George Kliavkoff lets USC Trojans know if they're welcome to come back or not

While the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins are headed to the Big Ten, Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff addressed what would happen if either made an attempt to come back to their old conference.

At Pac-12 Media Day, he was asked; "Is there any chance for the L.A. schools to come back? Any chance for negotiation to where the defection doesn't happen?" His response:

"Here's how I would characterize that. I'd say UCLA is in a really difficult position. There are a lot of constituents related to UCLA who are very, very, very unhappy with the decision. Student-athletes, the families of student-athletes. The faculty, the staff. The politicians, the fans, the alumni. There's a lot of really, really upset people with that decision. There's a hearing coming up about that decision. I can't give you a percentage chance. I think it's unlikely. But if they came back, we'd welcome them back."

- George Kliavkoff, Pac-12 Commissioner

Part of what Kliavkoff is of course referring to here is the hearing that will take place due to the state of California expressing that UCLA didn't give enough prior notice to the University of California Board of Regents, which governs the University of California school system.

Of course, the USC Trojans likely won't be be affected legally by this, and will not have to return to the Pac-12.

If for some reason that does happen, however, the USC Trojans will be welcomed back to the Pac-12. They should be, as their program and brand has carried the conference this entire time. Also if UCLA has to go back, and USC doesn't, USC still may not want to go to the Big Ten on their own.

They likely still would of course, but if they have any sense of pause when/if UCLA doesn't get admitted and want to stay put, Kilavkoff has now said that they surely can.

USC is too valuable of an athletics program and university to be turned down by any conference, except maybe the SEC since they are already expanding with Texas and Oklahoma.

SC fans already knew they would be fine when it comes to this realignment saga, but now they have further confirmation with even the conference they are leaving still wanting them back.