How would USC and UCLA's move to the Big Ten affect big-time high school recruits?

Colorado and Utah in the Pac-12 still feels strange, while Texas and Oklahoma going to the SEC feels even stranger.

But USC and UCLA in the Big Ten?

We're talking double-secret strange, bordering on downright bizarre.

But that's where we are. 

USC and UCLA were in negotiations to leave the Pac-12 and join the Big Ten, sources told Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger on Thursday. News of the potential move was originally reported by Jon Wilner of The Mercury News.

On Thursday night, the move became official when the Big Ten voted to welcome USC and UCLA in 2024.

The move of course will have an enormous effect on college football, making the strong (Big Ten) stronger and the weak (Pac-12) weaker in terms of College Football Playoff implications.

And in the high school ranks, what effect will it have on big-time recruits?

For Eric Nelson, father of five-star USC recruit Malachi Nelson (Los Alamitos), it's complicated.

"Obviously playing in places like Ohio State and Michigan — that's exciting, right?" Nelson told SBLive's Connor Morrissette. "I think those are two of the most historic programs around, along with us at USC. To play in the Big House will be cool, will be fun. But I'm not excited about not being there."

Malachi Nelson had originally committed to Oklahoma, but the quarterback followed Lincoln Riley to USC. His family in Southern California was thrilled to get to see more of his games in person, being within driving distance of most of the Trojans' opponents.

"My wife's not going to be able to handle this as well as I would," Eric Nelson said. "She's definitely going to be sad. That was probably her main reason for USC — the convenience of having her baby close, watching the games, so we'll see."

But he went on to say his son's college choice is primarily about Coach Riley, not which conference Malachi plays in. 

"If (Riley) was at freaking Rhode Island, we'd be there," Eric Nelson said.

Other Pac-12 schools also have reportedly reached out to the Big Ten in the aftermath of the move.

The effect on recruiting will be immediate on multiple fronts — and it will be complicated.