and UCLA officially announced the move.
OFFICIAL: USC will join the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) June 30, 2022
𝗕𝗜𝗚 news! UCLA is joining the Big Ten Conference at the start of the 2024-25 season! 👀
➡️: https://t.co/ygoY70o2bo#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/Cgj5orGhiI
— UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) June 30, 2022
USC Athletic Director Mike Bohn noted the Big Ten’s “stability and strength”. A message from UCLA Chancellor Gene Block and The Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond echoed Bohn’s sentiment, pointing to “enhanced resources” to allow the school to preserve and maintain all 25 current teams.
USC and UCLA have been members of the Pac-12 dating back to its time as the Pacific Coast Conference. The Trojans joined in 1922 and the Bruins in 1928.
The Big 10 map, effective 2024. pic.twitter.com/sC6UsUV0cg
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 1, 2022
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green and Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Trev Alberts issued a joint statement in support of the move.
“This is an exciting and historic day for the Big Ten Conference and the University of Nebraska. The addition of UCLA and USC to the Big Ten is a bold, ambitious step during a time of historic change in the collegiate athletics landscape. These institutions will add two world-class athletic departments and brands to the Big Ten and stretch the Conference footprint from coast to coast. For the University of Nebraska, there are many positives associated with this expansion. UNL has a large alumni base in California that will have a great opportunity to regularly watch our teams compete in historical athletic venues in Southern California. Nebraska has had a history of success recruiting athletes from California, and this will only enhance Nebraska’s profile in a fertile recruiting ground. We welcome UCLA and USC to the Big Ten Conference and look forward to competing with them in the future.”
The Big Ten is set for a monumental media rights deal, something that will have more high profile schools looking to join the now 16-team league.