The defection of UCLA, Oregon, Washington, and USC from the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year will stretch the reach of the Big Ten from coast to coast. The name of the conference, already dated, will really be outnumbered when it expands from 14 to 18 teams when the newbies from way out west compete against Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana, Michigan State, Maryland, Penn State, Rutgers, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Purdue.
With that many teams in play, regular matchups every year will not be possible., raising future questions in the minds of fans like “Let’s see, when did we last play Iowa? Was it 2027 or 2028?” Travel west on Route 66 or another highway to sunny California for a November gridiron clash might be welcomed by the Gophers of Minnesota whereas Bruins may bring bearskin rugs with them in January when they tangle with Badgers in Wisconsin.
The new alignment will leave one conference with what Ed Sullivan might have called a really big show and the other one standing in the shadows offstage. 18 is the number of note for teams to want to play through to the end of the round. Will the remaining teams in the Pac-12 have to pack it in?
Wrought Thoughts 