USC reportedly did not want Oregon and Washington to follow them into the Big Ten.

Their admission into the conference is expected to be finalized soon. Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, one of USC’s goals in joining the Big Ten was to become the top “destination” for recruits on the west coast.

“Former USC AD Mike Bohn had made it pretty clear internally at USC that part of the allure of this move was that they can own the west coast,” Thamel said on the Paul Finebaum Show on Friday. “They can be the ‘west coast destination.’ They can be the place that recruits want to go. They’d be making twice as much money from TV as any other west coast competitor.

“And so that was not something negotiated in the deal, Paul, I want to be clear. But it was something that was certainly talked about and something coveted and valued.”

With Oregon and Washington set to the join the Big Ten, they each figure to be formidable adversaries on the recruiting trail for USC and UCLA.

While the Big Ten reportedly voted unanimously to accept Oregon and Washington, Thamel notes that USC (and UCLA) did not have a vote as they are not yet members of the conference.

It’s also worth noting that Bohn and former Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren, who added USC and UCLA last summer, have both departed their respective posts.

USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington are all expected to compete in the Big Ten in 2024-25.