And I’m one of those individuals that when change occurs, I get excited about it.” There are two types of people in the world: that they look at change as it’s a problem, or they look at change as an opportunity. It will add additional value to our conference, and it will provide a platform to even have our student-athletes be put on a larger platform so they can build their careers but also that they have an opportunity to grow and learn from an education and from an athletic standpoint. “It may include future expansion, but it will be done for the right reasons at the right time with our student-athletes, academic and athletic empowerment at the center of any and all decisions that we will make regarding any further expansions. “Regarding expansion, I get asked every single day, ‘What’s next?’” Warren said. In his opening statement to the media Tuesday, Warren was not shy about the Big Ten’s future plans. “There could be an odd number, and there are not any specific number of teams.”
“It could be two months to two years,” another source said. “University presidents, athletic directors, senior women administrators, you name it.”Īs far as a timetable and number of teams the Big Ten will add, that is unknown. “Literally every Power Five conference school not in the SEC has reached out to the Big Ten,” a source said about schools wanting to join the conference. Warren said he was proud that USC and UCLA are AAU (Association of American University) members but also said being an AAU member is not a requirement for a potential future member. There are a handful of schools that potentially could add value to us, but I’m so focused right now that we welcome USC and UCLA to our conference in 2024 with open arms.” “A fit has to be there academically, has to be there athletically. “When I say add value: value is important, but I just look at the fit,” Warren told Action Network Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days. Warren would not comment on specific schools as potential members. The schools being considered by the Big Ten, sources told Action Network, are Notre Dame, Oregon, Washington, Stanford, Cal, Miami and Florida State. INDIANAPOLIS - Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren told Action Network there are “a handful of schools” besides Notre Dame that would add value as future Big Ten members.