Maryland's Stefon Diggs (1) and Anthony Nixon lead the team onto the field before the start of the game with Florida State at Byrd Stadium in College Park, Maryland, on Saturday, November 17, 2012. ESPN has reported that Maryland is in "serious" talks to become the Big Ten's 13th member school. (Mark Gail/MCT)

ESPN reporters Brett McMurphy, Andy Katz and Dana O’Neill reported Saturday afternoon that the Big Ten Conference is in “serious” talks with the University of Maryland to have the Terrapins join the conference.

ESPN’s report notes that if Maryland decides to leave the Atlantic Coast Conference and join the Big Ten that Rutgers – currently a member of the Big East Conference – would become the Big Ten’s 14th member school.

The report does not include whether Maryland and/or Rutgers would join the Big Ten in all sports or in football only.

Maryland would have to pay a $50 million exit fee to the ACC if it were to leave, while Rutgers’ exit fee is $10 million if the school provides more than 27 months notice of its intent to leave the conference. Each conference’s exit fee is different, and many conferences – including the ACC – have elected to raise their exit fees in light of major conference realignment in the past few years.