Paterno favors Big Ten expanding from 11 to 14 teams, afraid Pac-10 might expand first

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Paterno favors Big Ten expanding from 11 to 14

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — If it were up to him, Penn State coach Joe Paterno would expand the Big Ten by three members to 14, adding two schools from the east and one from the west.

Paterno said Saturday before the Nittany Lions spring game that it’s just his preference, and he doesn’t know if anyone else in the conference agrees with him.

But the Hall of Fame coach says he has a “gut feeling” the Pac-10 will expand first, and the Big Ten will have to grow, too, if that happens.

The league has said it is exploring expansion options and has a timetable of 12 to 18 months to make a decision.

If the conference grows by one to 12 teams, it can add a championship game, which Paterno has been touting for several years.