Big Ten Maintains Current Game Count Despite Expansion
Conference tournament format changes to include only 15 of 18 members, while regular-season games remain unchanged to allow non-conference scheduling flexibility.
- The Big Ten conference will not increase the number of regular-season games despite expanding to 18 teams next season, maintaining 20 league games in men's basketball and 18 in women's basketball.
- The conference's expansion will include Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington from the Pac-12.
- Only 15 of the 18 members will qualify for the Big Ten men's and women's basketball tournaments, a change from the current format which allows all 14 members to participate.
- The conference tournament will continue to be a five-day event, with the top four seeds earning a double bye and the fifth through ninth seeds earning a single bye.
- The decision to maintain the current number of league games is aimed at allowing non-conference scheduling flexibility, remaining consistent with peer schedule formats, and maximizing opportunities for NCAA postseason berths.
The Seattle Times 
The Oregonian 
Chicago Tribune 
Associated Press 
