UCLA chancellor, athletic director release statement on Bruins joining Big Ten

UCLA director of athletics Martin Jarmond and chancellor Gene D. Block have released a statement in the wake of the Bruins and longtime rival USC moving to Big Ten from the Pac-12.

“UCLA has deeply valued our membership in the Pac-12 for many years, and we intend to be a member of the conference for the next two years,” the statement read. “We have grown close to the other member schools and have tremendous respect for their commitment to the student-athlete experience.

“The Pac-12 has always shared our values and continues to innovate, working hard on behalf of its student-athletes and many fans. At the same time, each school faces its own unique challenges and circumstances, and we believe this is the best move for UCLA at this time. For us, this move offers greater certainty in rapidly changing times and ensures that we remain a leader in college athletics for generations to come.”

USC and UCLA are not only two of the Pac-12’s most successful schools across athletics, but are two of the largest brands in the country which offer a new market opportunity for the Big Ten. While they fall far outside the current geographic landscape of the conference, the move promises to provide great financial benefit for all parties.

“Although this move increases travel distances for teams, the resources offered by Big Ten membership may allow for more efficient transportation options,” the statement continued. “We would also explore scheduling accommodations with the Big Ten that best support our student-athletes’ academic pursuits.”

The move to the Big Ten would unite the two programs with football powerhouse programs like Ohio State and Michigan, in addition to multiple perineal Top 25 programs across multiple sports that make up the remainder of the conference’s programs – something those inside the Bruins athletic department are eager to get started.

“We recognize these are big changes. We value the talent and dedication of our student-athletes as well as the passion of Bruins fans far and wide,” the statement concluded. “The best way to respect that is to protect our program from the great uncertainty it would face if we did not make this transition. Because of our unique circumstances, we believe this is the right move for the UCLA Bruins and the right time.”