Commissioner expresses positivity about Big Ten expansion, believes they made many correct decisions

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti welcomed Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington to the conference in a press event that featured a floating Oregon Duck mascot on the White River. The Big Ten, now expanded to 12 teams, could theoretically field eight teams in the College Football Playoff. The conference is celebrating the completion of a two-year merger and will focus on creating new rivalries while facing logistical challenges of coast-to-coast travel for West Coast teams. UCLA, USC, Washington, and Oregon face the most travel miles, which might result in scheduling adjustments for competitive balance. The conference is looking to maximize audience reach for West Coast teams by scheduling games in prime time. The addition of new teams has sparked discussions about potential changes in scheduling and postseason formats. The expansion to 18 teams is likely to be enough for now, as the conference focuses on integrating the new schools and preparing for revenue sharing with athletes due to the House v. NCAA settlement. Petitti is open to new sponsorship opportunities to increase revenue for schools and athletes. The Big Ten football championship game will be held in Indianapolis through 2028, with plans to rotate to other locations in the future. The commissioner plans to attend home games for each new team this fall, with Oregon potentially surprising with marketing gimmicks like the floating mascot.

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