Like the NCAA, the Big Ten will take a close look at the Freeh report on Penn State's actions surrounding the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal, while continuing to monitor the situation.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany issued a statement to ESPN.com on Wednesday night stating that the league will continue its "prudent, thoughtful and patient review" of the situation. The report from former FBI director Louis Freeh will be released at 9 a.m. ET today, and Freeh will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. in Philadelphia.

Here's Delany's full statement:

"The Big Ten Conference continues to monitor the investigative and adjudicatory processes associated with the Penn State matter and is prepared to review the report scheduled to be released on Thursday by Judge Louis Freeh and his law firm, Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP.

"As we have said from the beginning, the conference will reserve judgment until all information surrounding the various proceedings is made available. Various federal, state and other investigations, including the grand jury investigation, are still ongoing, certain criminal trials have yet to begin, and key principals have yet to testify.

"The unprecedented nature of these circumstances requires a prudent, thoughtful and patient review. Until the record is complete and has been thoroughly reviewed by our Presidents and Chancellors, we do not anticipate commenting further."

No major surprises here. A source tells ESPN.com that the Big Ten's own investigation of Penn State, launched by the league's presidents and chancellors in December, will last at least until the end of the summer. The Big Ten asked both Penn State and the NCAA for its own legal counsel to participate in investigations and reviews of the school. The league's presidents and chancellors said in a statement that they "reserve the right to impose sanctions, corrective or other disciplinary measures in the event that adverse findings are made in the areas of institutional control, ethical conduct and/or other conference related matters."

The Big Ten's investigation isn't contingent on the pending legal cases involving Penn State and could be wrapped up before those are completed.