UCLA, USC & Penn State, Part 2: Head to Head, Past & Future

This is the second of a three-part series on the addition of UCLA and USC to the Big Ten.

Monday — By The Numbers

Today — Head to Head, Past & Future

Friday — Football

Travel will be an issue when Penn State starts facing new California-based Big Ten Conference members USC and UCLA in August 2024. In both directions.

It is over 2,260 miles from PSU to USC and UCLA.

The presidents of USC and UCLA acknowledged the travel challenges in the days after their institutions were admitted as the 15^th and 16^th members of the Big Ten.

“In analyzing a move to the Big Ten, we thoughtfully considered the prospect of additional travel for our student-athletes,” said USC president Carol Folt. “We are committed to devoting the necessary resources to ensure our student-athletes can continue to thrive in their coursework with minimal travel disruption. We know the Big Ten shares our commitment to prioritizing student-athletes well-being and academic demands, and we are fortunate we can spend the next two years working with the conference on travel and scheduling plans.”

The first priority, though? Money. That’s why they jumped to the Big Ten.

A huge influx of new cash should ease the pain — the schools’, if not the athletes themselves — of literally playing halfway across the country on a regular basis. USC and UCLA will soon be pulling down $100 million a year each from the Big Ten – enough that they can charter (or buy) their own jets, as well as afford extended road trips that may include multiple Big Ten campus stops, remote classroom attendance and perhaps shared travel by men’s and women’s squads from the same or different schools.

UCLA chancellor Gene Bock also weighed in: “Although this move increases travel distances for teams, the resources offered by Big Ten membership may allow for more efficient transportation options. We would also explore scheduling accommodations with the Big Ten that best support our student-athletes’ academic pursuits.”

Road warrior fatigue, midweek trips of 1,000-plus miles to play a featured women’s volleyball game on the Big Ten Network and good ol’ jet lag aside, the addition of USC and UCLA will make Penn State’s road to success even tougher in many sports. Nearly all of the UCLA/USC teams are at bare minimum good, many are great and several are elite.

Both schools, and most of their teams, make the Big Ten better. I’m excited for a lot of what UCLA and USC bring to the table – and the field.

LEARFIELD DIRECTORS’ CUP

The overall strength of a collegiate program can be measured, in part, by its finish in the Learfield Directors Cup standings. For the Cup, final national finishes are computed for a maximum of 19 sports, and four sports must be included: baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and women’s volleyball. The next 15 sports (maximum) are scored for each institution, regardless of gender, and are included in the standings.

USC and UCLA both fare well in California-style sports, like water polo, volleyball and beach volleyball. UCLA is a softball powerhouse. Both schools have well-rounded programs, too. UCLA had 17 different sports score Learfield points in 2021-22; USC had 16 sports score. Penn State had only 11. (Uh, attn: Patrick Kraft.)

Here are the past five Directors Cup finishes for USC, UCLA and Penn State, as well as the top two programs in the Big Ten, Ohio State and Michigan (there were no standings in 2019-20 due to the pandemic). Penn State finished seventh among Big Ten programs in 2021-22.

HEAD TO HEAD

Let’s take a look at the history of Penn State vs. USC and UCLA on the playing field, plus a quick overview of the state of the programs. Penn State sponsors 31 varsity teams; UCLA has 23 and USC has 21. First, though, here is the list of sports teams competing in the NCAA at Penn State, but not at UCLA and USC — and vice versa:

At PSU, but not at UCLA (10): Field hockey, men’s and women’s fencing, men’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s ice hockey, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s swimming and diving, wrestling.

At PSU, but not at USC (13): Men’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s fencing, men’s and women’s ice hockey, men’s and women’s gymnastics, men’s lacrosse, men’s swimming and diving, men’s soccer, softball, wrestling.

NCAA sports at USC and UCLA, but not at Penn State (5)

Women’s beach volleyball, women’s rowing, men’s and women’s water polo.

BASEBALL

PSU vs. UCLA and USC: Have not met.

State of the programs: West Coast trips will not be easy for Penn State, even though the program is on a bit of a roll, having gone to the Big Ten postseason tournament in 2022, its first trip there since 2012. They went 1-2. The Nittany Lions finished sixth in the Big Ten regular season (11-13, 26-29 overall) under Rob Cooper, who has been at PSU since 2014.

UCLA is a legit powerhouse, and just went to its 14th NCAA postseason in the past 18 years. They won the College World Series title in 2013 under John Savage, who has been at USC for 19 years. They were 40-24 in 2022. USC used to be a powerhouse, having won 12 NCAA titles. They fired their coach after the 2022 season and hired former MLB player Andy Stankiewicz, who built Grand Canyon into a perennial winner. USC was last in the Pac-12 in ’22. By the time PSU and USC meet in 2024, we’ll know if the Trojans are on the road back to glory.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

PSU vs. UCLA: 1-0. Series highlights: The Nittany Lions, seeded No. 13, beat No. 4 seed UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 74-69, in the Syracuse Carrier Dome on March 15, 1991. #PSUhoopsnirvana

PSU vs. USC: 2-0. Series highlights: Behind captain Jesse Arnelle, Penn State beat USC in the consolation game of the NCAA Final Four, 70-61, in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 20, 1954, to finish third in the tournament. The Nittany Lions also beat USC, 63-61, in the Charleston (S.C.) Classic on Nov. 23, 2014.

State of the programs: Penn State has its work really (really) cut out for it. Both teams made the NCAA tournament in 2022; USC (26-8) lost in the first round, while UCLA (27-8) made it to the Sweet 16. USC is on a roll; they’ve made four tournaments in the last seven years, with six 20-win seasons. The Bruins may be far from the days of John Wooden, and won their last national title in 1995. But they are still big-time, advancing to the Final Four in 2021.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

PSU vs. UCLA: 1-2. Series highlights: In their last meeting, on Feb. 6, 1983 at the Miller-High Life Classic in L.A., No. 19 Penn State beat No. 18 UCLA, 79-70.

PSU vs. USC: 1-3. Series highlights: In their last meeting, at the Winston Tire Classic in L.A., Penn State lost 79-66 to No. 1 USC. (Love these classic sponsors.)

State of the programs: Carolyn Krieger continues to slowly but surely rebuild Penn State women’s hoops, and the addition of Alli Campbell this season will be a big help. Two more years of improvement and a PSU win over its two newest rivals may not be a surprise when they join the conference. UCLA (18-13) is a good second-tier club, overshadowed by Stanford and Oregon. USC (12-16) has had three straight losing seasons and last danced in the tournament in 2014.

MEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY

PSU vs. UCLA. Have never met.

State of the program: The Bruins are accustomed to competing against the likes of Oregon, Colorado and Stanford. In the Big Ten, Wisconsin is at that level; Penn State is not.

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

PSU vs. UCLA and USC: Have never met.

State of the programs: See “men’s cross country.”

FOOTBALL

PSU vs. UCLA: 2-4. Series highlights: Last game was Oct. 12, 1968 – Penn State 21, UCLA 6 at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.

PSU vs. USC: 4-6. Series highlights: Last game was Jan. 2, 2017, in the Rose Bowl. USC won 52-49 on a walk-off field goal after Penn State trailed 27-14, then led 42-27.

State of the programs: Check back on Friday; Part 3 of this series is all football.

MEN’S GOLF

PSU vs. UCLA and USC: Have never met.

State of the programs: Veteran coach Greg Nye continually gets great mileage out of his Nittany Lion golfers, but it doesn’t snow on the home courses of USC (Rolling Hills Country Club) or UCLA (Brentwood Country Club) in April.

WOMEN’S GOLF

PSU vs. UCLA and USC: Have never met.

State of the programs: Aces. UCLA won the NCAA team championship in 2011 and USC won it in 2013.

WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

PSU vs. UCLA: 2-7. Series highlights: Penn State won their first meeting, 148.1 to 143.5, under coach Judi Avener-Marshall, on Feb. 22, 1982, back in the days when gymnastics crowds packed Rec Hall.

State of the programs: UCLA is a hugely popular program, having last won the national title in 2018, their seventh; they have also won 19 Pac-12 titles and feature former Olympian Jordan Chiles these days. But, they have a new head coach and will face stiff competition vs. the Big Ten’s upper echelon (which does not include Penn State). The Bruins, however, are as good as it gets on social media. Check this out.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

PSU vs. USC: Have never met.

State of the programs: I’m a fan of Penn State coach Missy Doherty – seven NCAAs, two Big Ten titles at PSU – and the quality, on and off the field, of her players. But don’t sleep on USC. They beat Michigan, 14-10, in the spring of 2022 and barely lost to Virginia, 13-11, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Just two of USC’s laxers are from California; two are from PA, three are from Maryland and two are from New Jersey.

MEN’S SOCCER

PSU vs. UCLA: 0-5. Series highlights: Penn State has not faced UCLA since 2007, when the Nittany Lions lost 4-1 to No. 10 UCLA on the road. PSU played the Bruins close at Jeffrey Field in 2005, falling 1-0. But they lost the other games 5-2, 7-1 and 4-1.

State of the programs: Penn State, a program really on the rise nationally, should break that oh-fer string. UCLA (11-7-1) made it to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2018. Coincidentally, the Bruins are scheduled to play Rutgers in Piscataway this October.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

PSU vs. UCLA: 3-3. Series highlights: Penn State’s last win came in 2006; the two teams last met on Aug. 25, 2018, at Jeffrey Field, with the No. 2 Bruins beating No. 3 Penn State, 2-1. On page 94 of the Penn State women’s soccer media guide, PSU’s wins over UCLA rank No. 2, 3 and 5 among the program’s biggest upsets — 3-1 over No. 2 UCLA in 2006, 1-0 (2OT) over No. 2 UCLA in 2002 and 1-0 (OT) over No. 3 UCLA in 2015. 

PSU vs. USC: 2-1. Series highlights: Penn State beat USC 3-2 in 2003, at the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic (Charlottesville, Va.) and 3-1 in 2005, their last meeting, at the UCLA Women’s Cup in L.A.

State of the programs: UCLA and USC are the best of the west; they were 1-2 in the Pac-12 in 2021-22. Their matches against Penn State, national champs in 2015, should be great stuff. (I’m betting Pat Kraft has flushable toilets installed at Jeffery by the time either UCLA or USC comes to town.)

SOFTBALL

PSU vs. UCLA: 0-2. Series highlights: The teams met in 1994 and 2004. PSU lost the first meeting 6-0 at an invitational in Florida. They also lost 5-2 in eight innings vs. UCLA, ranked No. 1 at the time, at the Palm Springs Classic in 2004.

State of the program: UCLA is big league. Very. They went to their seventh consecutive Women’s College World Series in 2022, the longest such streak in the country, and had a 50-10 record. Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez has over 700 wins and as recently as 2019 guided UCLA to an NCAA title. They’re entertaining, to boot. UCLA’s two biggest challenges? Tons of travel and Big Ten competition that is much weaker than the Pac-12’s, which will hurt the Bruins’ strength of schedule come the postseason.

MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING

USC vs. PSU: Have never met.

State of the program: We’re never going to see a dual meet of Penn State vs. USC. But the Big Ten more than carries its own vs. the Pac-12 in swimming (though Cal was 2022 NCAA champ) — the Big Ten had five schools in the top 22 this year, while the Pac-12 had four. USC finished 25th. Penn State wasn’t in the money; here’s why: Penn State’s McCoy Natatorium is eligible for an AARP card. The Nat was built in 1969…and it shows.

WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING

PSU vs. UCLA and USC: Have never met.

State of the programs: See above.

MEN’S TENNIS

PSU vs. UCLA: Have never met.

PSU vs. USC: 0-1. Series highlights: On the road in 2015, Penn State lost 0-4 to No. 1 USC. 

State of the programs: Stop the presses: UCLA (21 NCAA titles) and USC (16 NCAA titles) are good in tennis.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

PSU vs. UCLA and USC: Have never met.

State of the programs: The women’s tennis teams at UCLA and USC aren’t as dominant as the men’s teams, but they should still rule the Big Ten. Since 1982, UCLA has been to every NCAA tournament, winning two team titles, while USC has only missed twice. UCLA also has had seven doubles champs. The Big Ten ain’t bad…at least, it wasn’t in 2017, when it had the NCAA singles champion (from Michigan) and doubles champions (Ohio State).

MEN’S TRACK & FIELD

PSU vs. UCLA and USC: Have never met.

State of the programs: USC was 12th and Penn State was 39th at the 2022 NCAA MT&F championships. UCLA? Zero points. PSU may never be USC, but Penn State’s T&F/cross country czar John Gondak is the best head coach at University Park that you never heard of.

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

PSU vs. UCLA and USC: Have never met.

State of the programs: It’s USC. ‘nuff said. USC won the NCAA WT&F team title in 2018 and 2021, and placed second in 2019.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

PSU vs. UCLA: 7-31-1. Series highlights: In 1982, Penn State lost to UCLA in the national championships, after beating USC to get there. The Nittany Lions also lost to the Bruins in the championship match in 1995 and 2006. In their most recent meeting, on Jan. 24, 2020 in Rec Hall, Penn State pavliked them 3-0 — 25-22, 29-27, 26-24 — to break an eight-game losing streak vs. the Bruins.

PSU vs. USC: 11-19. Series highlights: Penn State beat No. 1 ranked UCLA, 3-2, in the championship match on May 7, 1994 to win the national title under coach Tom Peterson. The Nittany Lions won their most recent meeting, 3-2, in Rec Hall on Jan. 26, 2020.

State of the programs: Both Ohio State (2011, 2016, 2017) and Penn State (2010) have won national titles more recently than UCLA (2006) and USC (never).

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

PSU vs. UCLA: 6-7. Series highlights: The series dates back to 1983. Penn State beat UCLA twice in 2014, in their last two meetings. The second came in December 2014, when Penn State beat the Bruins in the NCAA regionals on the way to (another) NCAA title.

PSU vs. USC: 2-2. Series highlights: Penn State lost to USC in 1980 and 2000, then won in 2005 and 2011. Their last meeting was on Aug. 27, 2011, in Rec Hall, won by Penn State in epic Russrosean 3-2 fashion: 21-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-22, 15-8.State of the programs: UCLA has a tradition that rivals Penn State’s, but last won a national title in 2011. The Bruins (25-6) made it to the Sweet 16 last year, where they lost to Wisconsin of the Big Ten. USC went to 17 straight NCAA tournaments from 2001-17, but have had three coaches in the last five seasons. USC was 15-15 last season.