Just past noon on Thursday, reports emerged that USC (along with its crosstown rival UCLA) was in talks with the Big Ten about a potential conference jump.
By the end of the day, it was official.
USC, in one of the most stunning developments in recent college sports history, is moving to the Big Ten in 2024. And Twitter was subsequently lit ablaze.
Here are a few reactions from the USC Athletics community — as well as those impacted (namely, the Pac-12) — to the earth-shattering news.
USC president Carol Folt:
‘Big’ news, Trojans. In Aug 2024, @USC will join the Big Ten. This positions us for long-term success & stability in a conference that shares our values of academic excellence, athletic competitiveness, and diversity & inclusion across all sports. Fight On!https://t.co/GDvL7l0aBP pic.twitter.com/CyNDrvSXza
— Carol Folt (@PresidentFolt) July 1, 2022
USC athletic director Mike Bohn:
We are excited to join the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
— Mike Bohn (@USC_mikebohn) July 1, 2022
Read our announcement and my statement on this historic step for USC.#FightOn ✌️https://t.co/MQM7Nt0BAj
USC Athletics chief of staff Brandon Sosna:
#FightOn✌🏼 pic.twitter.com/ggk6Ym7f5Y
— Brandon Sosna (@BrandonSosnaUSC) July 1, 2022
Head football coach Lincoln Riley:
Excited to be a part of this historic move-
— Lincoln Riley (@LincolnRiley) July 1, 2022
Can’t wait-
Fight On! ✌️ https://t.co/4hu2z1BuvV
Senior athlete relations coordinator Megan Mueller:
— Megan Mueller (@_meganmueller) July 1, 2022
Women’s basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb:
New exposure and opportunities for our student-athletes coast to coast. I’ve never been part of anything great that wasn’t forward thinking. Here’s to ground breaking possibilities ✌🏼 https://t.co/F9j8kixdRa
— Lindsay Gottlieb (@CoachLindsayG) July 1, 2022
Assistant athletic director Gavin Morris:
LA vs Everybody. Sco Big 10‼️😂
— gavin morris (@DaGman7) July 1, 2022
Football assistant director of player personnel Drew Fox:
Excited for the future of USC Athletics! ✌️ https://t.co/77LUK51UoZ
— Paul “Drew” Fox (@Paul_Fox_) July 1, 2022
Women’s tennis head coach Alison Swain:
Exciting opportunities ahead for our student-athletes. Let’s go Women of Troy! ✌🏼 https://t.co/L5QoQUTUhu
— Alison Swain (@alisonswain01) July 1, 2022
Redshirt freshman quarterback Miller Moss:
Here we go…✌🏼 https://t.co/CdUUhSg8sJ
— Miller Moss (@millermoss7) July 1, 2022
Heisman-winning former USC quarterback Matt Leinart, via Big Ten Network:
"I think going to the Big Ten is gonna be incredible for them."
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) July 1, 2022
🗣@FOXSports analyst and 2004 Heisman winner @MattLeinartQB, on @USC_FB joining the @bigten. pic.twitter.com/Mly9XlmlTc
Former USC long snapper Jake Olson:
Only so many years can you take playing on the road on Friday nights, only so many times can you play at 7:30 PST in front of no national audience, only so many times you can deal with East Coast bias, something had to change and the PAC12 didn’t seem like they were willing to
— Jake Olson (@JakeOlson61) June 30, 2022
Pac-12 Conference:
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) July 1, 2022