Earlier today, CBS Sports college basketball inside Jon Rothstein reported that the Big Ten has made some decisions regarding league play and conference tournament time with the new entrants.
Next season, UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington are headed to the Big Ten conference, and with them in, the league will have 18 teams vying for the top spot. According to Rothstein, the Big Ten is planning to stay at 20 league games even with the expanded field. Not all teams will make the Big Ten Tournament in March, as only 15 of the 18 will earn a spot in postseason play. This will be a significant change, as teams will be vying just to have a chance late in the season instead of being guaranteed a spot in the postseason regardless of regular season record.
NEWS: The Big Ten is planning to stay at 20 league games when UCLA, USC, Oregon, & Washington join the conference in 2024-25, according to a source.
The Big Ten is also planning to only have 15 of its 18 teams in the Big Ten Tournament starting in 2025. https://t.co/FDQxFVY31q
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 26, 2024