Rutgers Officially Leaves Big East to Join Big Ten

Rutgers will follow Maryland's path to the Big Ten Conference and is set to announce the move on Tuesday, according to ESPN college football reporter Brett McMurphy on Twitter:

"

Rutgers will announce move to Big Ten on Tuesday, sources told @espn

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) November 19, 2012"

It was reported by McMurphy and Dana O'Neil on Monday that Maryland will begin competing in the Big Ten as soon as the 2014-15 academic year, which will will likely be the same for Rutgers.

UPDATE: Monday, November 19 at 2:15 p.m. ET by Ben Chodos

ESPN's Brett McMurphy shed light on what Rutgers' road to the Big Ten title game will look like once they join the conference. 

McMurphy reported via Twitter how the divisions will be shaken up for the 2014-15 season:

"

Maryland prez tells regents MD, RU in Leaders Division w/OSU, PSU, Wisconsin, Purdue & Indiana. Illinois moves to Legends

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) November 19, 2012"

The Scarlet Knights will face stiff competition in the Leaders Division, providing new challenges for Kyle Flood and the program. 

---End of Update---

Rutgers will leave the Big East Conference, which it has been a member of since 1991. The Scarlet Knights joined the conference two decades ago for football only up until 1995, when the university joined the Big East in all sports.

The Big Ten will now have 14 schools, while the ACC and Big East will now have to look to add replacements.

Rutgers' football program ranked 18th in the BCS standings. It is 9-1 overall and 5-0 in the Big East this season and is on pace to win its first ever Big East Conference title. Ironically, it could be their first and last after agreeing to join the loaded Big Ten.

The Scarlet Knights' men's basketball team is off to a 2-1 start this season, but has never won the Big East since joining in 1995. Rutgers' women's basketball team nearly won an NCAA championship in 2007, losing to Tennessee in the National Championship Game. 

Keep it right here for more information on Rutgers' status as it becomes available.

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