big ten expansion

Holy Crap: Big Ten Expansion For Serious Comment Count

Brian

I got a couple requests in the inbox for a take on Big Ten expansion after Barry Alvarez made a comment the other day about the Big Ten adding that elusive twelfth team. On the assumption that Alvarez was just making an idle statement and expansion was a distant possibility at best, I was going to dig up the post I made two years ago detailing pros and cons of various candidate schools and leave it at that.

But it appears that Alvarez was not just idly speculating:

It has been 19 years since the Big Ten expanded to 11 teams, and it appears the conference is ready to seriously explore moving to an even dozen.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany was expected to release a statement later Tuesday to say the conference is ready to consider the addition of a 12th team.

That would be in about half an hour. It's time to update the above list, which I am in the process of doing right now.

Comments

Yinka Double Dare

December 15th, 2009 at 4:13 PM ^

Believe it or not, it may not be as hard to pull a Big 12 North team as you might think. From a university standpoint, the Big Ten is simply a more prestigious collection of schools. From a sports standpoint, the Big Ten's media contracts are better and far more lucrative, and the Big 12 North kinda sucks. A Nebraska friend of mine said that the Nebraska boards seem to largely be in favor of a move if it was offered.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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Rasmus

December 15th, 2009 at 5:42 PM ^

Unless Notre Dame realizes this is their last chance to join and changes their minds. But that would surprise me -- they are just too proud of their national, independent, prima donna status. Pitt is a better fit anyway, IMHO. They are a public university with a substantial endowment, more than twice that of any of the other candidates (not counting ND). They play in a professional stadium with all the amenities. There is a bitter in-state rivalry with PSU. I don't know if they play hockey, but no question they could quickly establish a program in that town. Another thing -- there is going to be a lot of discussion about divisions, but there really is only one way to do that. I argued this in Zone Left's diary, but I'm going to repeat it here, while adding to the rant:
EAST: Pittsburgh, PSU, OSU, Michigan, MSU, Northwestern
This division's champion is a media darling on par with the Big 12 South's or the SEC favorite. That increases the chance of the BIg Ten champ making the BCS championship game in years where there are more than two obvious choices -- better strength of schedule in the computers, better prejudices amongst the voters.
WEST: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue
This makes sense geographically. College football is about traditional, geographic rivalries. One of the reasons the ACC can't get any traction in football is their divisions make no sense geographically. In a misguided attempt to create parity, they have Florida State and Miami in separate divisions. Also North Carolina and North Carolina State. Georgia Tech and Clemson, also natural rivals, also separated. Maryland is separated from Virginia. It's just stupid, stupid, stupid.

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Clarence Beeks

December 15th, 2009 at 6:30 PM ^

"I don't know if they play hockey, but no question they could quickly establish a program in that town." They don't have an NCAA-level program, but the potential is probably there to add another D-1 hockey program in the city. The biggest obstacle would probably be a suitable rink, as the only option at the current time would be the Consol Energy Center (the new arena for the Penguins) and building one in Oakland near campus would be difficult.

Joined: 09/06/2008

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VictorsValiant09

December 15th, 2009 at 3:59 PM ^

Funny thing is, the Big Ten already has 12 schools in it, if you count The University of Chicago as part of the research consortium. As much as I would value Notre Dame in the Big Ten, they've jilted the conference for far too long to merit any more patience. Let's go with Pitt.

Joined: 04/05/2009

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FrankMurphy

December 15th, 2009 at 4:14 PM ^

Texas is not a serious option and should not be discussed. Texas is the principal beneficiary of the Big XII's disproportionate revenue distribution deal and would laugh at the idea of walking away from it. We might as well talk about inviting both Yale and the Chicago Bears and then merging them. Anyone other than Notre Dame is simply not worth it.

Joined: 08/19/2008

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Old School

December 15th, 2009 at 6:34 PM ^

This topic is certainly not new. I do recall previous discussions. One name prominently mentioned, other than Notre Dame, was Tennessee. It makes sense, and entry into the Southern market.

Joined: 09/01/2009

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wiscwood

December 15th, 2009 at 9:45 PM ^

Imagine ND being in the B10, there have been years where they lost to Michigan, MSU, Purdue, and had trouble beating NW. Please! NBC and the cash are the excuse, but the reality is that ND does not want its butt humbled anymore than usual. It took Penn State 10 to 15 years to adjust to the B10 play. It is just now settling in to the conference. If ND was smart, and everyone says they are, they'd keep their NBC contract and go along their merry way. I'll say it again, ND humbled "on the regular" by the B10. Stay independent is my suggestion. It would be nice, but the B10 won't beg them. I really don't care about what happens to them. The B10 doesn't need them. Oh, the new name should be "The Great Lakes 12", "The Great Mid West" or "The Magnificent 12".

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