OT: more conference expansion rumors

Submitted by dnak438 on
  1. According to the minutes of the council's December meeting obtained by the Columbus DispatchGee told councillors that "there has been ongoing discussion" within the Big Ten about expanding beyond the conference's current 14 members. Gee reportedly stated that he "believes there is movement towards three or four super conferences that are made up of 16-20 teams."

    And in perhaps the most interesting comment from the minutes, Gee told a student member of the council that the Big Ten had "opportunities" to either add more schools in the Midwest or "move further south in the (E)ast." (Link)

  2. Kirk Bohls of the Austin-American Statesman is reporting that the Big 12 is looking into a possible alliance with the ACC and two other unnamed leagues that could affect scheduling, marketing and maybe even television contracts among the member schools. One of the byproducts of such a move is that it could put a halt to further expansion by these leagues.(Link)

ia4goblue

January 25th, 2013 at 8:25 PM ^

As an ISU grad i can say that's not all true. Our basketball program doesnt suck, football program has grown a lot in the past decade, our women's sports are good, and iowa state has great vet, engineering, business, computer, and ag programs. Not a lot of eyeballs agreed, but there's still a lot ISU could offer the big ten. Our fan base bought all or just about all the allotted tickets to a bad bowl game against an opponent they already beat.

weasel3216

January 25th, 2013 at 10:07 PM ^

Sorry Iowa State would bring nothing to the B1G. I have never thought of Iowa State athletics unless they pull a big upset. They would be another Purdue, terrible at football, average at basketball every few years and all other sports don't matter in the grand scheme of college athletics.

markinmsp

January 26th, 2013 at 7:28 AM ^

 Agree, though as nice a fit as UNC would be, they are too entrenched in the ACC to leave at this point. Most of ACC officials are from UNC and their allegiance is very strong. Right now, if the ACC folds UNC will be the one “turning off the light as they leave”.

 GaTech has everything the B1G portrays as important for an added school; save one - geographic contiguity. This would not be too great if UVa is added though and the plum the Atlanta TV market brings is huge. I think everything awaits and hinges on what results spring from the ACC/Maryland buyout negotiation/lawsuit.

The Truth Hurts

January 25th, 2013 at 7:15 PM ^

Football wise what schools are out there that is strong enough to improve the big ten.   There are none.  iowa state no way they suck football and basketball.  kansas and kansas state average, ou and ok st is too far but will help nebraska.  on the east you have cinn, uconn louisville more basketball than football.  you can take vanderbilt for nashville market ga tech for atlanta market but again, no quality football teams. so the big ten have to expand but they have to go the basketball route and run that.

The Truth Hurts

January 25th, 2013 at 7:15 PM ^

Football wise what schools are out there that is strong enough to improve the big ten.   There are none.  iowa state no way they suck football and basketball.  kansas and kansas state average, ou and ok st is too far but will help nebraska.  on the east you have cinn, uconn louisville more basketball than football.  you can take vanderbilt for nashville market ga tech for atlanta market but again, no quality football teams. so the big ten have to expand but they have to go the basketball route and run that.

Lionsfan

January 25th, 2013 at 7:41 PM ^

"believes there is movement towards three or four super conferences that are made up of 16-20 teams."

Maybe it's because you and the rest of Big Ten AD's are the only ones pushing for a Superconference?

Fuck all this

ghost

January 25th, 2013 at 7:41 PM ^

We all seen how well the Big10/Pac12 scheduling alliance went.  I suspect if the ACC and Big12 did this all it would do is excelerate the speed at which the Big10 and SEC are expanding. They would likely just poach whoever they wanted from those conferences before such an agreement went in to place.

LSAClassOf2000

January 25th, 2013 at 8:18 PM ^

Dave Brandon rang in on this today as well when talking to ESPN - (LINK)

"But it's hard to model anything because you don’t know what to model. The minute you get yourself convinced that you're going to go from 14 to 16, for all you know you’re going to 18, and a lot of people think the ultimate landing place is 20. Who knows? There’s too many variables out there to predict it."

I am not terribly sure what to make of that other than that "Big Ten", as a term, is well on its way to being a strange example of meiosis in modern college football rhetoric. 

Alton

January 26th, 2013 at 12:08 PM ^

It's very unlikely that a future football national championship tournament would not include any at large bids at all.  I don't see that happening--for many reasons, not the least of which is the threat of anti-trust lawsuits coming from the Brigham Youngs (or whomevers) of the world who are excluded from a shot at the championship.

And why 16, and not 18 or 20 or 23?  Or one league each of 14, 18, 18 and 24? 

 

dayooper63

January 25th, 2013 at 9:02 PM ^

Hmmm . . . I can most definitley see the B10 going to 16, 18, or 20.  It's all possible (and even probable if you think about it).  The main goal of B10 expansion is to make the B10 schools as self reliant as possible.  The more atheltic departments that can pay for themselves, the stronger the conference will be.

What are the reasons for the B10 to expand?  There are many.  First of all, it can get more eyeballs on the BTN.  If the B10 expands to areas outside their footprint , they can gey more eyeballs on the channel increasing the revenue for the schools.  That's why teams like Cinci, Pitt, ISU aren't in the discussion.  They only take a slice of the pie with out adding anything.  Schools in large and growing population centers not already in the footprint are the main targets.  The B10 is mostly large, state flagship universities.  UMD and RU fit that mold.

Strong academic schools that are in the AAU are reasons as well.  Schools that can add to the collaboration the CiC provides are a great plus.  The B10 is, first and foremost, a collection of very highly rated, research based universities that play sports against eachother.  Except for a couple of exceptions, these are the types of schools they will look to add.  Any school that can help these schools lobby for more research grant money and more power within the AAU itself will be favorably looked upon.  Some say AAU status in nessacery, but the B10 knew UNL was getting voted out before they accepted them unanamously.  I think it's perferred, but not madatory.  Academic reputation is more important, IMO.

Where they are located is very important.  The B10 looks to expand in growing population areas in the Mid Atlantic and even into the South East.  

If ND were to want to join, they fit none of the above criteria.  They are a highly rated undergrad university, but they do very little research.  They are already in the footprint and are a small, private university.  What they bring is eyeballs on screens.  Many eyeballs.  They would be accepted in a heartbeat. 

My guess on who is on the B10 expansion list is:

1. ND - But I don't think they will join.  Too much animosity and pride from South Bend to lose control.

2. Texas - As things stand today, UT would never happen.  They fit the mold better than anybody, though.

3. UNC - Fits the mold perfectly.  Highly rated AAU school with a big name athletic program in a rapidly growing state.

4. UVA - Not the name brand that UNC is, but fits the academic mold better.  Very good in many sports.

5. Kansas - Horrible football and the B12 GoR is a sticking point, but they are AAU, would bring Kansas City to the BTN and a big BB name.  I know FB drives media contracts, but the Kansas basketball brand can carry their weight.

6. GT - In the college football hotbed of Atlanta, is AAU, one of the best engineering schools and would bring quite a lot to the CiC.

7. Duke - Great research school (research giant, 2nd highest amount spet on research).  Great national BB brand and antural rivalry with UNC.  Below horrible FB and doesn't carry the state of NC.  Brought in as a partner to UNC?  That's the only way I see them invited.

8. FSU - Not AAU, not a highly rated school (on par with UNL, Indiana and the like), but would bring a good portion of Florida to the BTN.  Their academics are improving and have done some pretty good research in the magnetic field area.  I would love to have FSU in the fold, but I don't think they get enough respect from the B10 presidents.  Big football brand that would help the BTN greatly.  #3 on my board.

9. Uconn - Not AAU, not in a growing state, not a very good FB program.  Don't see it unless they fill in to get an even number of schools.

10. BC - A lot of talk around BC.  Some say they would bring in Boston and the rest of New England, but I think it's a stretch.  They have no research budget ($45,000?) and have no brand what so ever in any sport but hockey.

I tink that out the reasonable schools, UVA is the most probable to join.  They fit the academic mold to a tee.  They don't want to wade into the mess that is the SEC.  The state of Virginia is becoming more Northern every year.  It would solidify the DC market and bring the major population regions to the BTN.  Not exciting, but a solid add.

I think that UNC is the next choice, but there is a power struggle between the administration and athletics.  i don't know who will win, but I wouldn't mind UNC in the B10.  If they don't join, It's GT all the way.  I hope FSU is involved, but don't think the B10 would go for that.  I can see them going to 18 if Duke is a requirement for UNC.  I wouldn't be fun scheduling, but possible.  I think they wait for 20 until the dust settles.

dayooper63

January 25th, 2013 at 10:01 PM ^

I don't either, but they may not have a choice.  The ACC teams make around 17 million apiece from their ESPN/Raycom media deal.  The B10 team, after they negotiate their new deal in 2016, they will be more than double that (including BTN money).  The ACC is locked into their deal until 2027.  If FSU, UVA, Clemson, NCState, and VT all leave, they will have no conference to be the center of.

Perkis-Size Me

January 25th, 2013 at 10:32 PM ^

at this point, there are no good football schools left that fit the big ten mold of strong academics and athletics. unless you count ND, who will not join the big ten. at this point, you almost have to go the bball route. bring in unc and duke. fantastic schools and elite basketball programs. not to mention adding the carolinas to the big ten footprint and direct recruiting access to those states. UVA and VaTech would be good, too. But VaTech is meh academics and UVA is a meh football school.