The Big Ten may be expanding beyond 14 teams.
According to Jon Wilner, who covers the Pac-12, UCLA and USC are “planning to leave for the Big Ten as early as 2024.”
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
The Big Ten has not expanded since Rutgers and Maryland joined the conference in 2014.
Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated also reported Thursday that UCLA and USC are “in negotiations” to join the Big Ten.
USC and UCLA are in negotiations to join the Big Ten conference, a source tells @SINow, confirming @wilnerhotline‘s report.
A stunning but not all that surprising move: Teams are jockeying to get into the top two leagues of FBS – the SEC and B1G.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) June 30, 2022
Update from Dellenger:
The Big Ten presidents met last night, discussed USC & UCLA’s entry into the league and conducted, basically, a straw poll, sources tell @SINow.
It wasn’t close. They agreed to expand the conference.
A formal vote could come in a matter of days if not *hours.*
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) June 30, 2022
And from Pete Thamel:
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
We’ll continue to monitor this developing story.
Filed to: Big 10 expansion
