Lost Tradition: USC and UCLA Plan to Sever Century-Long Tenure in Pac-12

If Southern California (103 seasons) and UCLA (97) follow through with their intention to leave the Pac-12 Conference for the Big Ten at conclusion of 2023-24 campaign, they will boast the two lonest stints in an intact coalition before departing. The breakup of the SWC in mid-1990s dismantled the longest tradition. Following are the NCAA Division I schools departing for a different alliance after more than six decades years in a league:

School Longstanding League Member (Seasons) Next Conference (First Season)
Southern California 103 years in PCC/Pac-8/Pac-10/Pac-12 (1922-2024) Big Ten (2025)
UCLA 97 years in PCC/Pac-8/Pac-10/Pac-12 (1928-2024) Big Ten (2025)
Baylor 82 years in SWC (1915-96) Big 12 (1997)
Rice 82 years in SWC (1915-96) WAC (1997)
Texas 82 years in SWC (1915-96) Big 12 (1997)
Texas A&M 82 years in SWC (1915-96) Big 12 (1997)
Southern Methodist 78 years in SWC (1919-96) Western Athletic (1997)
Virginia Military 78 years in Southern (1926-2003) Big South (2004)
Murray State 73 years in Ohio Valley (1949-2022 except for 1962) Missouri Valley (2023)
Texas Christian 73 years in SWC (1924-96) Western Athletic (1997)
Wichita State 72 years in Missouri Valley (1946-2017) American Athletic (2018)
Arkansas 68 years in SWC (1924-91) SEC (1992)
Iowa State 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) Big 12 (1997)
Kansas 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) Big 12 (1997)
Kansas State 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) Big 12 (1997)
Missouri 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) Big 12 (1997)
Nebraska 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) Big 12 (1997)
Maryland 61 years in ACC (1954-2014) Big Ten (2015)