Ryan Day offers thoughts on Big Ten adding USC, UCLA in 2024

The 2024 college football season will begin both for the Big Ten and on the national level. USC and UCLA will be joining a new conference, while the 12-team playoff will be introduced. Head coaches from across the Big Ten are preparing for what should be a sudden shift, including Ohio State‘s Ryan Day.

For one final season, Day will have the opportunity to compete in the Big Ten East. Divisions will soon be wiped away, bringing scheduling questions. Ohio State knows Michigan will continue to be an annual game, while Penn State could be a possibility due to recent history.

Day thinks adding the two Los Angeles-based schools and placing them on the schedule brings an added element of excitement. Even if the move does not feel too natural.

“I think adding USC and UCLA really is a game-changer in so many different ways,” Day said via the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast. “It’s so different in so many ways. It’s not natural, it’s not a natural rivalry. It’s going to be very untraditional. But those are two very good teams.

“As you think about adding those teams and then in ’24, going away from the divisions. Think about it. We could play the rivalry game, we could play Penn State, you could play USC — all in one season. That’s quite a schedule. It’s just very different now.”

As is the arm’s race between the Big Ten and SEC, Day thinks his conference has the potential to be No. 1. He credits the soon-to-be expanded College Football Playoff and the potential of bids the Big Ten can potentially receive as proof.

“I think we have the capability of being the best conference in America,” Day said. “And I think the addition of those two teams — based on how things play out and then with the 12-team playoff, getting more teams into the playoff. I think it gives us a great chance.”

Ryan Day explains how USC, UCLA move affects recruiting

With any conference realignment move, recruiting is going to be a big topic of discussion. The Big Ten is tapping into uncharted territories out West, with Nebraska being the previously furthest western campus in the conference.

Schools are going to have an easier time recruiting in the state of California. Day believes the transition will take some time but after a few years, every Big Ten program will be looking to pick talent out of the Golden State.

“I think right now, it’s probably the same,” Day said. “As we start to play games out there and they start to travel out this way, I think it will. I don’t think the recruits quite yet feel that. We’ve played in the Rose Bowl twice in the last five years. So, a lot of those guys are familiar with us.

“But the more they see the Big Ten teams coming through the California area, it will open up. I still don’t think that’s going to be a recruiting hotbed for the Big Ten. I still think it’s going to be the Midwest area. It’ll still be our foundation.”

If you count the 2020 recruiting class as Day’s first full cycle, only three players from the state of California have made their way to Colombus. One of those is quarterback CJ Stroud, who worked out pretty well in a Buckeyes uniform.

Eventually, Ohio State will play a conference game in the Colesium or the Rose Bowl. Day will be wanting to keep the Midwest roots instilled. But he will also have the opportunity to sell his program to one of the country’s recruiting hotbeds.