The Big Ten has long considered itself a bastion of sportsmanship and academic integrity, and that was on display again on Thursday when it released a statement about adding Southern Cal and UCLA.

The Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors voted unanimously to admit the schools for all conference sports in the 2024-25 academic year.

The Big Ten explained in a statement that it added the programs and written applications based on a dynamic model weighting 4 primary principles with supporting criteria. The principles include academics and culture; student-athlete welfare, competition, and logistics; commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in sports; and financial sustainability. The model allows the conference to analyze criteria in a strategic and effective manner.

“As the national leader in academics and athletics for over 126 years, the Big Ten Conference has historically evaluated its membership with the collective goal to forward the academic and athletic mission for student-athletes under the umbrella of higher education,” Commissioner Warren stated. “The unanimous vote today signifies the deep respect and welcoming culture our entire conference has for the University of Southern California, under the leadership of President Carol Folt, and the University of California, Los Angeles, under the leadership of Chancellor Gene Block. I am thankful for the collaborative efforts of our campus leadership, athletics directors and Council of Presidents and Chancellors who recognize the changing landscape of college athletics, methodically reviewed each request, and took appropriate action based on our consensus.”