Nicole Auerbach

USA TODAY Sports

CHICAGO — Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has four more years to make a continued impact on college athletics.

Delany, 68, plans to step down in 2020, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday afternoon. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the specific timeline was not publicly announced.

Earlier Tuesday, Delany told reporters at Big Ten football media days that he did not expect to still be in his current role when the Big Ten's new television deal expires in six years.

Delany's tenure with the Big Ten began in 1989. He's been one of the most influential and innovative people in college athletics since then.