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(AP) --  Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany e-mailed
conference officials to stamp out a rumor that four schools
had already been offered a chance to join the league.

 Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said that Delany
had quashed a report the Big Ten had offered expansion spots to
Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Rutgers.

 The Big Ten holds annual meetings next week in Chicago involving
athletic officials, faculty representatives and football and men's
and women's basketball coaches. But Smith said the meetings were
routine and nothing would be decided about expansion.

 The conference is looking at expanding from its current 11
members so it can increase the reach of its cable network and hold
a league championship title game.

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