Helena Frye
The USC Trojans men's basketball program is a college basketball team representing the University of Southern California. In 2024, USC joined the Big Ten Conference, which is one of the oldest and most successful conferences in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. The move was widely credited as having prompted a sea change in the college sports landscape, as it created the first truly national conference.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Year of joining | 2024 |
| Previous conference | Pac-12 |
| Other members | Oregon, UCLA, Washington |
| Number of members | 2 |
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What You'll Learn
USC basketball joins the Big Ten Conference
The University of Southern California (USC) basketball team, the Trojans, has joined the Big Ten Conference. This move was announced in 2022 and took effect on August 2, 2024, marking a significant shift in the college sports landscape.
The Trojans' transition to the Big Ten Conference is a notable development in the history of college athletics. The Big Ten Conference is one of the oldest and most prestigious conferences in the country, and USC's inclusion further elevates its stature. The move is expected to bring about benefits both on and off the playing field for the university.
Historically, USC's basketball team has been a powerhouse, with a rich history dating back to its first official game in 1907. Over the years, the Trojans have achieved numerous accolades, including 25 All-Americans, 14 league championships, 16 NCAA tournament appearances, and two Final Four appearances. With their move to the Big Ten Conference, the Trojans will face new challenges and opportunities, competing against some of the nation's top basketball programs.
The 2024-25 season marks the first season for the Trojans in the Big Ten Conference. They will play each of the new conference schools once, either home or away, and will also compete in a home-and-home series with fellow new members Oregon, UCLA, and Washington. The Trojans' inclusion in the Big Ten Conference adds a layer of excitement and competition to the league, as they bring their own unique style and strategic innovations to the table.
USC's decision to join the Big Ten Conference is a strategic move that aligns with the university's priorities and goals. The conference is known for prioritizing academic excellence alongside athletic prowess, creating a well-rounded and competitive environment for its member institutions. The move also opens up new possibilities for collaboration and expansion within the world of college athletics.
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The Big Ten Conference is one of the most successful
The University of Southern California (USC) Men's Basketball team is part of the Pac-12 conference. However, in 2022, USC announced a move to the Big Ten Conference, joining in 2024.
The Big Ten Conference is indeed one of the most successful and oldest collegiate athletic conferences in the United States. Formed in 1896, it predates the founding of the NCAA by a decade. It was initially started by the Universities of Chicago, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Northwestern. Iowa and Indiana joined in 1899, and Ohio State in 1912. The conference was first referred to as the Big Ten in 1916 when Michigan rejoined after a nine-year absence.
The Big Ten has a rich history of athletic excellence, particularly in football, where it has traditionally been one of the strongest conferences. It resisted the overcommercialization of college football by limiting each team to one bowl game appearance per year until 1975. From 1947 to 2001, the Big Ten consistently sent a representative team to the Rose Bowl, the oldest of the postseason invitational events.
The conference has also cultivated intense rivalries, such as between Iowa and Iowa State, Indiana and Kentucky in men's basketball, and several football rivalries, including with Notre Dame.
The Big Ten has continued to evolve, expanding to 14 schools in 2014 and 18 members in 2024, including the addition of USC. It has also diversified its sports offerings, announcing the sponsorship of men's and women's lacrosse in 2013. The conference's commitment to both academic and athletic excellence has made it a desirable destination for many universities, reshaping the college sports landscape.
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USC's first season in the Big Ten
The University of Southern California (USC) officially joined the Big Ten Conference on August 2, 2024, along with crosstown rival UCLA. The move was widely credited as having prompted a sea change in the college sports landscape, creating the first truly national conference. The Big Ten is the oldest and one of the two most successful athletic conferences in the country, with its history traced back to an 1895 meeting of representatives from seven universities to organize and develop principles for regulating intercollegiate athletics.
In its first season in the Big Ten, the USC Trojans finished with a 7-6 overall record and a 4-5 mark against conference opponents. While the Trojans struggled at times, head coach Lincoln Riley is optimistic about the program's future in the conference. The Trojans' 2024 conference home opponents included Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin, while their away games included Maryland, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, and UCLA.
Looking ahead, the Big Ten Conference has announced USC's 2024 and 2025 football opponents. In 2025, USC will face Indiana, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, and UCLA at home and will travel to Minnesota, Ohio State, Rutgers, and Wisconsin. The addition of USC and UCLA to the conference has expanded it to 16 teams, and the 2024 season will debut the Flex Protect Plus model, which includes a combination of protected opponents and rotating opponents for universities.
USC's move to the Big Ten Conference is expected to bring significant benefits on and off the playing field. The conference is known for prioritizing academic excellence alongside athletic competition, and USC's membership in this prestigious group is expected to enhance its reputation and provide new opportunities for the university and its students.
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USC basketball's former conferences
The University of Southern California's basketball team, the USC Trojans, has participated in several conferences over the years.
In 1922, USC joined the Pacific Coast Conference. The Trojans won the PCC Southern Division and Pacific Coast Conference basketball championship in 1954. The Pacific Coast Conference disbanded in 1959, and its principal members founded the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU), with California, UCLA, USC, and Washington as the four charter members. Stanford joined during the first month, and the conference was informally known as the Big Five.
In 1962, the conference became known as the Big Six when Washington State joined. Oregon and Oregon State joined in 1964, and the conference became known as the Pacific Athletic Conference and then the Pacific-8. In 1968, the AAWU was formally renamed the Pacific-8 Conference, or Pac-8 for short. The conference expanded to include Colorado and Utah in 2011, becoming the Pac-12.
In 2022, USC announced its move to the Big Ten Conference, along with UCLA. This move created the first truly national conference, bringing together members who prioritized academic excellence and athletic competition. The Trojans' first season in the new conference was in 2024-25, marking a new chapter in the team's history.
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The benefits of joining the Big Ten
The University of Southern California (USC) is set to join the Big Ten Conference, a move that will bring several benefits to the university. The Big Ten is the oldest and one of the most successful conferences, with a storied history of prioritizing academic excellence alongside athletic competition.
Financial Benefits
The Big Ten Conference provides sustainable financial support to its members, particularly through lucrative TV contracts. This support can help member institutions maintain their powerhouse status in the evolving world of college sports. Additionally, the super-conference model of the Big Ten offers significant revenue-sharing opportunities, which can be advantageous even for institutions with independent broadcasting contracts, such as Notre Dame.
Academic and Research Benefits
The Big Ten Academic Alliance opens doors to new partnerships and collaborations with prominent universities such as Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. The alliance also provides access to the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), which offers a range of benefits, including:
- Library exchange programs, allowing instantaneous access to the extensive libraries of member institutions, which is especially beneficial for research.
- Scholar exchange programs, enabling member schools to borrow or trade faculty for set periods, enhancing the expertise available to various departments.
- Leadership development programs for deans, faculty, and chairs, fostering growth and improvement.
Athletic Benefits
In addition to financial support, the Big Ten Conference provides opportunities for athletic collaboration and competition with 17 other institutions. This collaboration can help institutions navigate the challenges of the college sports world and create long-standing rivalries, adding excitement and tradition to athletic programs.
Graduation Rates
The University of Washington, a member of the Big Ten, has seen its graduation rates rise to match those of its peers in the conference. The Big Ten's graduation rate is 20 points above the national average, indicating a positive impact on academic success.
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Frequently asked questions
USC basketball is in the Big Ten Conference.
USC basketball joined the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
Oregon, UCLA, and Washington joined the Big Ten Conference alongside USC.
