Michigan football's history vs. new Big Ten foes USC and UCLA

Michigan football will soon have new company in the Big Ten Conference with the addition of USC and UCLA. The Wolverines have a storied history with both programs thanks to the Big Ten and Pac-12’s long-running meetings in the Rose Bowl.

USC and UCLA were approved as members of the Big Ten on Thursday evening after a day full of media reports. Both schools will begin conference play in August 2024.

The Wolverines are a combined 12-11 against the Los Angeles schools. USC holds a 6-4 advantage in the series with eight of the 10 meetings coming in the Rose Bowl. The Trojans have won six of eight matchups during the New Year’s Day showdown with its two losses coming in 1948 and 1989. Michigan’s last win in the series came in 1989, a 22-14 victory. The two teams last met in 2007, a 32-18 win for USC.

U-M holds an 8-3 all-time advantage over the UCLA Bruins, who call the Rose Bowl their home stadium. In the Rose Bowl Game, the two squads have met only once, a 24-14 victory for UCLA in 1983. One other bowl matchup occurred between the two programs, a 33-14 Wolverines victory in the Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston, Texas in 1981.

U-M and UCLA last met in 2000, a 23-20 Bruins victory. The Wolverines won three-straight prior to that in games that took place in 1989 (Pasadena), 1990 (Ann Arbor) and 1996 (Ann Arbor), respectively. U-M previously won five straight in the series in games that took place in 1956-81.

Michigan vs. USC all-time series

Jan. 1, 2007 – USC 32, U-M 18 (Rose Bowl)

Jan. 1, 2004 – USC 28, U-M 14 (Rose Bowl)

Jan. 1, 1990 – USC 17, U-M 10 (Rose Bowl)

Jan. 2, 1989 – U-M 22, USC 14 (Rose Bowl)

Jan. 1, 1979 – USC 17, U-M 10 (Rose Bowl)

Jan. 1, 1977 – USC 14, U-M 6 (Rose Bowl)

Jan. 1, 1970 – USC 10, U-M 3 (Rose Bowl)

Sept. 27, 1958 – U-M 20, USC 19 (Ann Arbor)

Sept. 28, 1957 – U-M 16, USC 6 (Los Angeles)

Jan. 1, 1948 – U-M 49, USC 0 (Rose Bowl)

Wolverines vs. UCLA all-time series

Sept. 16, 2000 – UCLA 23, U-M 20 (Pasadena)

Sept. 28, 1996 – U-M 38, UCLA 9 (Ann Arbor)

Sept. 22, 1990 – U-M 38, UCLA 15 (Ann Arbor)

Sept. 23, 1989 – U-M 24, UCLA 23 (Pasadena)

Jan. 1, 1983 – UCLA 24, U-M 14 (Rose Bowl)

Sept. 25, 1982 – UCLA 31, U-M 27 (Ann Arbor)

Dec. 31, 1981 – U-M 33, UCLA 14 (Bluebonnet Bowl)

Sept. 23, 1972 – U-M 26, UCLA 9 (Los Angeles)

Sept. 25, 1971 – U-M 38, UCLA 0 (Ann Arbor)

Sept. 30, 1961 – U-M 29, UCLA 6 (Ann Arbor)

Sept. 29, 1956 – U-M 42, UCLA 13 (Ann Arbor)

Leadership weighs in on new additions to conference

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel and interim president Mary Sue Coleman released a joint statement on Friday welcoming the two schools to the conference. They also vow that Michigan will be involved in the conversations about the logistics of the transition.

“On Thursday (June 30), the Big Ten Conference unanimously voted to accept the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California as full members in all sponsored sports effective August, 2024,” the statement read. “We are pleased to confirm this decision and extend a warm welcome to our newest members, both of which are renowned research universities, members of the Association of American Universities and championship-level athletic departments.

“In the coming days and months, and ahead of UCLA and USC officially starting Big Ten Conference competition, there will be many logistical questions and considerations for the membership to carefully consider. We will be inclusive and thoughtful in the many important aspects of our new conference makeup with a full commitment to a positive student-athlete experience and fiscal sustainability to support our mission.

“In the midst of a changing college sports landscape, we hope that you will join us in welcoming the Bruins and Trojans to the B1G family.“