USC is Officially Joining the Big Ten Conference

USC athletics are officially on the move. The school announced it will join the Big Ten Conference, beginning August 2, 2024.

USC released a statement announcing the decision.

“Over the past three years, we have worked hard to ground our university decisions in what is best for our students,” said USC President Carol L. Folt in the statement. “With the Big Ten, we are joining a storied conference that shares our commitment to academic excellence and athletic competitiveness, and we are positioning USC and our student-athletes for long-term success and stability amidst the rapidly evolving sports media and collegiate athletics landscapes. We are delighted to begin this new chapter in 2024.”

“Ultimately, the Big Ten is the best home for USC and Trojan athletics as we move into the new world of collegiate sports,” Athletic Director Mike Bohn said in the same statement. “We are excited that our values align with the league’s member institutions. We also will benefit from the stability and strength of the conference; the athletic caliber of Big Ten institutions; the increased visibility, exposure, and resources the conference will bring our student-athletes and programs; and the ability to expand engagement with our passionate alumni nationwide.”

OFFICIAL: USC will join the Big Ten Conference in 2024.

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) June 30, 2022

This is a monumental move for college athletics. USC and UCLA will both join the Big Ten, allowing the conference to stretch across the entire country.

Financially, USC absolutely had to make this move. USC will likely double its annual conference revenue share by moving from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten.

And yes, both Dr. Folt and Bohn used the word “stability” in reference to USC’s new home conference. The Big Ten is positioned as one of two power conferences moving forward. The SEC is the other. And USC getting an official seat at the table as realignment continues is a big win.

Potential Travel Issues

Folt, in a letter to the USC community, addressed the questions about the increased travel burden this will put on all USC teams now set to compete against Big Ten teams.

“In analyzing a move to the Big Ten, we thoughtfully considered the prospect of additional travel for our student-athletes,” Folt wrote. “We are committed to devoting the necessary resources to ensure our student-athletes can continue to thrive in their coursework with minimal travel disruption. We know the Big Ten shares our commitment to prioritizing student-athletes’ well-being and academic demands, and we are fortunate we can spend the next two years working with the conference on travel and scheduling plans.”

Big Ten Statement

It was a unanimous decision from The Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors to accept UCLA and USC into the conference.

The conference released a statement announcing the new additions.

“As the national leader in academics and athletics for over 126 years, the Big Ten Conference has historically evaluated its membership with the collective goal to forward the academic and athletic mission for student-athletes under the umbrella of higher education,” Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren stated. “The unanimous vote today signifies the deep respect and welcoming culture our entire conference has for the University of Southern California, under the leadership of President Carol Folt, and the University of California, Los Angeles, under the leadership of Chancellor Gene Block. I am thankful for the collaborative efforts of our campus leadership, athletics directors and Council of Presidents and Chancellors who recognize the changing landscape of college athletics, methodically reviewed each request, and took appropriate action based on our consensus.”

Pac-12 Statement

The Pac-12 issued a statement following the news.

“While we are extremely surprised and disappointed by the news coming out of UCLA and USC today, we have a long and storied history in athletics, academics, and leadership in supporting student-athletes that we’re confident will continue to thrive and grow into the future.”

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff has been on the job for one year and has done a very good job in starting to clean up the mess that his predecessor, Larry Scott, left him. But this is a huge job in front of him now to pick up the pieces and figure out what to do with the conference now.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see all 10 remaining conference teams reach out to other conferences about potential movement.