USC and UCLA leave Pac-12 for the Big Ten

Are we witnessing the disintegration of PAC-12 in real time? Looks like we might be after John Wellner dropped a bombshell this morning, reporting that USC Trojans And the UCLA Bruins They are “planning to leave” the Pac-12 and defection to the Big Ten, possibly as early as 2024.

Since Wellner’s tweet, CFB journalists have started to pick up speed, and as information pours in in the next hour, ESPN.com’s Pete Thamel and The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach report a done deal, and an announcement imminent:

Modernization: He. She he is ultimate.

This is clearly shocking news for WSU, as much as the Cougars want to continue to stay relevant to the highest level of college athletics — and continue to reap the financial benefits of this arrangement. The next media rights deal for the Pac-12 is around the corner, and the conference’s negotiating position is significantly weak without the two Los Angeles schools in the television footprint.

We’ll update this story as we have more information – and I think I have some ideas that are more coherent at some point today – but for now, in the comments. What happens to us? What happens to the Pac-12?