The Big Ten has officially staked its claim on the footprint of sea-to-shining sea with the news that USC and UCLA will be joining the conference for play beginning in August of 2024.
And while the news was a bombshell that launched a grenade of public uncertainty about the landscape of college football, folks in the Big Ten and the two L.A. schools are excited about what looks to be a pretty lucrative monetary marriage.
But there are some more underrated things besides the Benjamins that should get you excited about this move. It’s easy to criticize a move made for financial gain — and make no mistake, this is what it is — but don’t be afraid to look at what it all means.
While the traditionalists wring their hands and nash their teeth, we’re here to give you ten things (in no particular order) that you can look forward to with the addition of the Pac-12’s two most brand-recognizable athletic programs.
Travel
Jan. 1, 2010; Pasadena, CA, USA; General view of the Rose Bowl prior to the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oregon Ducks. Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Why you should be excited
It’s no secret that Buckeye fans love to travel, as do fans of other Big Ten teams. One of the destinations on many fans’ bucket lists is Pasadena. And while that might be coupled with a Rose Bowl visit for the postseason, it can now be done potentially in the regular season.
There are worse locations to go to than the Los Angeles area to take in Hollywood, beaches, Disneyland, and more — especially as the weather gets colder. Add that to a game in the famed Memorial Coliseum, or better yet, another opportunity to see a game at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains in Rose Bowl Stadium against UCLA in the regular season, and that’s a win in my book.
Trust me — I’ve been twice to SoCal, and if you haven’t experienced a game in Pasadena, it’s worth your time. Now, there are more opportunities to see Big Ten teams in that stadium.
New matchups
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Parris Campbell (21) runs the ball as USC Trojans cornerback Isaiah Langley (24) tackles during the third quarter of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the USC Trojans on Friday, December 29, 2017, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Joshua A. Bickel/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Why you should be excited
USC and Ohio State have a long history…