Big Ten acknowledges expansion possibility

[The Ancient Enemy]

Well, Rutgers is the best candidate on paper for a number or reasons. First, there are wonderful academics and opportunities for collaborative reseacrh, which is what the B10 is all about. Secondly, there are millions of B10 alumni living in the NYC area. Those people will go see Minnesota play basketball at Rutgers, or Indiana, PSU, etc. Third, that NYC area will get exposed to the Big Ten and Big Ten Network. There's millions of people as compared to the 1 million households in the Hartford, CT area (argument against UCONN's possibe inclusion). Forth, the NJ/NY area is a basketball and football talent hotbed. Pitt, ND, etc all do very well in NJ. But if they are now in a "legit" BCS conference, those kids will conceivably all play Big Ten ball. Fifth, it is a regional and recruiting rival for Penn State, who has brought millions to the B10, and has no rival. Rutgers will be the immediate rival. Rutgers also has a massive alumni base, massive donor base (obviously), and a massive undergrad enrollment. They are already a Big Ten school, in everything but name.

Dirt, you said Rutgers has no tradition in football, but that's not really true. The first ever college football game was played there. Isn't that massive? We haven't done jack on the Moon in decades but does that diminish Armstrong's footprints?

The other candidates are Syracuse, Pitt, and I guess Missouri is the hot name too. But none of them expand the Big Ten base as much as Rutgers can. To me, this is a no brainer if you are looking for 1 university.

If they DO decide to go to a super conference, Pitt is absolutely a member. Pitt's only draw back is location. It's not like Rutgers has millions more fans. But there's not much that Pitt brings that Penn State doesn't already bring. Pitt needs that invite. If they go to 14 or 16, Pitt will be fine. But if they grab 1... it's gonna be very close and in my honest opinion it will be Rutgers. The Chicago paper Frosty linked even alluded to what I have been saying, that Pitt is struggling to fund athletics. That will NEVER happen in the Big Ten.

In my honest opinion, the production of the B10 Network is extremely well done. The picture itself is beautiful, compared to all the other sports broadcasts. The B10 Network also focuses an extrordinary amount on what is happening academically on the campuses and with the academic research. It is totally fascinating. You guys should check it out. I don't know how you can watch that stuff and not want Pitt to be a part of it. You guys will win in all areas if they go to the Big Ten. Trust me.

The Missouri thing is probably more threatening to Pitt and Rutgers than what any of us want to believe. If the Big Ten is sincere when they say that they will collaborate with other conferences before announcement, there are 2 programs in Big XII country that can join instantly. TCU could be added in the South and oSu rotated up, or Colorado State could join right now and hit the ground running. CSU has all the tools. They are a launching pad like Rutgers is. I'm not sure TCU has the benefits that people would like them to have, or believe they have.

That said, if the Big Ten approaches the Big East and says they want Pitt/Rutgers, where does the BE go? Down, that's where. The BE simply cannot lose Rutgers or Pitt. What if they both go? The Big Ten will not consider WVU. See, someone gets the hose job in all this just as much as someone else gets the opportunity of the generation. I can see the Big East and C-USA joining forces somehow, to be honest. Maybe the ACC expands again. Maybe the SEC goes to 14 if the Big Ten does.

The thing we all need to realize here is this: This is all being done because of finances, not because of football. Minnesota traveling to Missouri is infinitely more appealling to Minnesota than traveling across the Great Lakes to play in Syracuse. The idea of 14 or 16 makes perfect sense when you consider it is 2 regional "conferences" playing within 1 conference. They are essentially their own conferences. 7 division games leaves 5 more spots on a football schedule. 1-2 are from the other divison, and then do whatever you want with the other few games. I basically just talked myself into this idea.

But... if they add 1, I think it will be Rutgers.

For purely selfish reasons I would like to add 1 football school and a few that can get the B10 hockey off the ground. That won't happen, but a boy can dream.

The darkhorse here, I personally think, will be Maryland. Wonderful medical research opportunities, good athletics and alumni, and reports they are unhappy in the ACC. That would open the B10 to DC and Baltimore. Very appealling.

All options are open, and brainstorming here is a lot of fun.

Because of the financial impact and money saved, I can see the B10 being the catalyst for the BCS conferences to all expand to 12 or 14 or even 16. It just makes more sense financially. The bad side... people inherently get left out.

[Dirt Winston]

If they add Rutgers and split into two divisions, does that put OSU, PSU, and Michigan in the same division? That would suck all the attractiveness out of a Big 10 championship game.

[The Ancient Enemy]

No. OSU and Michigan will almost definitely get split but still play eachother every season.

EAST DIVISION IN 16 TEAM FORMAT:
================================
PSU
OSU
Rutgers
Pitt
Syracuse
Indiana
Temple?
Maryland?

Not bad.

Then, the WEST is essentially the "Big Ten" as you traditionally know it.

[Bedrock]

Did I just read the Rutgers will be PSU's rival? I hope not.

Can you imagine that statement five years ago?