The Big Ten is soon to be eighteen according to multiple reports.
Oregon and Washington are set to join the growing conference in 2024. They will follow USC and UCLA, and make a total of five schools that have left the Pac-12 over the last year.
The Big Ten will grow to 18 members, the largest in college football history. There are additional reports of more additions to come. Stanford, Cal, Florida State, Clemson, Miami, North Carolina and Notre Dame have all been mentioned as Big Ten candidates in various reports.
The reports indicate Oregon and Washington will not immediately receive full shares in the Big Ten’s new media rights deal with FOX, CBS and NBC but will still make more than they would have by remaining in the Pac-12.
Both Oregon and Washington have already been “vetted and cleared” to join the Big Ten for more than a year if the financial details could be worked out between the schools, the Big Ten and the Big Ten’s television partners.
New Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti has said the league was focused on integrating USC and UCLA rather than adding new members. But the recent defection of Colorado to the Big-12 started a new wave of realignment momentum.
The Big Ten recently restructured its football scheduling approach and eliminated divisions beginning in 2024. The league will have to revisit that and make what will end up being a third edition of the 2024 Big Ten football schedule.
