Are four Big Ten newcomers ready for the ‘NFL of college football’?

July 25, 2024

By Randy Johnson, Star-Tribune via AOL: The giant inflatable Oregon Duck mascot meandering down the White River in Indianapolis gave it away. There was something entirely different about Big Ten Football media days this year.

The conference officially expands to 18 teams with the addition of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington on Aug. 2, and this week’s media gathering at Lucas Oil Stadium is serving as an introduction of the Ducks, Bruins, Trojans and Huskies to their new conference brethren.

The Big Ten and the SEC, which poached Oklahoma and Texas from the Big 12, give college football two super conferences and others trying to keep up with varying degrees of success. With the four former Pac-12 teams in the Big Ten fold, Nebraska coach Matt Rhule on Wednesday staked a claim for his league.