Traditions aren’t an easy thing to let go. That’s why it was so jarring when the UCLA Bruins left the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten Conference back in 2024. Aside from the football field, every other UCLA team has had some success in the Big Ten, including the No. 1 ranked Bruins baseball team.
No. 1 UCLA just wrapped up their winningest regular season in program history and are now in the midst of a Big Ten tournament run, after coming up just short last year with a second place finish. 2026 is as good a chance as any for UCLA to bring home another national title, something the team hasn’t done since 2013.
247 Sports writer Jack Savage, who’s the son of UCLA’s head coach John Savage told the story of how his father found out that UCLA was headed to the Big Ten, with it being Mick Cronin who broke the news to him. What made things even trickier for Savage was the fact he didn’t have much time to absorb the news, as it was the day of his daughter’s wedding.
“They were both pretty stunned and couldn’t believe it. The two friends exchanged a few quips (and expletives), but knew there was no time to dwell. My dad didn’t exactly have much time to process a career-altering move considering he had to walk his oldest daughter down the aisle the next day,” Savage wrote. “Nowadays conference realignment feels like old hat, and something that happens every other day. But back then, it basically felt like the world was ending. No one knew what to think. Sure, it was one thing for Texas and Oklahoma to join the SEC. But USC and UCLA going to the Big Ten?”
Just two seasons later, UCLA baseball is looking right at home in their new conference.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Mick Cronin broke UCLA’s move to the Big Ten Conference to John Savage
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
