The Big Ten’s expansion efforts appeared to have cooled down after the conference added USC and UCLA over the summer, but recent comments from Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren indicated that the conference will look to continue growth in the coming years. And it looks like there’s another west coast team that’s interested in joining the fold.
According to a report from college football insider Brett McMurphy of The Action Network, the Oregon Ducks have reportedly reached out to the Big Ten and expressed interest in joining the conference.
Oregon initiated preliminary discussions in Chicago w/Big Ten to determine if Ducks are compatible in B1G, source told @ActionNetworkHQ. Outgoing UO president Michael Schill, AD Rob Mullens & B1G commish Kevin Warren not involved in any discussions in Chicago, another source said
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 22, 2022
While Oregon expressed interest in joining, McMurphy reports that Oregon president Michael Schill, athletic director Rob Mullens, and Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren were not a part of the conversations, indicating that the talks are in the early stages.
McMurphy did not specifically report who represented Oregon in the talks. However, Nike CEO Phil Knight, who is an Oregon alum and a prominent booster of the athletic department, reportedly wants the Ducks to join either the Big Ten or the SEC.
This news comes just one day after Florida State president Richard McCullough expressed interest in conference realignment. So it sure looks like the college football world better brace itself for more unprecedented change.
