The Pac-12 Conference on Thursday reacted to the news of Southern Cal and UCLA departing for the Big Ten, and understandably the league did not see the moves coming.

As conference realignment continues to evolve, and conferences grow seemingly each summer, the Big Ten voted Thursday evening to add the new members beginning in 2024. The announcement came almost a year after Oklahoma and Texas formally accepted invitations to join the SEC in July 2025, as the 2 most powerful conferences in America became stronger, and more appealing for new television deals.

“While we are extremely surprised and disappointed by the news coming out of UCLA and USC today, we have a long and storied history in athletics, academics, and leadership in supporting student-athletes that we’re confident will continue to thrive and grow into the future. The Pac-12 is home to many of the world’s best universities, athletic programs and alumni, representing one of the most dynamic regions in the United States. We’ve long been known as the Conference of Champions, and we’re unwavering in our commitment to extend that title. We will continue to develop new and innovative programs that directly benefit our member institutions, and we look forward to partnering with current and potential members to pioneer the future of college athletics together.”