INDIANAPOLIS — Big Ten Media Days began Wednesday with a chance to hear from coaches, players, and the Big Ten Commissioner. While the focus is on 2023 a lot is about to change in the conference in the future.
What You Need To Know
- The Big Ten Media Days brings together all of the head football coaches and players from all of the programs
- Tony Petitti is in his first year as the Big Ten Conference Commissioner and addressed many of the changes and challenges
- Northwestern interim head coach David Braun attended amid hazing allegations within the football program, his players decided not to attend
- The conference is adding two more schools next year in USC and UCLA
It’s Big Ten Media Day and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti’s first, as he took over the job in May. But lots of changes are looming for the conference, including the recent hazing scandal at Northwestern. Petitti says they’ve been in touch with all schools to ensure everyone is taking a deep look at their programs.
“When something like this happens, our membership institutions are going to take it upon themselves to do that and the obvious result would be to look at practices, to make sure that what’s happening on campus meets the standards that we expect to provide a safe and healthy environment for student athletes," Petitti said. "I think that’s where the work needs to take place and I think our coaches and directors understand that.”
For Northwestern interim head coach David Braun, it’s not how he envisioned becoming a head coach, but says he and his players are doing their best to move forward.
“Our guys right now in that facility are going through a lot," Braun said. "We have an opportunity to either run from that or an opportunity to truly stare that adversity in the face, stare it down, and go attack this opportunity to make this fall an incredible story that truly embodies what this team is all about.”
Petitti said another challenge in college athletics is NIL and he hopes to see the NCAA and legislation make rulings to help regulate it.
“What we’re seeing, though, is a sense of, because there’s been a lack of enforcement around traditional things like endorsements and pay-for-play, we’re seeing money move in different places and it’s away from our member institutions," he said.
And looming ahead for the Big Ten is the addition of UCLA and USC next season. Petitti made it clear they are not looking to expand any time soon. While there’s a lot to look forward to, that won’t take away from the upcoming season, he said.
“We owe that to the conference, to our existing members to make sure we put everybody in the best place this season," he said. "I don’t think there’s any distraction. I think we’re able to do two things at once and look forward, at the same time do everything we need to do for this football season.”
And if that’s not enough change, this will be the last year with just four teams in the College Football Playoffs before expanding to 12 next season.