Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany told CBSSports.com that his league entered confidentiality agreements with possibly six or more schools to protect conversations about conference membership -- before the ACC's grant of rights halted the talk. ...more

The ACC is eschewing its $50 million exit fee model in favor of a Grant of Rights, which could solidify the league from the Big Ten or other conference realignment poachers. The league also wants an ACC channel. ...more

Big Ten presidents and chancellors will vote to approve a nine-game schedule for 2016, according to Wisconsin's athletic director. The Big Ten adds Rutgers and Maryland in 2014 and will have two years to assimilate their move to the league. ...more

If the Southeastern Conference stayed at 14 teams in the coming years, even if future conference expansion swirled around it, that wouldn't exactly shock. But one thing could force a change, Florida's president said: An 'ace jewel' calling for help. ...more

Ohio State AD Gene Smith says 14-team Big Ten is 'not doing anything right now' in the realignment game and hasn't had any substantial talks on such matters in recent months. ...more

Without babysitting, the ACC is keeping tabs on its membership since the Big Ten lured the cash-strapped Maryland Terrapins in November. ...more

Nothing the ACC does to counter Maryland's move to the Big Ten is going to catapult it into some super conference stratosphere. Yes, UConn or Louisville are on the table, and those might be the best two options. Who else is it going to get? If the ACC doesn't add a 14th team this week, it might be because of logistics. Organizing presidents and committee reps to deliberate, and eventually vote, on something like this can take time. ...more

A stronger play on the east coast was long overdue for the Big Ten, commissioner Jim Delany said Monday as Maryland was announced as the conference*s 13th team. Rutgers is scheduled to join Maryland on Tuesday. Perhaps more moves are coming. The Big Ten is opening an east-coast office and plans to erect billboards, organize alumni events * do anything it can to enhance its presence in what*s widely considered a pro market. ...more