UTAH UTES
USC, UCLA Officially Leaving Pac-12 For Big Ten
SALT LAKE CITY- In an absolute blow to the the Pac-12, USC and UCLA made it official they are leaving for the Big Ten after petitioning to the conference to become members. Naturally, Twitter had a lot to say Thursday afternoon when what initially started as rumors were ultimately confirmed later in the day.
“The University of Southern California will take the historic step of joining the Big Ten Conference in 2024, a move that will position USC and its student-athletes for long-term success in both athletics and academics,” Southern California announced.
OFFICIAL: USC will join the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) June 30, 2022
“After careful consideration and thoughtful deliberation, UCLA has decided to leave the Pac-12 Conference and join the Big Ten Conference at the start of the 2024–25 season,” the Bruins said in a statement.
𝗕𝗜𝗚 news! UCLA is joining the Big Ten Conference at the start of the 2024-25 season! 👀
➡️: https://t.co/ygoY70o2bo#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/Cgj5orGhiI
— UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) June 30, 2022
“Surprised and disappointed” Pac-12 Responds
Shortly after the Trojans and Bruins made their official announcements, the Pac-12 released a statement responding to USC and UCLA’s depature.
“While we are extremely surprised and disappointed by the news coming out of UCLA and USC today, we have a long and storied history in athletics, academics, and leadership in supporting student-athletes that we’re confident will continue to thrive and grow into the future. The Pac-12 is home to many of the world’s best universities, athletic programs and alumni, representing one of the most dynamic regions in the United States. We’ve long been known as the Conference of Champions, and we’re unwavering in our commitment to extend that title. We will continue to develop new and innovative programs that directly benefit our member institutions, and we look forward to partnering with current and potential members to pioneer the future of college athletics together.” – Pac-12 Conference
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) July 1, 2022
How It Started
John Wilner was the first to post the bomb on Twitter stating he had sources tell him the move was eminent and likely to happen as soon as 2024. From there other news outlets began picking up the report and stating they had sources also confirming the Big Ten and USC and UCLA were in talks.
WHOA…🤯 https://t.co/H78VRfxzbz
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) June 30, 2022
Nicole Auerbach of the Athletic followed up Wilner’s report with sources of her own, more or less confirming the same information as Wilner. Having a second noteworthy mouthpiece stating similar information put the conference realignment talks into over drive on social media.
NEWS: USC and UCLA are in conversations to join the Big Ten conference, a source tells @TheAthletic.@wilnerhotline on it first.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) June 30, 2022
Finally, Pete Thamel of ESPN continued to fire up the talks to where it felt inevitable the move would be coming. Thamel’s sources stated the talks were a formality at this point and an announcement was likely coming as soon as Thursday evening.
Spoke to a few sources who called USC and UCLA's move to the Big Ten a formality, with a press conference expected in next 24 hours. Perhaps as soon as tonight. This is essentially done.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) June 30, 2022
What Does This Mean For Utah?
This news leaves a rising Utah football program in a very precarious spot within college football. Do they move to the Big 12? Do they also get an invite to the Big Ten? Or will they be relegated back to a G-5 level either with whatever is left of the Pac-12 or the Mountain West Conference?
It is hard to imagine that Oregon and Washington will stay in the Pac-12 now that the SoCal schools are out. In fact, it seems very likely they will be joining USC and UCLA in the Big Ten. Stylistically speaking, the Utes are a very good fit for the Big Ten, but may not hold enough appeal yet to also make the move north with some of their Pac-12 comrades.
The most likely scenario in the immediate aftermath of the news feels like Utah joins the Big 12 with rival BYU along with Colorado, Arizona, and Arizona State. Action Network HQ’s College Football Insider Brett McMurphy reported later Thursday that such talks are seriously being considered by the Big 12 in an effort to keep up with the move to super conferences.
USC & UCLA move to Big Ten should be completed by Friday & Big Ten may not stop at 16, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. Big 12 may get aggressive & look to add Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado & Utah. “We’re headed to super conferences,” source saidhttps://t.co/um8DBJVJ9s
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) June 30, 2022
What is for certain is Utah has to keep doing Utah. 2022 was already a big season for the Utes and a chance to really show what they have got, but the conference realignments just added another rung of importance to making some noise. If the Utes fall short of the preseason expectations it could mean they are left on the outside looking in, but if they meet the challenge? Sky may be the limit for where they go and what they can do.
