Possible Big 10 Expansion Sooner Than Expected?

[johnnylightnin]

If ND had accepted, there would be no need for this meeting and they don't have to get another conference's approval to talk to them.

I don't think they would just add ND. Even if nd said yes, they could be meeting to discuss others. Imagine the fallout if they went to 16. Would the sec talk to ut, a&m, Miami, and fsu?

[Dawg06]

If the Big Ten invites Pitt, Syracuse, and Rutgers, that leaves the Big East with only 5 football schools. That would make it impossible for the Big East to keep their BCS status no matter how they counter. Would it result in a football-basketbal split?

What would UConn do?

UConn has only played FBS football for 10 years, but they did make a smooth transition to FBS football.
UConn does not own or operate their football stadium which is located in East Hartford, 25 miles away from their Storrs campus.
UConn is geographically isolated from the remaining 4 football schools.
UConn (Tier 1 #66 overall) is academically superior to the remaining 4 football schools (all are Tier 3 like us).
UConn was a founding member of the Big East in 1979 with Georgetown, Providence, St. John's, and Seton Hall with Villanova joining in 1980.

Would UConn opt to stick with their basketball roots to play with their historic rivals and academic peers to make the Big East a 10 school basketball conference similar to this? If so, would they play FBS as an independent or FCS in the A10 or Colonial?
-UConn
-Georgetown
-Providence
-St. John's
-Seton Hall
-Villanova
-Temple
-Notre Dame
-Marquette
-Depaul

Or would UConn opt to play FBS football in a non-BCS conference similar to this?
-UConn
-Army
-Navy
-Temple
-West Virginia
-Ohio
-Cincinnati
-Louisville
-Memphis
-East Carolina
-South Florida
-Central Florida

[hookdown]

I don't think they would just add ND. Even if nd said yes, they could be meeting to discuss others. Imagine the fallout if they went to 16. Would the sec talk to ut, a&m, Miami, and fsu?

That is if UT is not a part of the Big 16. Frankly, if they do expand to 16 (the Big 11), then I really do not see how Texas is not a part of that. I do not think they will expand by that much, but who knows? That would be the ultimate nuclear option for them.

[Allgood]

I think if the B10 had a perfect time to get ND, now would be it. Put lightly, ND failed this decade to produce as expected and could use the prestige of the upper B10 schools. Not to say ND isn't prestigious anymore, but they're nowhere near where they want. Joining the B10 or BE gives ND the attention of this whole hypothetical event and a larger tv base. Why shouldn't they join?

[hookdown]

If the Big Ten invites Pitt, Syracuse, and Rutgers, that leaves the Big East with only 5 football schools. That would make it impossible for the Big East to keep their BCS status no matter how they counter. Would it result in a football-basketbal split?

What would UConn do?

UConn has only played FBS football for 10 years, but they did make a smooth transition to FBS football.
UConn does not own or operate their football stadium which is located in East Hartford, 25 miles away from their Storrs campus.
UConn is geographically isolated from the remaining 4 football schools.
UConn (Tier 1 #66 overall) is academically superior to the remaining 4 football schools (all are Tier 3 like us).
UConn was a founding member of the Big East in 1979 with Georgetown, Providence, St. John's, and Seton Hall with Villanova joining in 1980.

Would UConn opt to stick with their basketball roots to play with their historic rivals and academic peers to make the Big East a 10 school basketball conference similar to this? If so, would they play FBS as an independent or FCS in the A10 or Colonial?
-UConn
-Georgetown
-Providence
-St. John's
-Seton Hall
-Villanova
-Temple
-Notre Dame
-Marquette
-Depaul

Or would UConn opt to play FBS football in a non-BCS conference similar to this?
-UConn
-Army
-Navy
-Temple
-West Virginia
-Ohio
-Cincinnati
-Louisville
-Memphis
-East Carolina
-South Florida
-Central Florida

Af UConn, it is all about what Geno wants to do....

[hookdown]

I think if the B10 had a perfect time to get ND, now would be it. Put lightly, ND failed this decade to produce as expected and could use the prestige of the upper B10 schools. Not to say ND isn't prestigious anymore, but they're nowhere near where they want. Joining the B10 or BE gives ND the attention of this whole hypothetical event and a larger tv base. Why shouldn't they join?

I think that this is the do or die time for ND to join the Big 11 if they are ever going to. I doubt that the Big 11 will expand again any time soon. Even if they did, I am guessing that they are getting tired of ND saying "no" and may not consider them next time. Especially if ND football keeps going downhill. If ND is to join, now is the time. Of course, they probably still think they are above everyone else and will decline an offer.

[RealityCheck]

If the BE took three, isn't there a chance that cusa might just stay at 9?

I think no for three reasons....

1) CUSA immediately loses the conference championship game with the extra ticket and TV revenue that brings in.

2) A 9-team conference provides fewer chances of being a multi-bid conference in the NCAA Tournament.

3) The big one...geographic imbalance. Marshall most certainly wouldn't stay in a 9-team CUSA with 5 of the other 8 teams west of the Mississippi, so 9 wouldn't be the number anyway.

[The Historian]

The other question is with UCF, ECU, and Memphis gone does Marshall simply go back to the MAC under either scenario - 9 or 12 teams?

[DawgFight71]

Who knows, all this might lead to new conferences being formed. This is what makes college football exciting and better than the NFL, you never hear about the NFL realigning and having crazy shake ups.

[The Historian]

I think that this is the do or die time for ND to join the Big 11 if they are ever going to. I doubt that the Big 11 will expand again any time soon. Even if they did, I am guessing that they are getting tired of ND saying "no" and may not consider them next time. Especially if ND football keeps going downhill. If ND is to join, now is the time. Of course, they probably still think they are above everyone else and will decline an offer.

Hookdown:

I think if ND declines, they would expand to 14. If ND says yes, they expand to 16. If they have to, they will leave the door open for ND.

The Big 10 Network already pays nearly twice as much per school as ND's deal with NBC ($12 million to $22 million), even though it's still in its infancy. If they can increase the payout in the next five to seven years to $30 or even $40 million per school per year, it will be very difficult for ND to turn them down.

[Dawg06]

The other question is with UCF, ECU, and Memphis gone does Marshall simply go back to the MAC under either scenario - 9 or 12 teams?

Marshall would probably lobby C-USA to invite Ohio, MTSU, and WKU.

But I don't see UTEP, Rice, Houston, SMU, Tulsa, Tulane, Southern Miss, or UAB voting Ohio in.

I think WKU would be a tough sell for the Texas schools.

I think they would all go for MTSU though, and I think that would be enough to keep Marshall in C-USA.

[RealityCheck]

I would agree about WKU unless Marshall leaves. I think Tech and MTSU would be the clear frontrunners for 2 of the 3 spots if Memphis, ECU, and UCF are gone.

[DawgFaninHous]

If ND had accepted, there would be no need for this meeting and they don't have to get another conference's approval to talk to them. This meeting is most likely to let everybody know they are serious and see what schools show interest.

DonW,

ND is in the Big East for all other sports but football. They would need to be replaced and this addressed even if they are the only one added.

I think that the Big 10 adds both Missouri and either Rutgers or Syracuse. The Big East will still have to address adding some schools on both the football and bball side. This will probably lead to the total split. Then all the dominos will start falling!

DFiH

[DONW]

I don't see Temple going back to the Big East or Missouri going to the Big 10. They're not going to lose that recruiting advantage in Texas.

[DONW]

This topic always brings out the most different opinions of any discussion on this board.