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College realignment has long passed the line of absurdity, yet it keeps finding ways to get even more absurd.
The latest example is a potentially massive move being made by the Big Ten to acquire two of the top West Coast athletics programs in USC and UCLA.
According to Pac-12 reporter Jon Wilner, both California schools are planning to join the Big Ten as early as 2024. Other reporters have since confirmed that USC and UCLA are in negotiations to join the conference.
Source: USC and UCLA are planning to leave for the Big Ten as early as 2024. Move *has not been finalized* at the highest levels of power.
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) June 30, 2022
While athletics conferences have traditionally tried to have schools within a reasonable distance of each other, that’s now long gone in the new age of super conferences.
If this move comes to pass, we’ll be seeing schools like Penn State and USC have to travel to completely opposite ends of the country to face each other. Imagine being an athlete in California and traveling across the country to play in Happy Valley during a snow game in November.
You have to wonder if the SEC will make another realignment move to ensure it remains the best conference in college sports.
Sources: Can confirm @wilnerhotline that USC and UCLA are exploring a move to the Big Ten. The schools have been researching the move for the past few months, and the financial disparity between Big Ten revenue and projected Pac-12 revenue proved the biggest factor.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) June 30, 2022
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