Big Ten Media Days: Tony Petitti speaks; Northwestern, Minnesota deal with drama

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (KLKN) – Media, coaches and players gathered inside Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday for day one of Big Ten Media Days.

New Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti spoke to media for the first time in his new role.

Petitti begins his tenure in the final year of the East and West division alignment and before USC and UCLA enter the conference in 2024.

“I want to give you all an update on the exciting work the conference is doing to provide USC and UCLA with a thoughtful and smooth integration into the Big Ten,” he said. “I had the pleasure of spending time in Los Angeles in mid-June with leadership from USC and UCLA. Student-athlete welfare, scheduling and marketing were the primary focus for both institutions at our meetings.”

But the new commissioner quickly squashed rumors of other teams joining the conference in the near future.

Petitti said the conference will have 34 football games on broadcast TV this season, the most of any conference, with 45 planned for next season.

Northwestern enters the season amid an investigation into hazing allegations within the program.

The Wildcats fired longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald on July 10.

Interim head coach David Braun was the program’s lone representative at the event, as three player representatives opted out of the conference.

Northwestern is not the only school with preseason drama. Minnesota is also under fire.

Front Office Sports released an article Wednesday in which former Golden Gophers described a toxic culture under head coach P.J. Fleck.

One of the allegations centers around the “Fleck Bank,” a system in which players with enough “coins” — earned through things like community service and studying — can get away with violations such as positive drug tests.

Fleck and Minnesota players will speak to the press on Thursday.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule — along with quarterback Jeff Sims, offensive lineman Ethan Piper and linebacker Luke Reimer — will address the media on Thursday.

You can watch Day 2 of Big Ten Media Days on the Big Ten Network.

Rhule’s remarks at 1:15 p.m. Central time will also be livestreamed on klkntv.com.