Maryland, Rutgers reportedly set to join Big Ten; UConn could get another look from ACC

The University of Maryland has called a press conference for Monday afternoon, reportedly to announce its decision to leave the ACC for the Big Ten. And Rutgers is expected to announce Tuesday that it will leave the Big East for the Big Ten.

According to ESPN, Maryland’s Board of Regents voted unanimously on Monday morning to accept the Big Ten’s invitation. Rutgers has a regularly scheduled meeting of its Board of Governors on Monday.

Maryland, one of the eight charter members of the ACC, becomes just the second school to leave the conference since its founding in 1953. South Carolina, now in the SEC, left to become an independent in 1971. The Terrapins face a $50 million exit fee (raised from $20 million in September) but could try to negotiate a lower price.

With Maryland headed out, it could open the door for UConn to receive another look from the ACC. The Huskies previously were passed over when the league invited Syracuse and Pittsburgh to join in its last round of invitations.

The addition of Maryland and Rutgers would give the Midwest-based Big Ten 14 teams when the moves take effect, expected to be 2014.

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