Big Ten Expansion

[Shocky]

This semi-annual discussion is back again. The Big 10, which actually has 11 teams, is looking to add a 12th team, but it's not to be confused with the Big 12 Conference, which has 12 teams but used to be the Big 8. Everyone got that?

The Big 10 is one of the more successful (financially) conference in all of college sports. They have there own Television Network, and essentially a stranglehold on the MidWest college sports scene. The Big 10 is looking to add it's 12th team to have a Big 10 Football Championship game, which would effectively split the conference into two subdivisions.

So, the question posed here, which team becomes the 12th team if these talks don't collapse again.


The Usual Suspects:

Notre Dame: Pro: Clearly it's the obvious geographical choice. It's a football powerhouse brining in tons of credibility if it were to finally jump to the Big 10. It's a perfect geographical fit for the Big 10, located right in Northwestern Indiana.

Con: Notre Dame has their own television contract with NBC, and Notre Dame enjoys it's spot as an independent. Despite the fact they already play 3 big ten teams, they enjoy not having ot answer to a conference for Football. Also, The Big 10 is looking to put their network into a new market, and I'm pretty sure that South Bend already has the Big 10 Network. Also, I'm not sure Purdue or Indiana would be happy with a 3rd conference team in state.

Missouri: Geographic rival to Illinois, and the Tigers would love to get in a conference that doesn't include the Longhorns or the Sooners. If the Big 10 split into two divisions, the Tigers would fit perfectly with Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern and Wisconsin. Also, the Big 10 Network could expand into that state, grabbing the St. Louis Market.

and now for the raping of the Big East

Louisville, Cincinnati, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Rutgers have all been tossed around in these discussions before. I would throw Cincinnati out as Ohio State wants nothing to do with the Bearcats in the Big 10. Ohio State and Cincinnati simply do not like each other (1962 still stings doesn't it bitches).

Pittsburgh is a large market, but I'm not sure if the relationship between Penn State would allow for them to go. Syracuse has been a huge target as well, but the Basketball progam enjoys the Big East more then the Big 10, so I doubt they would move.

Louisville is a nice choice, but I simply can't see them being more of an attractive draw then Rutgers. Rutgers brings the NJ/NY market into the Big 10, and Rutgers just underwent expansion to accomodate for mroe football.

So I think Notre Dame is the first choice, but won't happen. Rutgers becomes a #2, but it's really up to Rutgers if it wants to leave the Big East.

Ideally, i would love to see Mizzou jump to the Big 10, because the potential domino effect of replacing Mizzou in the Big 12 could be amazing.

 

[Theo Mays]

Like you said I'd love to see Mizzou join in on the Big 10. Them leaving the Big 12 could open the door for a team like TCU or Houston to make the jump into the Big 12. I'm not sure I could see ND making the jump. Being an independent favors their schedule. They get to schedule games against teams who are not as good as conference teams. Now that doesn't mean diddly, as we saw ND struggle. If I had to pick a team to jump ship and join the Big 10, I would have to select Pitt. They have a strong history with Penn St from the past and it was always a big rivalry game. I doubt Pitt jumps from the Big East though. It is really a tough choice to select a team. Either way, I do hope the Big 10 adds a team and we can get a championship game.

 

[Shocky]

I think the Mizzou move would be the most intriguing of them all, due to the potential of the dominoes that fall after that. If Mizzou jumps, you have potential of Memphis (Unlikely), Houston (maybe) or TCU (bingo) that moves into the Big 12 and takes that spot.

The working theory is that if you have the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, and SEC all with 12 teams, that the Pac 10 would look to add Boise and Utah to follow suit, and the Big East to add 4 more football schools. A lot of the BCS mess could be solved if this does happen, but the smaller conferences would take a beating and almost be irrelevant.

Where's Sly, I think he's a Mizzou homer.