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The Big Ten may have just sparked a second round of major conference realignment in one year.
USC and UCLA are reportedly leaving the Pac-12, according to The Mercury News. The moves could come as soon as 2024.
The report cautions, however, that the realignment “has not been finalized by the highest levels of power.”
USC and UCLA are two key members of the Pac-12, a league that has struggled in recent years to sustain its historic football prowess. The news comes just a year after the Pac-12 brought in George Kliavkoff as the new commissioner.
The moves could also have major implications for media rights. The Big Ten has been negotiating a new deal that could be worth $1 billion annually. With the additions of major brand names like USC and UCLA, the numbers could go even higher.
For the Pac-12, the results could be catastrophic on renegotiations for the league’s media rights, which are up in 2024.
There could be logistical concerns, however, as the closest Big Ten schools are in the midwestern region. UCLA and USC would have to contend with significant travel costs.
