Oregon, UW had ‘incoming interest’ to join Huge 10

• Adam Rittenberg, ESPN

  • Senior Citizen WriterSep 7, 2023, 01:29 PM ET Close College football reporter.
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2008.
  • Graduate of Northwestern University.ROSEMONT, Ill.– Oregon and

Washington’s”incoming interest “to join the Huge 10 in the wake of Colorado’s departure from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 mainly stimulated the Huge 10 to consider adding both schools last month, league commissioner Tony Petitti informed ESPN.The Big 10 had

been focused on incorporating brand-new members USC and UCLA in 2024 and wasn’t considering further expansion since late July. However Colorado’s departure to the Big 12 on July 27, before Pac-12 schools saw a streaming-based media rights proposition, altered the landscape, Petitti said.The Big Ten voted unanimously Aug. 4 to add Oregon and Washington.”Oregon and Washington, they had, real intent; they were striving to make it

an option for them, “Petitti stated in his first comprehensive remarks about the growth additions. “They really, truly wished to be in the Big 10. We felt that throughout the entire procedure. “Editor’s Picks 1 Associated Oregon and Washington will sign up with the Huge 10 in 2024 but will not

get complete media rights shares then, which USC and UCLA will. Both are set to receive $30-35 million each year, according to sources, a share that will increase by $1 million throughout the Big 10’s media contract with Fox, NBC and CBS, which runs through the 2029-30 athletic season.Petitti said the existing Huge Ten members had”receptivity right in the start”about including Oregon and Washington but wanted to see how scheduling, finances and other concerns would be sorted out. The scheduling benefits for USC and UCLA in having two more members on the West Coast factored into the Big 10’s choice.” We all felt that whatever aspect we looked at, it made us much better, “Petitti stated. “It just became that procedure of trying to determine how. My task is to make certain the conference is as terrific in the future as it is today. There are chances to secure that and make sure that we are going to get much better.”Petitti stated the Big 10 is not looking at expanding beyond 18 members at this time. The league is concentrated on its 2024 and 2025 football schedules, which will maintain

the principles of the”Flex Protect Plus”design announced in June. Oregon and Washington will play annually as a 12th protected game for the league, chief running officer Kerry Kenny informed ESPN, and other safeguarded games are possible.The Big 10 is”days, if not weeks”away from announcing home-and-home opponents for the 2024 schedule, and after that will complete the particular dates. The league will get rid of departments

after the 2023 season and have its leading 2 teams play in its championship game.Kenny said the Big Ten’s top priorities with its schedule are to optimize chances to access the expanded College Football Playoff, for each team to play every other group as much as possible, and stabilizing location with travel and competitive patterns.” We’re making certain that we don’t have outliers in terms of the hardest schedule or the simplest schedule for any of our teams, and working through how to stabilize the competitive tiers,”Kenny said.”You’re visiting a

great deal of what individuals seemingly liked with the Flex Protect Plus. We’re going through various options of what that might look like to see how we stabilize not just the travel component of our Eastern and Central time zone schools however likewise the frequency of how we can get everyone to play both at those four [West Coast] schools. “Pettiti agreed with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey that the CFP format must be assessed after the substantial realignment that happened throughout the summer season. The initial 12-team format called for the six highest-rated conference champs and six at-large spots.”Those scenarios are different,”Petitti stated.” It’s our job to make sure that whatever was created makes sense. I will say my No. 1 [goal] is gain access to. Something as huge and important as the College Football Playoff, as huge and strong as the Big Ten is, my focus is providing as numerous teams the opportunity

in a given season, when they have actually earned it, to compete for a championship game. “The CFP management committee will next fulfill Sept. 25 at the Big 10’s offices. Petitti stated he doesn’t know a schedule for when the format will be settled however stated there is “a calendar that gives you a sense of when you need to make decisions due to the fact that ultimately, we’re

going to be playing the games.”