While conference realignment talks have cooled down across the college football world in the weeks following USC and UCLA’s move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, it looks like the Big Ten is still looking to expand with several potential teams still on the table.
The latest reports are that the Big Ten is waiting for an answer from Notre Dame about potential membership before it considers expanding to any other schools. However, it sounds like there are still several schools the conference would consider adding outside of Notre Dame.
According to The Action Network, the Big Ten is interested in adding Notre Dame, Oregon, Washington, Stanford, Cal, Miami, and Florida State. While Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren didn’t confirm the conference’s interest in those programs, he did acknowledge that the conference is willing to expand and indicated what the Big Ten is looking for in an expansion program.
“When I say add value: value is important, but I just look at the fit,” Warren told Action Network Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days. “A fit has to be there academically, has to be there athletically. All those things are really important. There are a handful of schools that potentially could add value to us, but I’m so focused right now that we welcome USC and UCLA to our conference in 2024 with open arms.”
Warren said he wants to be “bold” and “aggressive” in Big Ten expansion, according to Eleven Warriors, which indicates that the conference might see more significant changes in the near future.
About Kevin Harrish