UCLA AD Martin Jarmond breaks down timeline, reasoning behind Big Ten move

It seemed sudden on Thursday when reports surfaced USC and UCLA were looking to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten. As it turns out, the timing was right, according to UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond.

During an appearance on SportsCenter, Jarmond said with college landscape evolving right before our eyes, he and UCLA wanted to make sure they stayed ahead of the curve. He said the Big Ten fit the bill, and that’s when the ball got rolling — and more conference realignment dominoes started falling.

“College athletics has changed so much,” Jarmond said. “It’s a very dynamic time right now in our business. With everything in the landscape changing, you’re constantly evaluating what are the opportunities, what is the path forward to put your student-athletes in the best position to be successful and resource and support them in the best ways?

“When you look at the landscape, the Big Ten Conference is very strong from the standpoint of the tradition, the academic fit and the institutions there … and then high-level athletics. With that combination, it just made a lot of sense for us to look at the Big Ten and call the Big Ten our home for the future.”

UCLA AD Martin Jarmond on why the time was right to leave for the Big Ten

Jarmond cited last year’s major decisions by Texas and Oklahoma to leave the Big 12 for the SEC as a spark for the changes across college sports. Add in questions around NIL and the transfer portal, and it led UCLA to take a close look at where it stood amid everything.

“Well, you take it back to a year ago,” Jarmond said. “Obviously, with Texas and Oklahoma going to the SEC, I think that kind of sent some shockwaves throughout college athletics. Then with name, image and likeness and transfers and just so many things and the transformation committee, it’s just a dynamic time. So you have to really take stock of where you are, where you’re going, where you want to be and how best to position [yourself] for the future. And that’s what this is about.

“We want to position our student-athletes and UCLA to be the best and to be in the position of strength going forward. As long as they wear those four letters and represent Bruin Excellence, that’s what it’s about. Looking at the landscape, the Big Ten has done a great job positioning themselves and will continue to do so. We’re excited about joining the Big Ten in 2024.”