Big Ten in Discussions to Eliminate Divisions in Football, Iowa AD Gary Barta Says

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The Big Ten is considering eliminating conference alignments for football beginning with the 2023 season. 

Iowa athletics director Gary Barta said one proposal would see the Big Ten pare down its in-conference games from nine to eight so that schools could schedule non-conference games with the ACC and Pac-12. The Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 recently formed a coalition called The Alliance to combat the SEC’s upcoming addition of Texas and Oklahoma.

“We’ve had several conversations,” Barta said, per Scott Dochterman of The Athletic. “One of the things that we’re watching is whether it’s related to The Alliance, which we’re talking through and/or, what gives us the best opportunity to have the most success in the College Football Playoff format?

“We’re wondering if we’re going to know what the format is before we have to make that decision. So, we’re kind of waiting to see where that lands. But we have had active conversations about the schedule beyond 2022.”

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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