Big Ten won't pursue expansion
Big Ten Settles For A Dozen
The Big Ten ended its expansion study quietly, having decided the addition of Nebraska was enough, writes Adam Rittenberg. Blog
The Big Ten announced Sunday that it will no longer actively pursue expansion after a 12-month study period.
The league's Council of Presidents/Chancellors agreed at its winter meeting to end the expansion study, which was announced last December and scheduled for 12-to-18 months. The Big Ten added Nebraska as its 12th member on June 11, marking the league's first expansion in two decades.
"We have been thoroughly engaged in the process since last December," said Indiana University president Michael McRobbie, the chair of the Big Ten's Council of Presidents/Chancellors. "Following detailed discussions at today's meeting, my colleagues and I can report that we believe that this process has reached its natural conclusion. We are pleased with the addition of Nebraska and look forward to working with our colleagues there in the years ahead."
In a statement, the Big Ten said it will monitor the landscape in college sports but "will not be actively engaged in conference expansion for the foreseeable future and does not expect to be proactively seeking new members."
Adam Rittenberg covers Big Ten football for ESPN.com. He can be reached at espnritt@gmail.com
- ESPN.com Big Ten blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2008
- Wrote for Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald
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