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If USC and UCLA join the Big Ten, here’s how it impacts Michigan

By Cameron Stokes

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 31: the Michigan Wolverines enter the field before the game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Capital One Orange Bowl for the College Football Playoff semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium on December 31, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 31: the Michigan Wolverines enter the field before the game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Capital One Orange Bowl for the College Football Playoff semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium on December 31, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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UCLA and USC could be joining the Big Ten and here’s a look at how it could impact Michigan football and other programs.

We have some major, major news out of the PAC-12. USC and UCLA are coming to the Big Ten, effective as soon as 2024, at least according to a report from Jon Wilner.

How does this impact Michigan athletics?

Well, in the short-term, it has no effect, as the higher levels like commissioner Kevin Warren and all the Big Ten ADs need to approve of it first, but it sounds like it’s pretty much a done deal.

The higher-ups just need to iron out a few details but this isn’t something that I foresee taking too long to clean up.

Both programs bring a lot of money to the table, and it’s interesting, because USC is a private institution, and therefore, would be able to make the same amount of money as all the other programs in the conference. Northwestern is too, but USC is way more known than Northwestern.

It remains to be seen whether some other programs will get kicked out as a result of this, like Rutgers, or Nebraska, or something, but with their additions, the total number of Big Ten programs goes up to 16 I believe.

More could follow, as Oregon is in no man’s land, and will probably beg the Big Ten to join, and other PAC-12 programs as well.

Superconferences are coming to college football, whether we like it or not. The entire landscape of college football is changing, for better, or for worse

In terms of Michigan football, this is very annoying because USC has Lincoln Riley now and now he will be even more involved in battles with Michigan football on the recruiting trail in the future, but in terms of basketball, Michigan should dominate USC.

The opposite for UCLA. Michigan should dominate in football, but trade wins and losses in basketball, since UCLA has had a resurgence under Mick Cronin.

All in all, it’s just gonna make a more difficult path to the playoff, as college football is compressing its conferences, and eventually, will probably only be a few super conferences.

It’s not your daddy’s Big Ten anymore, as the saying goes, and this only further adds to that statement.

I will be watching very closely to see how the Big Ten aligns these programs during football season, as now, hopefully, the Big Ten divisions are been more balanced.

The relativity and travel have now gotten pretty wacky, as USC and UCLA are way, way out West.

Next. 5 bold predictions for Michigan football in 2022. dark

This was just a brief report, but we’ll have a lot more news and information to come soon. Stay tuned.

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