In April 2012 , after moves by the Big Ten triggered massive realignment , then-''CBSSports.com '' sportswriter Brett McMurphy commented , It was Jim Delany 's cow in a Chicago barn that kicked over the lantern that started the country 's conference realignment inferno . After that it was a hundred reactionary moves from other conference commissioners , shoring up their ranks , while scorching college football 's landscape . After the Big Ten 's initial announcement that it was looking at expansion in December 2009 , rumors about possible expansion targets and the possibility that the conference might expand to as many as 14 or 16 teams circulated into May 2010 . On June 11 , 2010 , Nebraska applied for membership in the Big Ten and was unanimously approved as the conference 's 12th school . Its membership became effective July 1 , 2011 . Big Ten officials later stated that they had no plans to expand beyond 12 teams in the near future
cow in a Chicago barn
Great Chicago Fire
2010–14 Big Ten Conference realignment