Big Ten expansion poll: 2013 Edition

[Muck]

There have been a couple of previous polls on the topic:

One started in 2007 which has become the De facto thread for expansion topics in general and another in 2010, after Nebraska was announced but before the addition of Rutgers & Maryland.

2007 results (Top 10):
Notre Dame 187
Texas 104
Missouri 85
Maryland 64
Oklahoma 61
Virginia Tech 52
Georgia Tech 47
Kansas 41
Pitt 39
Rutgers 36
(Nebraska was not listed)

2010 results (Top 10):
Notre Dame 47
Missouri 41
Maryland 29
Syracuse 26
Georgia Tech 16
Rutgers 16
Texas 14
Virginia 14
North Carolina 9
Virginia Tech 9

So where do we stand now?

This time I want to do things a little differently, instead of picking schools you'd like to see added...select what you think the B1G will actually do in this round of expansion.

Check the schools you think the B1G will add & also check the total number you think they will add at the bottom.

The poll is setup so you can make a maximum of 7 selection (six schools + the matching total at the bottom). Of course if you think the B1G will only add 2 then you would only make 3 selections (the 2 schools & +2 stop at 16) & if you think the B1G is done expanding there is an option for that as well.

I've left off a number of schools that are not even on the radar (UC, Louisville, WVU, Iowa St etc).

 

[LordJeffBuck]

I think that the B1G would eventually like to get to 20 teams, but I don't really see six viable candidates at the moment. So I took the safe option and voted for +2 (UNC, UVa).

 

[Muck]

I think that the B1G would eventually like to get to 20 teams, but I don't really see six viable candidates at the moment. So I took the safe option and voted for +2 (UNC, UVa).

To be honest I'm starting to believe that the end game may not be the number of schools added but rather what it takes to get the schools they want.

For example if UNC was willing to come on board right now without baggage then they may stop at 16: UNC & UVA

On the other hand if UNC insists that Duke be part of the package then we might be looking at 18: UNC, Duke, UVA & GT

...and other similar arrangements.

 

[LitlBuck]

I also only took Virginia and UNC but I would like for them to grab Georgia Tech and Florida State also but that would give an uneven number in the divisions and I am getting too greedy.

Don't see them going to 20 schools for quite a while.

 

[Buckeye86]

I voted 20.

I think the ultimate goal is Notre Dame.

North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia Tech are great additions that will destroy the ACC and help bring the Irish into the fold.

I went with Florida State and Vanderbilt as the likely final two but that could go a number of different ways... I see 19 and 20 as additional leverage, however that may work out, to get Notre Dame.

If Notre Dame isn't belligerently stupid about it and doesn't require additional leverage maybe they stay at 18. Like I said, my bet is on 20.

Edit: As Muck pointed at, Duke is a possibility (probably in place of Vanderbilt) as well to lure North Carolina, but I still think all expansion roads lead back to Notre Dame for Delany.

Example: Duke>North Carolina>Destroy ACC>Notre Dame.

 

[Diego-Bucks]

Voted for a 2-school expansion. It comes down to GT, UVA, UNC, and someone. I think that GT and UVA have appeared to be the most receptive to moving so that's who I think they take.

Could be a 4-school expansion, but I'm less certain who team #4 would be, FSU or ND make sense but not certain of there receptiveness.

Not sure that we need to expand, but I think that Delaney wants to do so before the next ESPN/FOX TV contract talks.

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

ND make sense but not certain of there receptiveness.

Really? They've spurned the B1G at least twice.

 

[shiznit7]

Went with the standard three of GT, UNC, and UVa. Also, went with the wildcard and picked Kansas. It makes geographic sense to me and they have great facilities and, along with UNC, one of the best basketball traditions in the country. Plus, it would force the Bevo/Big 12/8/whatever to start making some moves.

 

[ScriptOhio]

1. I always thought that Missouri was a good fit for the B1G, even better than Nebraska; and I think they were begging for an invite too. However, now I don't know if they would flip from the SEC to the B1G.

2. UVa, UNC, and maybe GT or Duke hinges on how the lawsuit between the ACC and Maryland comes out. After all the appeals are done; if Maryland has to pay a sizeable chuck of cash (i.e. something close to $50M), I think we stop at 14. If Maryland doesn't have to pay anything (or a small token amount) all the ACC schools are "in play" for another conference (i.e. B1G, SEC, & Big XII).

 

[buchtelgrad04]

I think UVA & UNC, but I fat fingered on my iPad and selected Notre DamselInDistress accidentally.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Really? They've spurned the B1G at least twice.

I just don't see the domers ever swallowing their pride and joining the Big Ten. Domer will swallow a lot of things but not its pride. They'll try to manipulate and use any combination of schools and conferences to carve out something for themselves before being just another equal Big Ten school.

I think Delany and the Presidents realize that now, and their strategy has thusly been reoriented to domer destruction instead of domer assimilation.

 

[BB73]

18 works well for scheduling, with an even number of opponents in the same division. I went with UVa, UNC, and GT, leaving the last one open.

 

[Piney]

My votes went to UVA, Georgia Tech, UNC and Florida State with them ending at 18 for now. They may end up at 20... but that won't happen for another decade or two depending on if there is still a NCAA.

I agree with ORD for once and I think Delany knows Notre Dame will never come to the B1G. Notre Dame is one stubborn bunch and I think if they are forced to join a conference the LAST conference they would join would be the B1G... heck, I think Notre Dame would rather join the PAC8/10/12 then be forced to join the conference that everyone wants them in.

But back to the B1G... I really think Delany is pushing for Florida State. He knows what they can bring to the conference. Demographics and football muscle in a state where a TON of B1G alumni end up. Yes the academics are a bitter pill to sell... but is it Florida State's fault that it was a woman's college til the 1950s?

FSU is the homerun that can make this all worthwhile.

 

[Diego-Bucks]

Really? They've spurned the B1G at least twice.

In the scenario I presented, where the Big Ten invites UNC, UVA, and Georgia Tech, I am then uncertain how Notre Dame would receive an invitation to be the 18th Big Ten member.

I know what Notre Dame has said in the past and is likely to say in the future. I don't particularly care for Notre Dame. But adding half of the ACC (the conference to which Notre Dame is partly joining) might change their mind.

*Edit* I'll add that I am fine with adding FSU if they are keen for an offer. I could see Kansas or Duke. But again, while UNC, UVA, and Georgia Tech make a lot of sense for their academics, demographics, region, and athletics, I am less certain who a potential 4th invitee would be. FSU, ND, KU, Duke, Mizzou... all make sense from different vantage points but I have no idea who would want the offer. FSU faculty and administrators probably want an offer, but alum and fans may not.

 

[exhawg]

IMO if they grow to 16+ they need to go to 4 divisions rather than 2. That would allow schools to play everyone more often. Of course scheduling 4 5 team divisions is easier than 4 4 team divisions. My guess would be 20 if they grow from 14.