Full coverage: USC, UCLA leaving Pac-12 to join Big Ten (2024)

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Full coverage: USC, UCLA leaving Pac-12 to join Big Ten? ›

August 2, 2024 is the official date that the schools will join the conference, and they will all join as full members, meaning that it isn't just football affected by this 2024 start date. Other fall sports, including soccer and women's volleyball, will also start Big Ten play next August.

August 2, 2024 is the official date that the schools will join the conference, and they will all join as full members, meaning that it isn't just football affected by this 2024 start date. Other fall sports, including soccer and women's volleyball, will also start Big Ten play next August.

After the Big Ten and SEC's new media rights deals, things did not go as smoothly for the Pac-12. Despite the formation of an alliance between the Big Ten, Pac-12, and ACC after Oklahoma and Texas defected to the SEC, USC and UCLA left the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.

Assuming nothing changes over the next two years, they will join the Big Ten in 2024. The Big Ten will this become the first truly national conference with schools in Southern California (UCLA and USC) and the New York City metro area (Rutgers).

UCLA's athletic programs will be allowed to move from their traditional Pac-12 conference to the more financially lucrative Big Ten, the University of California's board of regents decided Wednesday, ending months of debate over financial implications and impacts on athletes having to travel more nationwide.

The Ducks will officially join the Big Ten Conference in August 2024 and will play five league games at Autzen Stadium in their inaugural season. Oregon will host Illinois, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State and Washington in 2024, and will go on the road to Michigan, Purdue, UCLA and Wisconsin.

With the additions of Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA, the Big Ten conference revealed its matchups for the 2024 to 2028 seasons last month and its full 2024 Big Ten schedule on Thursday.

The departure of Colorado last week, the loss of Oregon and Washington, and the expected departure of Arizona leave the league gutted. The only certainties moving forward are California, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State.

UW officially breaks up with the Pac-12 with a one-paragraph letter. The Big Ten unanimously approves UW's and Oregon's applications.

Arguably the main reason the conference fell apart—why 10 of its 12 schools fled, even at a reduced share of revenue—was because it couldn't agree on a new media rights deal. With its current deal set to expire in 2024, the league was the only one in the Power Five without a long-term contract.

Will UC Berkeley leave the Pac-12? ›

Stanford and California are the fifth and sixth Pac-12 teams to join the ACC for 2024, following the universities of Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, and Colorado announcing their departure. It leaves Pac-12 with just two remaining members – Oregon State University and Washington State University.

jpg. Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and the University of Utah will join the Big 12 Conference in 2024, positioning the universities and their student-athletes for increased stability and success.

Now, conference realignment has made its way to the Pac-12 schools in the Bay Area. On Friday morning, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that the ACC had voted to extend invitations to Stanford, Cal and SMU. All three schools have since accepted invitations to join the conference in August 2024.

UCLA Big Ten sports will officially become a reality in 2024. The UC regents approved UCLA's decision to move from the Pacific-12 (Pac-12) conference to the Big Ten conference in a December 2022 meeting.

Financial opportunities: The Big Ten potentially offers greater financial stability and media exposure for these schools compared to the Pac-12. Competitive aspirations: Joining a stronger conference could enhance these teams' chances of national championships and athletic prestige.

UCLA was about to cut sports

UCLA was running out of money hand over fist — until the Big Ten came along. "Given its perilous athletic department finances, UCLA faced the prospect of cutting sports had the school not greed to bolt for the Big Ten," the report said.

The Big Ten will gain USC's baseball, basketball, football, golf, swim and dive, tennis, track and field, volleyball, women's lacrosse, women's rowing, women's cross country and women's soccer teams.

With the addition of USC and UCLA in 2024, the Big Ten will feature 16 teams and no divisions. The first- and second-place teams will qualify for the league championship game.

With the additions of USC and UCLA into the conference, 2024 will be the first season with 16 teams in the Big Ten Conference and no divisional format. The 2024 Big Ten football season will debut the Flex Protect Plus model, which features a combination of protected opponents and rotating opponents for universities.