Penn State Might Join Big Ten : Conference: Announcement is expected from presidents, who are considering admission of Nittany Lions.

The Big Ten Conference has discussed admitting Penn State and will make an announcement within the next seven days, the conference chairman said Thursday.

“At the moment, the discussions are still ongoing,” said Stanley O. Ikenberry, president of the University of Illinois and chairman of the Council of 10.

Penn State was discussed last weekend at a meeting of the university presidents, who would decide whether to admit a new member, he said.

Similar talks were held about a decade ago, but they started anew within the past several months, Ikenberry said.

“Frankly, I can’t remember where they started, but I think they started with a phone call from Penn State,” he said.

L. Budd Thalman, Penn State’s associate athletic director for communications, earlier confirmed discussions had been held, but he declined to elaborate.

There have been rumblings for years that Penn State, an Eastern independent, was interested in joining the Big Ten. However, the move could take years to implement, because athletic schedules are set far in advance.

A move to the Big Ten could represent a financial boost for Penn State. The conference winner each year stands to make $3 million in the Rose Bowl against the Pacific 10 winner, and most Big Ten schools play in stadiums much larger than those of the Nittany Lions’ current opponents.