“Such a poverty school lmao”: CFB fans left in splits as UCLA flies commercial to 2024 Big Ten Media Days

The UCLA Bruins were at the 2024 Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis on July 23. However, fans found off-field reasons to troll the Bruins contingent, which included head coach DeShaun Foster, quarterback Ethan Garbers and wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant.

USC Trojans arrived in style via a private plane while the Bruins had to fly commercial to Indianapolis.

This disparity didn't go unnoticed, sparking a flurry of reactions on social media.

"UCLA is such a poverty school lmao," one fan said.

Another fan posted a GIF calling the school:

"PEASANTS."

“Obvs. Their coach quit to go be an OC at another CFB program. Weak," One fan said. [Referring to Chip Kelly who left the Bruins head coach job to join the Buckeyes as offensive coordinator under head coach Ryan Day]

The comparison was particularly sharp given the long-standing rivalry between the Bruins and the Trojans, which only intensified with their joint move to the Big Ten in 2024. Despite the mockery, some fans came to the Bruins' defense.

"Didn't they beat you all last year?" one fan said.

"I’m a USC fan but this ain’t it. Hope the UCLA kids enjoyed the experience," another fan said.

"And still, nobody cared 🤷," one fan said.

The decision for both schools to leave the Pac-12 was financially motivated, aiming to tap into lucrative television deals of the Big Ten.

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UCLA Bruins set to score big under new NCAA payment policy

Wallets may be tight at UCLA for now but that scenario might change. The NCAA's groundbreaking decision to allow direct payments to players starting in August 2025 will benefit the Bruins athletes significantly.

“Our student-athletes and their holistic development remain at the core of everything we do, and we will continue to support and develop them while investing in priority areas of academics, nutrition and mental health resources,” a UCLA spokesperson said (per LA Times).

This move is a stark departure from traditional amateurism policies. It will see the university's athletic department adopting a revenue-sharing model expected to generate between $20 million to $22 million annually for its 600 student-athletes across 21 teams.