June 30 is a day that will leave the Pac-12 scarred for a long time.
Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News broke the news first, but it was eventually confirmed that both USC and UCLA will be leaving the conference in 2024 to join the Big Ten.
For the CU Buffs, this blow to their home conference isn’t ideal — that much is clear. We’re now all patiently waiting for Rick George to give his thoughts and perhaps lend some direction.
Trojans Wire managing editor Matt Zemek had a busy day and he offered a few ideas on what’s next for the Pac-12:
As such, the domino effect might be getting even crazier. The Pac-12 losing both Los Angeles schools would be a major loss and would force some other programs to come in. A significant reworking of the Pac-12 would have to occur to keep the conference afloat.
Could some Mountain West teams be involved? Or does the Pac-12 merge with the Big 12, which similarly took a hit in terms of football media rights value when Texas and Oklahoma left for the SEC?
Not to get Colorado State fans too excited, but for the Pac-12 to stay alive, the Mountain West will probably play a role. I would, however, venture to guess that most Buffs fans are hoping for a move to either the Big Ten or Big 12. It’s also likely that Pac-12 powerhouses Oregon and Washington will be looking for the nearest exit.
As Zemek said, there’s almost certainly going to be a domino effect.
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