Mike Locksley discusses additions of USC, UCLA to Big Ten

Mike Locksley and Maryland will be one of the teams most heavily impacted by the Big Ten’s decision to add USC and UCLA in 2024. The Terrapins, along with Rutgers, will have to travel from coast to coast to play either school when that time comes.

That said, Locksley is still excited about what both programs bring to the conference. With both schools’ respective histories and the caliber of teams within the Big Ten, he knows how much better the league will be when they come in.

But he might be more excited about the idea of a trip to Los Angeles in the winter.

“It’s created a little bit of a buzz,” Locksley said on ESPN’s Always College Football podcast with Greg McElroy. “Obviously, the iconic programs like UCLA and USC, for what they’ve done in college sports over the years. We have a few of what we call those blue blood programs already, and to add two programs that have storied backgrounds like USC and UCLA can only do one thing and that’s strengthen the Big Ten as one of, if not the leader in terms of conference affiliation.

“I think it’s been a positive thing for us. I think our players are excited. Who wouldn’t be excited about going to LA in November than going maybe to Champaign, Illinois or Bloomington, Indiana in November with the weather?”

Mack Brown shares his reaction to UCLA, USC’s moves from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten

North Carolina coach Mack Brown also joined McElroy to talk about his reaction to the seismic moves. He said it was a similar response to last year’s big move from Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12 to the SEC. The longtime Longhorns coach said it’s just a sign of the times in college football and how quickly things can change.

“I was on the golf course in the mountains of North Carolina,” Brown said. “A guy calls me and says, ‘Hey, USC and UCLA are going to the Big Ten, I hear.’ I said, ‘Eh, that’s not going to happen. It can’t happen.’ I said the same thing about Texas and Oklahoma. ‘They’re not going to the SEC.’

“That was 1:00. By 3:30, it was announced that those two are gone. So things are just happening, Greg, and they’re happening faster than ever before.”