The University of Maryland’s Board of Regents reportedly approved the Terrapins’ move to the Big Ten this morning.

The Big Ten Network confirmed the board’s decision in a tweet. An official announcement from Maryland is expected at 2 p.m.

Maryland must now apply for membership to the Big Ten, which will then be voted on by the 12 presidents and chancellors of the conference’s schools. The Terrapins must get nine of the 12 votes to be accepted into the conference as its 13th member.

Rutgers is also expected to apply for Big Ten membership this week.

In order for Maryland to leave its current conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference, it will need to notify conference officials by Aug. 15, 2013, and pay a $50 million exit fee. If everything goes smoothly, Maryland would join the Big Ten for the 2014-2015 season.

Maryland’s Big Ten flirtation has been a highly contested topic. Terrapin fans voted against it 2 to 1 in a Washington Post online poll and the school’s student government released a resolution supporting the switch. Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, a Maryland alum, recently came out in favor of the move, which would give the company a second sponsored team in the conference in addition to Northwestern.

— Josh Walfish