Inside the new Big Ten - Axios ChicagoLog InLog InAxios Chicago is an Axios company.
Inside the new Big Ten
The Big Ten Conference logo at the football Media Days in July. Photo: Michael Hickey/Getty Images The Big Ten has gotten a whole lot bigger since the last time the conference took the football field. Driving the news: After — which will become the conference's 15th and 16th universities in 2024 — and signing the most lucrative in TV history, reports say . Why it matters: The conference's is in Rosemont, and sports bring big revenue to schools like Northwestern and the University of Illinois. Context: In 2014, the Big Ten expanded outside its traditional Midwestern schools by adding Rutgers and Maryland — or, more accurately, the markets of New York City and Washington, D.C., respectively.The recent expansion to include USC and UCLA will bring in California for the first time. The big picture: Gone are the days of the Big Ten as a Midwest juggernaut. To compete with the SEC, the conference has set its sights on bigger cities and bigger markets — and doesn't seem to be stopping there.According to , schools like Notre Dame, Florida State and Stanford are possibilities. He suggested the conference could eventually expand to 20 schools. What they're saying: "I think it's changed the narrative on the Big Ten Conference,” Warren told last month. "We shrunk the United States in one announcement." What's next: NU kicks off its 2022 season on Saturday against Nebraska in Dublin, Ireland.The Illini host Wyoming. Get more local stories in your inbox with .Subscribe Support local journalism by becoming a member.
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