The Conference Expansion Thread

[bearsfan_51]

Missouri and Rutgers have been openly pining to join the Big Ten, and Delaney has repeatedly said they aren't going to do anything.

That should tell you all you need to know.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

That should tell you all you need to know.

but the anonymous sourcezzzzz!!!

[bearsfan_51]

I mean, think about it this way. So far:

-the SEC added A&M, which is a good program, but now they're forced to consider a bunch of lesser options to get to 14. Time will tell if it was worth it, but a lot of SEC fans aren't happy.

-the ACC added Syracuse and Pittsburgh, two mediocre teams in dying markets. So...that's nice? I still honestly have no idea what they were thinking. I guess they wanted to get Pittsburgh before the Big 12 did, but geez, why?

-the Big 12 -3+1 added TCU. A great football program in the last decade, but it adds nothing to their footprint at all. Texas and Oklahoma already had Ft.Worth quite nicely. It was a desperation move, and as a desperation move, it made sense, but the Big 12 -3+1 is still just Texas, Oklahoma, and everyone else.

-now the Big East is trying to add Navy and Air Force, who aren't sure if they are interested, which is both hilarious and depressing.

Adding simply to add doesn't make sense.

[Giantsfan1080]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

Missouri and Rutgers have been openly pining to join the Big Ten, and Delaney has repeatedly said they aren't going to do anything.

That should tell you all you need to know.

Rutgers hasn't once made any comments about what conference we want to be in. Not one. All we've said so far is we are checking out our options and we feel like we can be a good addition to any conference. Pernetti has not openly pined for anything.

Also I don't take anyone at their word during all this. They say one thing and then the next day it's opposite. It's a huge poker game.

[bearsfan_51]

Delaney hasn't said one thing that hasn't come true. They wanted to expand to 12 teams so they could get a conference championship game, and they did that.

They've also said they only want to add teams that are home runs, which they considered Penn State and Nebraska to be. Notre Dame would fit into that category. Missouri, Connecticut, or Rutgers would be ok to bring along with Notre Dame, but it would be foolish to add any of them without Notre Dame.

[Smooth Criminal]

That's about how I feel. I really don't see the point of getting to 16 teams just to get there. I'd much rather be at 12 than add a team that really doesn't bring anything.

I feel like only the PAC 12 and Big Ten have accomplished anything meaningful in this simply because they get to have title games now. A&M is a good add, but a lot of it depends on who they get to be their 14th member.

[diabsoule]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

Delaney hasn't said one thing that hasn't come true. They wanted to expand to 12 teams so they could get a conference championship game, and they did that.

They've also said they only want to add teams that are home runs, which they considered Penn State and Nebraska to be. Notre Dame would fit into that category. Missouri, Connecticut, or Rutgers would be ok to bring along with Notre Dame, but it would be foolish to add any of them without Notre Dame.

That's how I feel about it. The Big Ten would love to add the markets that Missouri, Connecticut, and Rutgers offers but not without Notre Dame. The Irish are the lynchpin. If they agree to join then I can see the Big Ten expanding to 16 with the three aforementioned teams.

It would be fairly easy to set up the divisions too if that were to happen. Split UConn and Rutgers so that each division will get a team that can bring in part of the NY market. That would also put UConn and RU as a permanent crossover rival to minimize travel. The rest would fall into place:

LEGENDS
• Michigan .674
• Notre Dame .610
• Wisconsin .608
• Iowa .524
• Michigan State .490
• Northwestern .431
• Minnesota .319
• Rutgers .238
• Total Division Winning Percentage .487

LEADERS
• Ohio State .788
• Nebraska .669
• Penn State .624
• Missouri .475
• Purdue .462
• UConn .458
• Illinois .344
• Indiana .236
• Total Division Winning Percentage: .507

All Big Ten rivalries are kept except the Land Grant Trophy. The permanent crossover rivalries would be: Ohio State/Michigan, Purdue/Notre Dame, Illinois/Northwestern, Michigan State/Indiana, Penn State/Minnesota, Wisconsin/Nebraska, Iowa/Missouri, and UConn/Rutgers

It makes sense from a business perspective to expand into those markets but Notre Dame is key. If the Big Ten could add those four programs then it would win the conference realignment sweepstakes by a wide margin.

[bearsfan_51]

No, I think they would add one of those three teams, not all of them.

[Giantsfan1080]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

Delaney hasn't said one thing that hasn't come true. They wanted to expand to 12 teams so they could get a conference championship game, and they did that.

They've also said they only want to add teams that are home runs, which they considered Penn State and Nebraska to be. Notre Dame would fit into that category. Missouri, Connecticut, or Rutgers would be ok to bring along with Notre Dame, but it would be foolish to add any of them without Notre Dame.

I don't disagree with any of that but Rutgers hasn't been like UConn publically asking for anything. We've been very quiet throughout this whole thing. I know we're not a #1 choice for anything but we would be a good addition to fill out a conference.

Also, let it be known we've beat both new ACC teams in football this year.

[scottyboy]

well after tonight it's obvious Rutgers is ******* awesome, so yeah, there's that

[Iamcanadian]

Can everyone please forget Notre Dame. Teams are joining conferences for money and Notre Dame has its own TV network where all of their games are televised and they keep all the revenue. No conference can come close to offering Notre Dame the money they make by staying independent, they would have to give up millions in revenue to join a conference and they aren't going to do it, so please, forget Notre Dame joining any conference because it isn't going to happen.

As for the Big Ten or whatever they call themselves these days, the name of the game is money and if TV demands they add teams to keep up with the Jones, they will add teams or see their conference raided by the SEC, Pac 12 and the ACC. They simply need at least 2 more TV markets to stay competitive or their revenues won't match the other major conferences, and if their revenues sink below those of the other 3 majors, then they will face raids and could see Ohio St. Michigan, Penn St. and Nebraska looking for sweeter pastures where they can increase their revenues in order to stay competitive.
College football is a business and the business reality will make the Big Ten less competitive and therefore open to raids if they cannot add 2 top TV markets to their league.

[bearsfan_51]

Originally Posted by Iamcanadian

Can everyone please forget Notre Dame. Teams are joining conferences for money and Notre Dame has its own TV network where all of their games are televised and they keep all the revenue. No conference can come close to offering Notre Dame the money they make by staying independent, they would have to give up millions in revenue to join a conference and they aren't going to do it, so please, forget Notre Dame joining any conference because it isn't going to happen.

As for the Big Ten or whatever they call themselves these days, the name of the game is money and if TV demands they add teams to keep up with the Jones, they will add teams or see their conference raided by the SEC, Pac 12 and the ACC. They simply need at least 2 more TV markets to stay competitive or their revenues won't match the other major conferences, and if their revenues sink below those of the other 3 majors, then they will face raids and could see Ohio St. Michigan, Penn St. and Nebraska looking for sweeter pastures where they can increase their revenues in order to stay competitive.
College football is a business and the business reality will make the Big Ten less competitive and therefore open to raids if they cannot add 2 top TV markets to their league.

TV doesn't demand that they add more teams. So....there goes the rest of that.

The only reason why Notre Dame would go independent is if schools like Michigan, USC, and Boston College stop scheduling with them. That's how they make their money. If everyone goes to a 9 game conference schedule, a lot of those schools will think again about scheduling another big conference school OOC. If Notre Dame is playing Army and Navy every week their revenues will sink like a rock.

[Smooth Criminal]

The Big Ten doesn't need to add teams to keep up. They already have the highest revenues. The ACC adding Pitt and Syrcuse, the SEC adding TAMU and the PAC adding Colorado and Utah isn't going to change that.

No one will be leaving the Big Ten anytime soon. Not the strongest conference on the field, but it's probably the strongest conference to be a member of.

[bearsfan_51]

Denver Post reports that Air Force is going to join the Big East as a football-only member while playing other sports in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Apparently they were asked by the Big 12 as to their interest, and declined.

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_19073868

[Smooth Criminal]

Declining the Big 12 to join the join the Big East? Gotta believe the other academies will follow suit and join the Big East then or it doesn't make much sense.

[jrdrylie]

TCU is going to the Big XII. Looks like UCF-to-Big East could happen tomorrow.

http://www.boston.com/sports/college...t_ready_1.html

[Smooth Criminal]

That's about as good as the Big East can do. Not like they're going to get a good pull. I'd honestly really like to see Navy in the Big East and I'd love to see them win it.

[bearsfan_51]

I agree. Of all the serious candidates, UCF is the best the Big East can do. I haven't been very bullish on UCF as a serious BCS school, but the Big East is no longer a serious BCS conference. I would look to add SMU and Houston as well. Seven BCS schools in one state is a lot, but if any state can do it, it's Texas.

Adding Boise State would be a mistake. The market sucks, their revenue sucks, and if it's a desperate move to retain their BCS standing, a) it won't work, b) Utah is showing that it's much harder to play a BCS schedule every week.

[bearsfan_51]

Then again, maybe the TCU dibacle has made the Big East think twice about stretching themselves too thin (I can only assume that's why Army and Navy are being considered, as East Coast schools). In that case, I guess you had the three services academies, UCF, and consider Temple and/or Memphis instead.

Bugh...the Big East is done. I'm not sure why I care.

[Smooth Criminal]

Teams left in the Big East have to be in panic mode at this point. WVU has to find a way out. The Big East is going to be such a joke, even more so than now, in just a couple years.

[scottyboy]

yeah, Rutgers needs to get the **** out. like now. the big east is crumbling as a football conference right now

[diabsoule]

The best the Big East can hope for is that all six remaining teams stay in the conference and they invite UCF, Army, Navy, Air Force, Temple, and one of East Carolina, Houston, SMU, or Memphis.

Here's an article I wrote on why Big Ten expansion to 16 makes sense
http://www.saturdaynightslant.com/20...e-big-ten.html

[Smooth Criminal]

Probably a great idea to get to 12 and try to have a title game.

[diabsoule]

Originally Posted by Smooth Criminal

Probably a great idea to get to 12 and try to have a title game.

It's something they could have done 3 years ago and still had Pitt and Cuse in the conference. Back then they still could have invited UCF, Temple, Army, Navy, or ECU and got to 12 and there conference would likely still be intact.

[RealityCheck]

I hope UCF and Temple get in. I feel FIU should get a shot too.