The Trojans once again found themselves in the national spotlight after multiple sources reported that USC and UCLA are planning to move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten as early as 2024.
That will bring the Big Ten to 16 members in total. The Big Ten has had 14 members since Maryland and Rutgers joined back in 2012.
This USC-UCLA move feels like a direct answer to the SEC adding OU and Texas. TV money may also play a role, as Fox is the media rights holder of the Big Ten, and ESPN is the media rights holder for the SEC.
So conference realignment is all well and good, especially for us since it’s a wonderful topic to write on. Jon Wilner had this scoop first, so I’ve been following his Twitter feed to see what else he could dig up.
Then I saw this:
If the Big Ten adds another two teams after USC and UCLA, the SEC will do the same. This could end up being a race to see who ends up as the first 20-team conference.
So who does the SEC add?
Clemson and Florida State feel like no-brainers to me. Clemson is viewed as a pseudo-SEC member already, and Florida-FSU happening more often would also be fun.
Also, Brent Venables vs. Dabo Swinney on a semi-annual basis would be great for the box office.
As for the Big Ten, I’m calling it now: Notre Dame will end up there as a full-on member.
Notre Dame’s hockey team already plays in the Big Ten and geographically, the move makes sense. The Irish did play in the ACC in 2020, but remember: The Big Ten played a shortened season in 2020, the ACC didn’t. COVID won’t be a factor if the Irish do decide to join a conference permanently.
Wilner had another interesting note on who the Big Ten might be looking at:
That’s another wrinkle in all of this. Where do the other top dogs in the Pac-12 end up with USC and UCLA moving? Do they follow to the Big Ten? Does the Big 12 make a move?
Regardless, the way things are going, it seems like the ACC and Pac-12 are in some trouble. If UNC and Duke end up leaving, that’s a backbreaker for the ACC. That’s a lot of basketball money gone.
This is something to watch very closely. The makeup of college sports is going to look very different by the time OU and Texas finally make the move to the SEC.
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