USC, UCLA may cause Big Ten schools to expand recruiting map

By STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer

Southern California and UCLA’s pending arrivals to the Big Ten theoretically should give the league’s existing members the opportunity to expand their recruiting maps and pursue more West Coast prospects. But it apparently will take some time for these moves to have that kind of impact. Twelve high school juniors or seniors from states with Pac-12 programs have verbally committed to play football at one of the Big Ten’s 14 current member schools. Only four made their decisions after the Big Ten’s June 30 announcement that USC and UCLA would join the league in 2024.