Money is the name of the game in sports, and college football is no exception. After Texas and Oklahoma jumped ship from the BIG12 to the SEC, panic spread throughout the rest of the power 5 conferences. As the need to one-up each other grew, the BIG10 struck first – and perhaps in the most awkward way – by adding USC and UCLA. The PAC-12 is one of the weaker conferences in the country, and that’s with the Trojans and the Bruins; taking them away makes it almost non-existent. Regardless of your feelings about the PAC-12, can you really say that the move to the BIG10 was a good idea for USC and UCLA? I can’t.
It’s going to take some adjusting.
One of the most alluring parts of playing for USC or UCLA is the location. The California coast is known for beautiful landscapes and perfect weather year-round. However, for the players that factored these qualities into their decision, half of their games will now be played in places like Ann Arbor, Columbus, and Madison. While the climate in California helps persuade players and students to attend USC or UCLA, the climate in BIG10 country does the opposite.
Money talks, so the addition of the Trojans and the Bruins financially makes sense to those pulling the purse strings. Unfortunately for the Trojans, money can’t buy easier opponents or stadiums in warmer destinations. Perhaps that’s why their #1 commitment, Malachi Nelson, is taking a visit to SEC country.
If Southern California quarterback commitment Malachi Nelson, who is visiting Texas A&M this weekend, has a change of heart and ends up in the SEC, what does that mean for USC? Obviously they’ll need another quarterback for their 2023 class, but who would they target?
It’s no secret that Lincoln Riley likes Nico Iamaleava, but landing a recruit like Nelson meant that another QB wasn’t needed. Now that Nelson is showing interest in another university, however, Riley’s thoughts are likely on the Tennessee commit. The question is, does Riley and USC have what it takes to pull Nico away from the Tennessee Vols?
