Big Ten Commish: Why Staying Put With 18 Members Is Plenty—for Now

Between conference realignment and the integration of name, image, and likeness, college football has been a whirlwind over the last few years. But the Big Ten—which has been in the middle of the ruckus given its addition of four new schools—is finally pumping the brakes on further expansion.

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti (above) said Tuesday, the first day of the conference’s media days, that he does not intend for the conference to expand beyond its current crop. 

“We’re focused on the 18 right now,” Petitti said. “A lot of work had been done to integrate USC and UCLA and we started that work over when we added Oregon and Washington, so I think we’re really comfortable where we are. You’ve got to get this conference right, and that’s where our focus is.”

Petitti’s stance supports reports that the Big Ten is not an option for Clemson and Florida State, who are embroiled in lawsuits with the ACC. Officials from Clemson have said they do not intend to leave the ACC—assuming the league survives—but FSU is looking at its options. The SEC is also reportedly not an option for FSU, so the Big 12 could end up as its best alternative.

Keeping the Title Game in Indy

Petitti also told reporters that despite the addition of several West Coast teams, the Big Ten conference championship game will continue to be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis until 2028.

The game has been played in Indianapolis since its inception in 2011.

“We’re really comfortable with the decision to stay with football here in Indianapolis in the next four seasons,” Petitti told reporters. “We think it’s the right thing to do.” However, he immediately followed up by referencing the benefits of moving the championship game down the line.

“Having said that, I think you’ll begin to see us expand,” Petitti said. “I think it’s important to make sure that markets around the country get to experience Big Ten championships. It’s a really good way to connect the conference. I think over time you’ll start to see the geographic footprint expand.”

Given the addition of the new teams, it appears Petitti does not want to rock the boat even further by moving the title game. But four more years in Indianapolis gives him the leeway to integrate the new West Coast teams and appease the incumbents before moving the game.

A Rosy Future

The Rose Bowl is another major event that seemed to be in flux given conference realignment and the expanded College Football Playoff—but the bowl’s officials say it looks as though the game will be able to keep its place on New Year’s Day, according to ESPN.

Rose Bowl management committee chair Laura Farber also spoke on the first day of Big Ten media days and said it’s “imperative” they keep the Jan. 1 date for the game and ideally even the 5 p.m. ET kickoff time.

“We don’t know when there will be a long-form agreement,” Farber said. “We’re hopeful it will be sooner than later, but that depends on when the CFP has everything ready to go.”

The Rose Bowl has evolved from a matchup between the winners of the Big Ten and Pac-12 into a CFP semifinal game, and it will be a CFP quarterfinal game for the next two years. It’s unclear what the format of the game will be starting in 2026.