USC and crosstown rival UCLA are leaving the Pac-12 Conference and are set to join the Big Ten Conference Aug. 2, 2024. The announcement was made Thursday night.
The move was unanimously approved by the Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors. The addition of the two schools will bring the membership of the Big Ten to 16 universities.
The Big Ten is now poised to be a coast-to-coast conference, with the largest TV markets as well, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
In a joint statement from Nebraska Chancellor Ronnie Green and Athletic Director Trev Alberts, NU welcomed UCLA and USC to the Big Ten and will look forward to competing with them in the future.
The statement said:
“This is an exciting and historic day for the Big Ten Conference and the University of Nebraska. The addition of UCLA and USC to the Big Ten is a bold, ambitious step during a time of historic change in the collegiate athletics landscape.”
“UNL has a large alumni base in California that will have a great opportunity to regularly watch our teams compete in historical athletic venues in Southern California. Nebraska has had a history of success recruiting athletes from California, and this will only enhance Nebraska’s profile in a fertile recruiting ground.”
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said in a press release that Big Ten membership equates to better television time slots for road games. Block also said they will have the same number of home games at the Rose Bowl and other UCLA venues.
