With all of the discussions in college football centered around the Big 12 coming for more Pac-12 teams and the Pac-12 trying to stay afloat, there is now another shark circling.
A year after snatching USC and UCLA from the Pac-12, the Big Ten is now reportedly entering back into the expansion market. According to a report by Yahoo Sports' Dan Wetzel, not only is the Big Ten considering adding Oregon and Washington who have long been viewed as candidates but they are also eyeing Stanford and Cal.
The Big Ten has begun exploratory discussions about expanding membership to 18 or even 20 teams, industry sources have told Yahoo Sports. The schools being considered are Oregon and Washington if the league adds two schools, and Cal and Stanford if it wants to move to 20.
The move would not only net these four schools a major profit as the Big Ten will be making the most money out of any of the conferences, but it does make travel much easier for the aforementioned USC and UCLA. More important to the schools involved, they'd get far more exposure, as we learned on Tuesday that the Pac-12's deal heavily hinges on a Apple TV+ partnership.
Just how much more money would they make? The Pac-12 is estimated to make around $20 million per year with, per school with the Apple deal while having a chance for more money based off subscriptions. Whereas Big Ten schools will receive a minimum of $50 million a year with games appearing on CBS, Fox and NBC. Whether or not the four schools would get as much as the other Big Ten programs right away is a question, but it'd still be more money and stability.
The census around the country is that the Big Ten doesn't want to take the blame for ending the conference, so it likely means the Big 12 will need to deliver the final blow.
More must-reads: