Big Ten votes to add USC, UCLA as members starting in 2024

The Big Ten decided on Thursday to include Southern California and UCLA as league members starting in 2024, a stunning and seismic move in collegiate athletics.

It is expected that the Pac-12’s present media rights contracts with Fox and ESPN will expire, which would allow the Big Ten to become the first league to span the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

Almost a year after Oklahoma and Texas formally accepted offers to join the Southeastern Conference, the Pac-12 was surprised by the announcement.

A unanimous decision by the Big Ten Conference’s Council of Presidents and Chancellors approved the addition of USC and UCLA to its membership, according to Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren.

“Ultimately, the Big Ten is the best home for USC and Trojan athletics as we move into the new world of collegiate sports,” USC athletic director Mike Bohn said. “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.”