Big Ten to become Big 12?
The Big Ten Conference will explore the possibility of expansion in the next 12 to 18 months, according to a statement the league will release at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday. There will be no press conference to make the announcement.
The league will announce that expansion is now a front-burner issue, though there are no guarantees a 12th member will be added. The Big Ten last expanded in 1989 with Penn State and hasn’t seriously pursued the possibility since 1999, when it had discussions with Notre Dame.
Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno has advocated expansion and the need to hold a Big Ten championship game in football. Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez told the schools athletic board Friday that league commissioner Jim Delany will be more proactive about adding a 12th member.
“I have a sense [Delany] is going to take this year to really be more aggressive about it,” Alvarez told the board. “I just think everybody feels [expansion] is the direction to go, coaches and administrators.”
The expansion examination is expected to take 12 to 18 months, at which time a recommendation may or may not be made.
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