Delany says Big Ten ‘months away’ from decision on whether to expand

Delany: Expansion decision will take time

CHICAGO — Don’t expect a decision on expansion anytime soon from the Big Ten.

Commissioner Jim Delany is basically sticking with the timeframe he laid out in December, when he said the league would explore its options over the next 12 to 18 months.

He says a decision is “months away.”

The conference grabbed the attention of everyone in college sports when it announced that it was considering whether to add to its current 11 members, a move that could lead to a domino effect in other leagues. But Delany insists this is “not as much about conferences as it is about institutions finding the right fit for themselves.”

He says gaining a foothold in growing Southern markets and expanding the reach of the lucrative Big Ten television network would be the main goals. He also says the Big Ten is “not looking for a championship game” in football.