Adding wrestling programs at UCLA and USC would bring significant competitive and financial benefits, especially as they transition into the Big Ten Conference. The Big Ten is the premier wrestling conference in the NCAA, consistently producing national champions and attracting top-tier talent. By establishing wrestling teams, UCLA and USC would tap into the deep high school wrestling talent pool in California, which annually produces some of the best wrestlers in the country. This would allow both schools to recruit elite athletes locally while providing those wrestlers with the opportunity to compete at the highest collegiate level without leaving the West Coast. Additionally, the presence of these programs would further solidify the schools’ standing within the Big Ten by fully integrating into the conference’s athletic culture, increasing visibility and relevance in a sport that garners substantial fan engagement in the Midwest.
