Coming Tuesday: Live blogging, twitter updates, and video highlights from the Chicago conference meeting.
• Photo Showcase: 1983 Kickoff Classic, NU vs. PSU
• Photo Showcase: Big Ten coaches and stadiums
• Video: Jim Delaney at Big 12 media days:
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CHICAGO — The Big Ten Conference has a long way to go to integrate Nebraska into its system and a short time to get there — by next July.
But Commissioner Jim Delany said Monday he won't pressure members to hurriedly make policy on a football title game, the number of conference games or divisions.
All of which means don't look for any major decisions at this week's league meetings.
“I'll probably encourage them to make sure they really state how they feel, and that they're not rushed to closure,'' he said. “I think this will take more than one meeting — probably three or four meetings — before we get where we want to get.''
Delany said he expects a conference football championship game to be played in December 2011, though he doesn't know where.
He also foresees a nine-game conference schedule, but not for three or four years.
What Delany doesn't expect is Notre Dame, an independent in football and a Big East member in other sports, to be part of future Big Ten expansion discussions.
“I don't see them as a player, really,'' Delany said. “(Athletic Director) Jack Swarbrick has been consistent from the beginning about their commitment to the Big East and their commitment to independence.''
The Big Ten has sent feelers out to Notre Dame twice before and was rebuffed. Delany's tone was indicative of that.
“I see Notre Dame playing in the Big East for many years to come, and I see them being an independent in football for many years to come,'' he said. “I take at face value Jack's statements in that regard.''
Any future expansion is still “paused,'' Delany said, so the league can go “full speed'' on Nebraska.
Delany already has been to Lincoln twice. Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said Monday his contingent has meetings set in Lincoln later this month.
Prior research on how Nebraska would blend into the Big Ten, Delany said, has been confirmed in his face-to-face meetings.
“We saw an incredible fit in the breadth of the program and the breadth of competitiveness and AAU membership and geographic continuity,'' he said. “I think it's going to be a tremendous addition to our conference.
“It's an iconic brand with an interest in honest competition.''
Delany joked that Nebraska could play an 11-game conference football schedule because all of the other members already have asked to play the Huskers.
How the 12 teams will be split into divisions remains unsettled. Divisional play likely will be limited to football only.
“I hope within the next 30 to 45 days,'' Delany said, “that we'll have a divisional structure identified.''
Something more definite but not ready to implement for three or four years is a plan to play nine games inside the league instead of the current eight.
“I think there's a consensus among our athletic directors to do that,'' Delany said. “It's what our fans want. And it's what the athletes want.''
Some athletic directors have concerns about managing a league schedule with five home games one year and four the next. Most major schools need seven home games to earn enough money to pay for other sports on campus.
As for a championship football game, Delany said, he's not sure there is time for due diligence in the next 90 to 120 days to investigate five or six sites.
So in the next 10 days, the Big Ten might try to determine one site for a one-year contract, then revisit the issue of an anchor site or a long-term deal next spring.
• Video: Big Ten coaches talk about the addition of Nebraska and the impact on the league.
• Video: Penn State Coach Joe Paterno speaks:
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