Big Ten commish: Sticking with '18 strong members' for now

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said there are “absolutely no discussions” about expanding the conference right now, emphasizing a focus on the league’s current 18 members. Speaking Thursday at Big Ten basketball media days in Chicago, Petitti noted the conference’s most recent expansion came in 2024, when it added Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington from the Pac-12. He also highlighted support for the Protect College Sports Act, which aims to align conferences on eligibility limits, transfer rules, NIL-related litigation and state compliance. Petitti’s remarks come amid rumors about interest from schools such as LSU and Miami. Michigan and Illinois feature prominently in coverage, including Tom Izzo’s comments on the league’s intensity and Ann Arbor’s 2027 Final Four site.