Though it is not 100% official yet, plans have been revealed for UCLA and USC to leave the Pac-12 and join the Big Ten as soon as 2024. Multiple reports are confirming this including Jon Wilner of San Jose Mercury News.
This move is very similar to Texas and Oklahoma leaving the Big 12 for the SEC, Solid teams that are competitive in multiple sports leaving a weaker conference to join a stronger one making it an even more competitive conference. Since that transition, there has been a slew of conference realignment which will undoubtedly get even more extreme once this deal with UCLA and USC is finalized.
The Big Ten now will have ties all the way to the west coast and add two schools that have solid football and basketball teams, bringing the total amount of schools to 16 just like the SEC will have when Texas and Oklahoma officially join.
My biggest gripe with all of these conference moves is the names. There are no longer 10 schools so why is it the Big 10? and the SEC is no longer just the Southeast so why is it the SEC? I know I’m being picky but these are the things I think about.
