Source: If Big Ten makes move for Oregon, UW work needs done on TV deal

Kevin Warren did not want to slow down in the Big Ten’s quest for western expansion.

After the former conference commissioner made his move to add USC and UCLA last summer, he wanted to build out a western arm of the Big Ten. At the time, the conference’s presidents and chancellors did not sign off on the thought.

New conference commissioner Tony Petitti may have to make a move in the coming weeks with the Pac-9 weakening by the minute. On Wednesday, Yahoo! Sports’ Dan Wetzel’s reported Big Ten presidents have begun discussions surrounding the possible addition of Oregon and Washington. The conference is not trying to appear predatory but is doing due diligence. The Big Ten could add Stanford and Cal if the Pac-12 fully collapses.

A source confirmed those talks with On3, making it clear the Big Ten had those same discussions last summer and vetted each school. The Big Ten has always courted Notre Dame. But a source said the Fighting Irish could soon be closing in on their own TV deal.

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The Big Ten does not currently have escalators or a pro-rata built into its contract with its media partners, which the Big 12 does have. The source said the conference would “have to go back to work” with NBC, FOX Sports and CBS. The decision to add Cal, Oregon, Stanford and Washington would be predicated on a Pac-12 implosion or broadcast partners willing to sit back down at the table to work out a pro-rata share.

“The Big Ten Conference is still focused on integration of USC and UCLA but it’s also the commissioner’s job to keep conference chancellors and presidents informed about new developments as they occur,” the conference said Wednesday in a statement.

The Pac-12 could have signed a TV contract a year ago, but commissioner George Kliavkoff bet on his conference. Meanwhile, Brett Yormark took what the Big 12 could get.

Now the Big Ten is preparing to make more room if the Pac-12 falls apart in the coming days.