National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA News Archive - 2010

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Jun 11, 2010 4:45:42 PM

Nebraska's board of regents voted unanimously to move the Cornhuskers from the Big 12 Conference to the Big Ten on Friday. Nebraska's application for membership to the Big Ten was expected to be approved.

If accepted, Nebraska would be the first new member of the Big Ten since Penn State joined the conference in 1990.

Chancellor Harvey Perlman, current chair of the NCAA's Division I Board of Directors, and Athletics Director Tom Osborne told the regents the move will bring the school more stability. Perlman proposed the Huskers begin play in the Big Ten in the 2011-12 academic year.

"We realize that some of the schools that were asking us to stay were (at the same time) talking to not just one conference, but two or three," Osborne said. "So at that point, you begin to wonder, ‘Where are you going to get yourself if you make a commitment?' "

In the meeting, portions of which were streamed live through Nebraska's athletics website, Perlman told the regents that discussions with the conference began informally earlier this year and were renewed after last week's Big 12 meetings.

"One school leaving a conference does not destroy a conference," Perlman said. "Nebraska did not start this discussion. After the Big Ten announced it planned to consider expansion, we saw reports that Missouri would want to go to the Big Ten, including a statement by their governor, a member of the board of curators and chancellor – comments that clearly weren't supportive of the Big 12."

Colorado announced June 10 that it would leave the Big 12 for the Pac-10, beginning in 2012. Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe said he would continue to work to address membership issues. Friday, Beebe called Nebraska's decision "disappointing." He said Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany informed him Friday morning that the Big Ten would accept Nebraska's application for membership.

Beebe said his membership would decide how to conduct the regular season and championships in the future.

"We are still working tirelessly to ensure the other ten members have a bright future," he said.