The Big Ten has officially staked its claim on the footprint of sea-to-shining sea with the news that USC and UCLA will be joining the conference for play beginning in August of 2024.
And while the news was a bombshell that launched a grenade of public uncertainty about the landscape of college football, folks in the Big Ten and the two L.A. schools are excited about what looks to be a pretty lucrative monetary marriage.
But there are some more underrated things besides the Benjamins that should get you excited about this move. It’s easy to criticize a move made for financial gain — and make no mistake, this is what it is — but don’t be afraid to look at what it all means.
While the traditionalists wring their hands and nash their teeth, we’re here to give you ten things (in no particular order) that you can look forward to with the addition of the Pac-12’s two most brand-recognizable athletic programs.