Big Ten commissioner on the ‘transformative’ nature of college sports, including his own conference

The Big Ten will look much different than in years past, and the first glimpse arrived Tuesday as the conference kicked off its football media days.

The Big Ten added a third day to the event this year to account for four new schools: Oregon, Southern California, UCLA, and Washington, which officially will join on Aug. 2 to create an 18-team conference.

Commissioner Tony Petitti was peppered with several questions regarding expansion and the value the new West Coast members bring.

“For our presidents and chancellors, the academic fit is really important, if you look at the strength and all other sports, that the four new members bring,” said Petitti, who in his first full year as commissioner saw attendance records set in women’s volleyball and basketball. “It’s a complete match across many different factors. That’s what made the decision to add Oregon, Washington, which was done by my staff, and then the decision that [previous commissioner] Kevin Warren and his staff did to add USC, UCLA. … I think we’ve got to get a lot of things right, but I feel really good about the way we’re positioned for the future in terms of the health and strength of the conference.

“They joined us during the most transformative period in college sports.”

Petitti, the Haverford College alumnus, added that “we’re focused on the 18 right now” when asked about adding additional programs, specifically amid rumors of Clemson and Florida State looking to leave the ACC.

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New this year will be the Big Ten playing in the 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon spot on CBS, along with Friday night football games on Fox, though the conference historically avoided that day and time slot. Petitti said the Big Ten will be featured on broadcast networks 60 times this season across NBC, CBS, and Fox. It’s the most in college football, and games will air exclusively on Peacock and Big Ten Network as well.

Though travel concerns remain with teams on opposite coasts, the commissioner said the conference has “taken a lot of care to try to minimize travel where we can” but also sees the potential for the Big Ten to have conference championship games out west in the future.

“We’re really comfortable with the decision to stay in football here in Indianapolis for the next four seasons,” Petitti said of the championship, which will be in Indy through 2028. “We think it’s the right thing to do, and, having said that, I think you’re going to see us begin to expand. I think it’s really important to make sure that markets around the country get to experience Big Ten championships. It’s a really good way to connect the conference. I think, over time, you’ll start to see the geographic footprint expand.”

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Among the on-field changes across the country is helmet communication from coaches to quarterbacks, similar to how the NFL communicates. And thanks to a partnership between Apple and the Big Ten, players will be permitted to watch in-game video on iPads in between drives, a commonplace practice in the NFL as well.

At last year’s media days, Petitti expressed his “deep concerns” with name, image, and likeness deals and the transfer portal. He again touched on the importance of “protecting student-athletes” with third-party NIL deals this year. With the House vs. NCAA settlement that includes $2.75 billion in back-pay damages the NCAA will owe to former Division I athletes agreed upon in May, Petitti said conference commissioners hope to have a final position on the ruling “within the next several months.”

“We want student-athletes to be able to take advantage of their name and likeness; we need to make sure that’s what’s really happening,” Petitti said. “And, look, the role of third parties to the extent that third parties can connect student-athletes to real NIL opportunities, that’s a great thing, and I think that’s the priority. … But we’ve got to build that model, and that’s going to require change and a tremendous amount of collaboration.”

The Big Ten announced its preseason honorees, and Ohio State led the way with four. Only one player with local ties, Penn State’s Abdul Carter, made the list after his first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2023. He compiled 48 tackles, 5½ tackles for loss, 4½ sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble last season.

Carter transitioned from linebacker to defensive end during spring practices. Following April’s Blue-White Spring Game, coach James Franklin said the La Salle College High School alumnus and North Philly native was “ahead of schedule” in the move.