UCLA Proposes Terrible Idea To Save Money In The Big Ten

UCLA might have come up with the dumbest idea imaginable to save some money in the Big Ten.

The Bruins and the USC Trojans are both leaving the PAC-12 for the Big Ten starting in 2024, and in a document outlining costs and other issues ahead of a board of regents meeting, UCLA floated the idea of sharing flights with the programs bitter rival to save money.

Yes, UCLA’s grand plan to save some money is to split rides with USC. The document states the following:

Travel improvements – $4,620,000 to 5,790,000
UCLA intends to mitigate the travel impact on student-athletes by increasing access to charter
flights and minimizing the number of days spent away from campus. After conducting a detailed
cost estimate of charter flights to Big Ten schools, calculating the number of additional charter
flights needed for each team and days spent away from campus, UCLA estimates that it will
spend between $4.62 and $5.79 million per year on increased travel expenses. These costs may
be significantly reduced through efficiencies such as neutral site tournaments, shared flights
between UCLA teams and USC teams, and other accommodations that can further reduce travel
and travel costs to the Midwest and East Coast.

This is a horrific idea for UCLA and USC.

Of all the bad ideas that could have been put in writing, this one is right near the top of the list. UCLA and USC hate each other.

It’s one of the most bitter rivalries in all of sports. The fans don’t like each other, the programs don’t like each other and they both live to ruin the other’s season.

Yet, in an attempt to save a few dollars, UCLA thinks flights across the country could be split. That makes no sense.

Imagine floating Auburn and Alabama or Michigan and Ohio State sharing flights to save money. You’d be laughed out of the room before you could even finish.

For some reason, UCLA thinks it’d be just fine. Spoiler: it likely would not be.

Also, how does this even work out logistically? UCLA and USC will never be playing football or basketball in the same location at the same time. In theory, you could have separate flight legs, but that seems like a complete waste for the team that lands second.

Nothing about this plan makes any sense. It would lead to countless problems and it’s not even clear it would save much money. What a bizarre and unbelievably dumb suggestion from the Bruins.