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Big Ten exploring addition of multiple Pac-12 programs, per report
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Big Ten presidents have begun exploring potential expansion westward given the lack of certainty in the Pac-12 moving forward, according to a report.
Yahoo!’s Dan Wetzel first reported that news on Wednesday. The Big Ten could look to add Oregon and Washington as well as academic powerhouses Stanford and Cal, per the report.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti was asked about potential Big Ten expansion at the league’s media day last week. Petitti indicated that Big Ten presidents had not yet instructed him to look further into expansion.
Here’s his quote from Big Ten Media Days on the matter:
“What I’ll say is all the direction I’m getting from leadership, our presidents and chancellors, athletic directors, is to focus on UCLA and USC. I’m proud of the scheduling format we created in football. I think it touches on all the right things.
We have significant work to do on scheduling of other sports, especially our Olympic sports, to come up with the best solutions. I believe we have a good plan in motion. I think we’ll learn from it. Like anything, there will be tweaks and changes. Overall that’s really where we are. I’m not getting direction to do anything else other than that in terms of just what the conference looks like right now.”
Wetzel’s report seems to mark a change in the Big Ten’s strategy. However, according to the report, no decision on Big Ten expansion is considered imminent.
If all 4 of those teams were added, it would bring the Big Ten to 20 programs. USC and UCLA are already set to join the Big Ten ahead of the 2024 college football season.
Oregon and Washington have long been linked to a potential move to the Big Ten. With the Pac-12’s media rights future still uncertain, an expedited move could make sense for all parties. Stanford and Cal would also make sense for the Big Ten given their geography and academic prowess.
Last week, Colorado announced its intentions to join the Big 12 ahead of the 2024 season. Arizona, Arizona State and Utah are also reportedly being courted by the Big 12.
On Tuesday, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff shared details with league executives for a potential media rights deal with Apple. Pac-12 leaders are expected to hold another meeting soon to discuss the package further.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.