The Big Ten has begun exploratory discussions about expanding membership to 18 or even 20 teams, industry sources have told Yahoo Sports. The schools being considered are Oregon and Washington if the league adds two schools, and Cal and Stanford if it wants to move to 20. All four institutions are currently members of the Pac-12.

The discussions are in the very early stages, sources caution. No decision, including on whether to expand or stay put at 16 teams, has been made or is considered imminent.

The Big Ten may also patiently wait to see what happens with other Pac-12 schools and their potential move to the Big 12 before acting at all.

Even this is a B1G change from previous reporting that the B1G was not interested. The B1G like the B.Y. is not known for "exploratory", "early stages" or "patiently wait". The B1G and the B.Y. act and the PAC will cease to exist in a year. One of them will act, and that will be "imminent."