Big Ten media days kicked off in Chicago on Monday afternoon. Before half the conference's coaches took to the podium (headlined by Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer at 2:30 p.m. ET), B1G commissioner Jim Delany addressed assembled media about issues facing the Big Ten.
Delany dryly acknowledged the conference faced pushback after a controversial plan to hold conference competitions on Friday night, a plan that has since been pared down but is still going forward.
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany on Friday night college football games: I think its fair to say theres been push back."
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) July 24, 2017
Delany also said the conference will allow teams to schedule Football Championship Series teams... with a caveat.
Jim Delany also said Big Ten teams can now schedule FCS opponents during years where they only play four home league games.
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) July 24, 2017
Delany acknowledged an idea of banning players convicted of sexual assault.
Jim Delany says Big Ten has had discussions about banning athletes with sexual assault convictions, but plans to leave that to institutions.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) July 24, 2017
He also officially christened new deals with broadcast partners:
Jim Delany says Big Ten has agreed to 6-year deals with Fox and ESPN for football as well as CBS for basketball
— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) July 24, 2017
Perhaps most interestingly, Delany acknowledged the Big Ten Network will be heading to YouTube TV and Hulu.
He also refused to comment on Chris Spielman's lawsuit against Ohio State:
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany declines to comment specifically on Chris Spielman's lawsuit against Ohio State.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) July 24, 2017
Follow Eleven Warriors reporters Dan Hope, Tim Shoemaker, and Andrew Lind on Twitter for more up-to-the-minute updates from Chicago.
