Big Ten Expansion is Over
Per ESPN, the Big Ten Expansion is over. They stated they will monitor what is happening, but for now, Nebraska is it.
December 5th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
What if Notre DAme asked to become part of the Big Ten, would they let them in?
December 5th, 2010 at 4:57 PM ^
"Although the conference will continue to monitor the intercollegiate landscape, it will not be actively engaged in conference expansion for the foreseeable future and does not expect to be proactively seeking new members."
It's not in the market for new teams, but if new teams came to them they would listen. Balls in your court ND.
December 5th, 2010 at 5:04 PM ^
has no balls
December 5th, 2010 at 5:25 PM ^
The B10 no longer wants us for our football.. or basketball.. or hockey? Buh-buh-buh-buh but tradition, national recruiting! USC! LITTLE RED HEADS!!!!!!!!!
December 5th, 2010 at 6:38 PM ^
ND knows that a real BT schedule would be a lot more difficult than what they play now. Their strength has been knowing how to schedule at least half of their games against teams that look good to both pollsters and computers, but aren't likely to beat an elite team. then, they fill out their schedule with USC, UM, MSU, and Purdue. Most years, an elite ND team should beat everyone except USC and UM, and have a great chance agains those two teams, depending on year-to-year matchups and fluctuations in talent.
If ND joined the BT and kept USC as their annual "rivalry game," it's very possible they might never win another National Championship. They would have to "replace" service academies and Big East games with teams like Nebraska, Wiscy, OSU, or PSU. That would make their schedule look a lot different than it does now.
And a lot tougher.
December 5th, 2010 at 6:53 PM ^
Yah we should schedule more Appalachian St and the Michigan Directional schools, sprinkle in some UMass for flavour.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:16 PM ^
Give me a break. Your bias shows through yet again.
Strength of schedule according to Sagarin
ND: 24
NEB: 30
MINN: 38
UM: 40
ILL: 46
PU: 49
IOWA: 51
PSU: 53
MSU: 65
OSU: 68
UW: 71
NW: 73
IU: 77
December 5th, 2010 at 5:04 PM ^
I mean, they would be a great addition for a hockey conference, but other then that they don't really bring anything to the table IMO. The Bigten already has the Chicago market locked up and is almost available nationwide already. I think Nebraska was a much better get then ND ever could be.
December 5th, 2010 at 5:31 PM ^
14+ teams would be weird. We're not one of these wacky WAC/CUSA type conferences. 12 is enough. Let ND do their thing. Not sure if we should keep scheduling ND given that we now have OSU, Nebraska, and MSU on our schedule every year.
December 5th, 2010 at 9:18 PM ^
Not sure if we should keep scheduling ND given that we now have OSU, Nebraska, and MSU on our schedule every year.
I think we need the win, so keep ND.
December 5th, 2010 at 6:09 PM ^
Notre Dame is a program that can still rise back to become an annual BCS contender after a spell of mediocrity. Even a long spell. Well, a very long spell. A very, very long spell...
At any rate, their ability to grab top-end recruits despite years of irrelevance says volumes about their staying power. And yes, they'd be a very good addition from a financial standpoint, potentially delivering the New York market, among a number of others, to the Big Ten Network footprint.
December 5th, 2010 at 8:00 PM ^
I would take ND in a heart beat if we could "ask" either Indiana or Minnesota if they would seceed from the Big10. ND would run close to even in Basketball, but an upgrade in Football branding and create a buzz for at least a year of two in the football landscape.
December 5th, 2010 at 5:48 PM ^
"It's not in the market for new teams, but if new teams came to them they would listen. Balls in your court ND."
Hmm, that sounds like the old "I'm not interested in a relationship right now" and then next week that person meets the love of their life and - BAM - they're in a relationship!
December 5th, 2010 at 5:00 PM ^
Although the conference will continue to monitor the intercollegiate landscape, it will not be actively engaged in conference expansion for the foreseeable future and does not expect to be proactively seeking new members.
So yes, we will take Notre Dame if they want to come, but we're not looking for anyone else at the moment...defining the moment as until either the Big 12 or Big East falls apart.
December 5th, 2010 at 5:05 PM ^
You hit the nail on the head Seth, the Big Ten can stand pat for now until one of those two conferences implodes and then come in and pick up teams. It's a shame Texas didnt come to the Big Ten when they had a chance, but maybe theyll have the opportunity in a couple of years.
December 5th, 2010 at 5:21 PM ^
Texas is calling the shots in the B12, so I don't forsee them jumping to a different conference anytime soon. It's a different story if the B12 implodes. You also have to contest with the Texas legislature trying to make the Texas schools a package deal.
December 5th, 2010 at 5:43 PM ^
December 5th, 2010 at 6:53 PM ^
Other than every time I close my eyes. Or right now. And yes, damn you, yes.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:35 PM ^
ND realistically is more like a sauced up Pamela Anderson, the woman that was every man's dream about 15 years ago, but is now overused and desperate for a return to glory.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:50 PM ^
Quite a fitting analgy.
December 5th, 2010 at 9:45 PM ^
Scarlett Johanssan >> ND, drunk & NAKED Scarlett Johanssan >>>>>>> ND. Nevertheless, I vote Scarlett..a definite yes, ND...pass, even drunk.
December 5th, 2010 at 6:24 PM ^
"To hell with ND!"
December 5th, 2010 at 4:55 PM ^
Was just about to post this. Big Ten official link for those who want it:
December 5th, 2010 at 4:57 PM ^
Say goodbye to any chance of a future change in division allignment, and the ability to get Michigan and Ohio State in the same division....
December 5th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^
Oh fun, lets open this stinky can of worms again.
December 5th, 2010 at 5:01 PM ^
No, they'll still revisit things after 2012. At least two schools (Wisconsin and Illinois) are unhappy and have requested a revision, and the conference has assured them that the current divisions are not necessarily permanent.
December 5th, 2010 at 5:07 PM ^
The only problem I see with that is that they're in the same division. I sure hope they reconsider it, but I would understand if the Big Ten (or Twelve?) would argue that only one division is unhappy while the other is fine.
December 5th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
What is their beef with the new divisions (Illinois and Wisconsin)?
December 5th, 2010 at 5:21 PM ^
Not sure about Illinois, but I figure Wisconsin's not pleased with being cut off from their primary rivals - Iowa and Minnesota, and they were also hoping to start up an annual rivalry with Nebraska. They were 0/3 in that, although they do get Minny as a crossover game.
December 5th, 2010 at 6:12 PM ^
"East" - M, OSU, PSU, ILL, IN, PU
"West" - NB, WIS, IA, MN, NW, MSU
The fact that MSU is isolated over there makes me even happier.
December 5th, 2010 at 5:08 PM ^
I'm hoping in a couple of years they see the ridiculousness of gerry-mandering the divisions like they have, and by 2016 they KISS with an E-W split and no guaranteed cross-overs
December 5th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^
So basically, the door is open to superconferences, but we won't be the ones to start it
December 5th, 2010 at 5:04 PM ^
About a college football playoff...huh, heh, huh...
December 5th, 2010 at 5:11 PM ^
when asked, Jim Delaney said Big Ten Expansion was "at a pause with the addition of Nebraska." That is markedly different commentary than declaring B10 expansion as "over."
December 5th, 2010 at 5:30 PM ^
Big Ten expansion is over in the current landscape.
The Big 12 is going to implode, and when it does the music will start again.
December 5th, 2010 at 5:37 PM ^
I saw they let the University of Chicago back into the BT. This way they can pull ahead of MSU in BT football titles since they are now both tied at 7.
December 5th, 2010 at 6:02 PM ^
when the money promised doesn't show up for Texas AM.
December 5th, 2010 at 6:11 PM ^
..would allow the MSUs and Wisconsins of the conference to dodge even more top tier teams every year.
December 5th, 2010 at 6:48 PM ^
A 14- or 16-team conference is just too damn unwieldy. You end up playing too many teams too few times.
Let ND stew in their own filthy bathwater. They had their chance. I'd love to see us play them only once every 3-4 years, and substitute the kind of opponents that OSU has been scheduling.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:06 PM ^
F*($ Notre Dame
That's all.