USC makes move official, will join Big Ten in 2024
USC has applied for membership to and been accepted by the Big Ten. The Trojans will join the conference in 2024.
A press release from the program announced the news Thursday afternoon.
OFFICIAL: USC will join the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) June 30, 2022
Both USC and UCLA will become full members of the conference—entitled to full payouts of the media rights’ revenue immediately—on Aug. 2, 2024. The Trojans say they expect to remain with the Pac-12 through the end of the conference’s current media rights contract.
“We look forward to competing these next two years in the Pac-12 and want to express our sincerest gratitude to the conference and its member institutions for decades of wonderful experiences,” athletic director Mike Bohn said in a statement. “The Trojans’ outstanding athletics heritage will always be synonymous with the Pac-12, and there are so many iconic moments and memories we will cherish forever. We hold the Pac-12 and our respected colleagues in the highest regard.
“This is the most volatile and uncertain era in the history of American collegiate athletics. USC must ensure it is best positioned and prepared for whatever happens next, and it is our responsibility to always evaluate potential opportunities and be willing to make changes when needed. Ultimately, the Big Ten is the best home for USC and Trojan athletics as we move into the new world of collegiate sports. We are excited that our values align with the league’s member institutions. We also will benefit from the stability and strength of the conference; the athletic caliber of Big Ten institutions; the increased visibility, exposure, and resources the conference will bring our student-athletes and programs; and the ability to expand engagement with our passionate alumni nationwide.”
USC President Carol L. Folt added that the Big Ten offers USC a league that “shares our commitment to academic excellence and athletic competitiveness.”