USC could still pursue football independence despite its recent move to the Big Ten, according to FOX Sports analyst Bruce Feldman.
Feldman told ESPN Los Angeles’ “Mason & Ireland” that there’s at least a “puncher’s chance” the Trojans might go independent down the road.
The idea isn’t new for USC. Feldman said independence has been discussed around the program for decades.
“Since the time I moved out here, right when Pete Carroll got it rolling, I feel like there’s always been some thought of, ‘We should go independent… we’re driving the boat on this,'” Feldman said.
USC has long believed it deserves a bigger financial share than other conference teams get.
The Trojans joined the Big Ten this season along with UCLA, Oregon and Washington after leaving the Pac-12. That move came with a massive media deal.
But Feldman questioned whether independence would make financial sense now. When asked for odds on USC reconsidering independence, he put the chances at around 20%.
“I don’t even know if I would go that high,” Feldman added.
Feldman doesn’t expect USC to make such a move anytime soon. But the fact he’s hearing these conversations shows how unpredictable college athletics has become.
The possibility of a squeeze-out scenario in the Big Ten could potentially change USC’s thinking about independence.
