Big Ten and other Conference Expansion

[broken24]

Good luck to the next Big East commish

There remains a desire among some member schools to leave. Multiple sources with direct knowledge of their situations told ESPN.com that Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich told the Big East board of directors that the Cardinals want to be in the Big 12 or the ACC, opting for transparency by making members aware of his school's true intentions.

No invitation has arrived as of yet and the only likely one would be from the Big 12 if new commissioner Bob Bowlsby sees the need to recommend to his board that an expansion to 12 teams is in the league's interest. Last year, Louisville made a strong push to get into the Big 12 over West Virginia but was rebuffed in the 11th hour.

Connecticut, meanwhile, states publicly that it wants to stay in the Big East, though a number of UConn sources have said privately that they want to be in the ACC with Notre Dame.

The Irish have so far publicly remained committed to independence in football and the Big East in all other sports. But an Irish source said that they are evaluating the new landscape in the Big East. Still, it would take a major decision by the Irish to give up independent status in football.

 

[LovelandBuckeye]

Screw Vandy. They won't leave the SEC even with the conference academic issues.

Give me Maryland, Virginia, Ga Tech and Ntre Ame and call it a day. Adding those four will give the Ped Staters an eastern division they could live with and would also balance the Big Ten geographically in east/west terms.

Yes, screw Vandy!

So, you mean B1G divisions wouldn't look like the $EC (MIZZOU in East) or Big East (WTF that shit show is)?

 

[LovelandBuckeye]

Good luck to the next Big East commish

Still, it would take a major decision by the Irish to give up independent status in football.

Being irrelevant just isn't enough I guess.

 

[korchiki]

Screw Vandy. They won't leave the SEC even with the conference academic issues.

Give me Maryland, Virginia, Ga Tech and Ntre Ame and call it a day. Adding those four will give the Ped Staters an eastern division they could live with and would also balance the Big Ten geographically in east/west terms.

You sure about that?

As for Maryland, they are really struggling right now in keeping in the black. Not sure if that would matter or not.

 

[Buckeyevsworld]

I always thought Missouri would have been a great addition to the Big 10. The only reason i'd want ND is so that tOSU could smash them every year.

 

[Mike80]

You sure about that?

As for Maryland, they are really struggling right now in keeping in the black. Not sure if that would matter or not.

I'm pretty sure. Besides they would end up leaving whatever rivalries they have with Tennecheat.

As for Maryland, you have a big-time research institution (AAU member as well) and that along with Virginia gives the Big Ten a footprint in the National Capital Region. That means more $$$ for the conference members through research partnerships.

You get something similar with Virginia as well. If the Domers don't join for whatever reason then it gets interesting. Virginia Tech will want to follow Virginia. Vandy as you said would be thrown around as a candidate. I would think Iowa State could be an interesting option as well.

If the ACC loses FSU, things could get very interesting very quickly.

 

[dragurd]

Wel it's win win with the Domers. Either they join and their arrogance gets pummeled over and over again or they don't and everyone laughs as the fade further and further into irrelevance on the national scale.

 

[Mike80]

Wel it's win win with the Domers. Either they join and their arrogance gets pummeled over and over again or they don't and everyone laughs as the fade further and further into irrelevance on the national scale.

Well there is an option C - they join the Big XII or Big East and slide into irrelevance within a conference.

 

[Mike80]

Yes, screw Vandy!

So, you mean B1G divisions wouldn't look like the $EC (MIZZOU in East) or Big East (WTF that shit show is)?

Nope. I think if something similar to what I said occurs, since the divisions aren't balanced geographically now (not really), they won't be married to the idea as much as the SEC and whatever the fuck the Big East morphed into this year.

I don't think Mizzou being in the Eastern Division is that bad honestly. That's the only way that program is ever going to compete - Tennecheat is down, Florida isn't what it once was and the Cocks are at an all time high. They'll fit in nicely there where they wouldn't be a .500 team in conference in the West ever.

 

[OSU_D/]

I would think Iowa State could be an interesting option as well.

I am sure you have your reasons but to me this is almost the not a good idea for Big 10 expension. We'd essentially have the same revenue except cutting it one more time. ISU is below the Big 10 in academics, adds a good wrestling team only, and doesn't offer an additional market.

Is there something you see about ISU?

 

[broken24]

Big 12 expansion could lead to consolidation of power in top four conferences

 

[Mike80]

I am sure you have your reasons but to me this is almost the not a good idea for Big 10 expension. We'd essentially have the same revenue except cutting it one more time. ISU is below the Big 10 in academics, adds a good wrestling team only, and doesn't offer an additional market.

Is there something you see about ISU?

They are a cultural fit with Minny/Iowa/Nebraska and could also add to any geographical balance the league may try to strike.

They are below the Big Ten at the moment in academics, but to be honest, there are few schools that measure up that would fit. BTW they are ranked slightly higher than Nebraska is academically, just saying and they were good at Basketball for a while as well as occasionally at football and of course, wrestling.

Iowa State is more of a "16th team if no one else looks good" type of option and nothing else and I didn't mean to give an impression otherwise.

And I think, if the dominoes begin to really fall in the ACC/Big XII, we are going to see rather quickly that academics aren't driving this boat in any way, shape or form.

 

[korchiki]

I'm pretty sure. Besides they would end up leaving whatever rivalries they have with Tennecheat.

As for Maryland, you have a big-time research institution (AAU member as well) and that along with Virginia gives the Big Ten a footprint in the National Capital Region. That means more $$$ for the conference members through research partnerships.

You get something similar with Virginia as well. If the Domers don't join for whatever reason then it gets interesting. Virginia Tech will want to follow Virginia. Vandy as you said would be thrown around as a candidate. I would think Iowa State could be an interesting option as well.

If the ACC loses FSU, things could get very interesting very quickly.

Agree about FSU getting the ball rolling again. Ga Tech would get them huge exposure in the middle of SEC country. I would love that.

Also on the wish-list would be NC State. Neither Duke nor UNC would ever leave the ACC but NC State (trying to become a member of AAU - President was formerly at Purdue) would help bring us the Carolina market. Keep in mind that this is about expanding our footprint (TV $ for BTN) while factoring in high quality research and athletics. NC State wouldn't need to have a huge following on their own (although it certainly wouldn't hurt). With the most alumni in of any conference, there are at least a couple hundred thousand Big Ten alumni and fans in the Carolina's.

As for Iowa State, I don't see what they add.

 

[jwinslow]

Iowa State is a money loss. Pittsburgh is a far better option if you're going that route.

 

[DaveyBoy]

I see conference expansion to 16 or more as inevitable. Therefore I think the B1G should be the aggressor.

Add: Maryland, VaTech, NC State, and GaTech
note: let ND disappear

this would establish B1G footholds in 4 new states and all with strong TV markets plus 3 of the 4 universities already in the AAU and the 4th vying to get in. The SEC will then have to go after FSU and Miami or reach well beyond its borders.

The B1G will be stretched out far, but with the added $ coming in and with an eventual need for basketball revenue to increase dramatically, this positions the B1G well in BB hotbeds of the the Balt/DC area, the Carolina, and Atlanta.

With these 4 schools/markets locked up, the B1G TV contract negotiations would go much more favorably.

Agree about FSU getting the ball rolling again. Ga Tech would get them huge exposure in the middle of SEC country. I would love that.

Also on the wish-list would be NC State. Neither Duke nor UNC would ever leave the ACC but NC State (trying to become a member of AAU - President was formerly at Purdue) would help bring us the Carolina market. Keep in mind that this is about expanding our footprint (TV $ for BTN) while factoring in high quality research and athletics. NC State wouldn't need to have a huge following on their own (although it certainly wouldn't hurt). With the most alumni in of any conference, there are at least a couple hundred thousand Big Ten alumni and fans in the Carolina's.

As for Iowa State, I don't see what they add.