The Big Ten has 16 teams, so what does this mean for the Illinois Fighting Illini?

USC and UCLA will move to the Big Ten beginning in 2024, so what does this mean for the Illinois Fighting Illini?

Let me start off by saying that I did not see this coming. Thursday evening, Big Ten and PAC-12 presidents and athletic directors met to confirm the transition of two of the most historic athletic programs to date: USC and UCLA. The two additions coming in 2024 bring the Big Ten Conference to 16 schools, and some compelling matchups to look forward to in the near future.

As an alumnus of the Illini, I grew up watching the Big Ten religiously and saw classic games between Michigan State vs. Michigan, Ohio State vs. Michigan, Northwestern vs. Iowa, and Penn State vs. Ohio State. I always thought of the Big Ten as the blueblood Midwest college football conference, where the vast majority of the best games of the weekend would occur between a combination of those schools, but now, there’s a twist.

Expect Illinois to play USC and UCLA in cold and warm temperatures. Not to mention the time difference between the opposite ends of the country, which could make for some brutal travel arrangements to come.

However, I think it is appropriate to look at the benefits. You’ll get fans who want to travel to warm weather to see their alma-mater play. Depending on the stakes or importance of the game, the ratings will only increase. Not to mention the fact that the Big Ten’s television contract is worth $1 billion, according to CBS Sports. And with Illinois’ attempt to turn around the football program, along with the near-immediate turnaround of the basketball program, the pros outweigh the cons.

UCLA vs. Illinois for a bowl berth in November? Sign me up. A conference game to determine a champion in March? Bring it on.

What was the Illinois Fighting Illini reaction to the news?

Illinois responded positively to the news and released a joint statement on behalf of Chancellor Robert Jones and athletic director Josh Whitman. This was the norm across most of the conference, as 2024 is likely the most anticipated year in college athletics.

"“As a founding member of the Big Ten Conference, the University of Illinois is excited to welcome the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California as the Big Ten’s newest member,” the statement read.UCLA and USC are preeminent academic institutions with robust, successful athletic traditions. They stand as two of the most recognizable, celebrated brands in higher education and intercollegiate athletics, and their institutional values and forward-looking vision align with those of our existing membership. We are excited to have them as peers, colleagues, and competitors.College athletics is in a period of intense disruption, with change occurring rapidly around us. For the Big Ten to retain our position as one of the nation’s preeminent conferences, we must continue to be strategic in our thinking, bold in our decisions, and precise in our execution. Today’s news demonstrates all of these qualities and represents a monumental moment in the history of the Big Ten Conference. We thank Commissioner Kevin Warren and the Big Ten staff for their leadership.The University of Illinois is proud to be affiliated with the newly constituted Big Ten Conference, and we look forward to spirited, intense competition on the fields of play and productive, successful collaboration away from them.”"

Although the partnership is two years away, it will be interesting to see if any new developments arise in the coming days, weeks, months, and years to come.