UCLA AD jokes about playing in colder weather with future Big Ten move

The UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans sent shockwaves through the college athletics realm recently when both schools announced they were packing up their bags, leaving the Pac-12, and joining the Big Ten Conference in 2024. One of the big jokes many college fans have made the past few days is how much of a struggle it will be for both the Trojans and Bruins to adjust to the brutally cold temperatures in Big Ten environments in November and December of college football season. In a recent interview on ESPN’s SportsCenter, UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond joked about whether or not he was excited about dealing with the brutally cold temperatures in the Big Ten.

“It’s warm in L.A. all the time, so that’s kind of nice. I don’t know if I would say I’m looking forward to that. But I am looking forward to seeing our student-athletes compete in a different way against different institutions and having some different experiences. This is all new for everyone and I’m excited about the new opportunities to start new traditions, new rivalries. The weather is great in L.A., maybe they’ll be more excited to come out to L.A.,” Jarmond said.

Money is the driving force behind the move

As Ben Bolch of the LA Times beautifully wrote recently,

“This is about the future and erasing the financial sins of the past.” UCLA has piled up a record $102.8 million athletic department deficit for the past three years. The Bruins’ move to the Big Ten will help remedy that and in a big way. In the final year before COVID-19 hit, most Big Ten schools received a $54.3 million payout. That’s nearly twice the amount of what the Pac-12 schools received–$33.6 million.

As Colin Cowherd recently noted, “The Big Ten is a monster” when it comes to revenue. That money monster will help to solve many of UCLA’s financial problems of the past and in the future.

More information on UCLA and USC joining the Big Ten

Both USC and UCLA will join the Big Ten in 2024 after more than 100 years as members of the Pac-12. The move comes less than a year after Texas and Oklahoma announced they’re leaving the Big 12 for the SEC in the near future. Now, another seismic change is coming to college athletics — specifically college football.

UCLA brings a rich athletic tradition to the Big Ten having claimed 119 national championships in its history. It also boasts athletes such as Jackie Robinson, Troy Aikman, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar throughout its illustrious past.

The Bruins will hope to continue that success in the Big Ten, where they’ll face many historic programs such as Ohio State and Michigan to name a couple. It will certainly be tough, but with the way college sports is headed, Jarmond believes it is the right move.

On3’s Chandler Vessels also contributed to this article.