The Pac-12 isn’t going down without a fight.
The conference issued a statement Friday saying its board of directors has “authorized the Conference to explore all expansion options” in the wake of UCLA and USC’s surprise departure to the Big Ten beginning in 2024.
“The 10 university presidents and chancellors remain committed to a shared mission of academic and athletic excellence on behalf of our student-athletes,” the statement continued.
It was a much more forceful statement than the one issued Thursday, which said the conference was “extremely surprised and disappointed” by UCLA and USC jumping ship but otherwise said nothing.