Possible Big 10 Expansion Sooner Than Expected?

[Dwayne From Minden]

My take: He's let the Big Ten know that the Big Red can be had.

$15 million increase MINIMUM annually on ROI....

I wouldn't call that being "had" as much as I would call it fiscal responsibility with my shareholders "fans" investment

I like this guy -

[The Historian]

If you couple what the Nebraska AD is saying with the report from WNDU in South Bend, it would lead you to believe the deal has likely already been cut. Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers, Pitt, and Syracuse to the Big 10.

WNDU cited a source in St. Louis, but they also had a face-to-face interview with Notre Dame's AD. It would have been easy for them to confirm their story with him off-the-record.

The Big 10 AD's meet later this month. That will be interesting.

[JAY]

Rumor mill cranking up about Missouri then 4 other schools to the Big 10.

http://www.wndu.com/sports/headlines/92447574.html

Missouri followed by Syracuse, Rutgers, Pitt, and Nebraska?

If you couple what the Nebraska AD is saying with the report from WNDU in South Bend, it would lead you to believe the deal has likely already been cut. Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers, Pitt, and Syracuse to the Big 10.

So the Big East is left with: UCONN, WVU, Louisville, Cincy, USF. (WVu just got screwed!)


Assuming the SEC stays pat, does the Big East add ECU, UCF, and Memphis and stay with 8 for football? Do they add a Temple or Marshall and drop one of the bball schools?


Does the Big 12 stay with 10? Does Colorado get picked off by the PAC 10? Who are their top candidates: Arkansas, BYU, TCU, New Mexico, Houston?

What will be left in CUSA? This is most important for us:

SMU, Rice, Tulsa, UTEP, Tulane, USM, UAB at the very least I think will stay. Houston and Marshall are likely to stay. THat would be 9. Would they add us first? What about MTSU? Do they go with 9 only? or ten?

I dont think you will see a mass merger of CUSA and Sunbelt because of the number of schools. CUSA will start in TX and move east, while the Belt will start in Florida/Alabama and move west.

[JAY]

CUSA:

Tulsa
UTEP
SMU
Rice
Tulane
USM
UAB
------
Houston
Marshall
----------
Louisiana Tech?
Middle Tennesee?
Western Kentucky or ULL?


Sunbelt:

Fla Int
Fla Atl
Troy
USA
ULM
ASU
UNT
----------
MTSU stays?
WKU stays?
ULL stays?
---------------
UTSA?
Texas St?

[hookdown]

Because none of you have anything better to do today, here are your reading assignments... :icon_wink:




http://collegesportsinfo.com/confere...lignment-grid/ (Kind of a weird site, some good data and some old and not so good data)

http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/201...2&xid=si_ncaaf

http://www.maizenbrew.com/2010/5/5/1...st-save-itself

http://www.startribune.com/sports/go...D3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

http://southcarolina.scout.com/2/967658.html (Part I)

http://southcarolina.scout.com/2/967920.html (Part II)

http://southcarolina.scout.com/2/968203.html (Part III)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/3...e-realignments

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...rols+UC+s+fate

http://www.teamspeedkills.com/2010/5...oad-conference

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100...Ten-is-unknown

[1L_dawg]

how do we compare to MTSU? What about Troy or the Florida belt schools? we have to separate (or further separate) ourselves in some way from these schools IF a CUSA spots opens up.

looking back a few years when CUSA chose UTEP, its pretty easy to see why we were passed over. we still have a long, long way to go in terms of budget, facilities, support, etc., but we made significant strides since the last conf. realignment.

[johnnylightnin]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...7168925.column

[hookdown]

Go big or go home.....


http://www.freep.com/article/2010050...r-more-schools



And this is how you gain the attention of an AQ conference:


http://ucf.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1081321

[TechDynamic]

And this is how you gain the attention of an AQ conference:


http://ucf.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1081321

Wow....

Wonder is Florida is making any state budget cuts?

[PawDawg]

how do we compare to MTSU? What about Troy or the Florida belt schools? we have to separate (or further separate) ourselves in some way from these schools IF a CUSA spots opens up.

looking back a few years when CUSA chose UTEP, its pretty easy to see why we were passed over. we still have a long, long way to go in terms of budget, facilities, support, etc., but we made significant strides since the last conf. realignment.

Assuming it came down to these schools and only one was selected...

Middle is our major competition. They have the market we can't come close to. I'd say we are close on commitment and facilities.

I've never been too concerned about Troy being picked over us. Could be wrong.

I don't think any of the western teams would be in favor of adding more Florida teams. Especially if UCF leaves.

Western Kentucky could get a look, but I think ULL has a better shot than them.


Re: UTEP...we assumed we were next in line. We did NOTHING from the time we entered the WAC to the time UTEP was chosen. I've said it many times, but CUSA wanted anybody but us. Their selection of UTEP proved that. It was bad move.

[okiealdawg]

Problem with Middle's market is that Vandy and Tenn already own it...

[LookingForResults]

UTSA is greater competition than MTSU because of market. Tech is in the driver's seat if we'll drive the d^^^ car!!!! Has anyone noticed that there is no one "point man" in our pursuit of conference affiliation?; that there is no person that clearly comes to mind as leading the charge? There is reason to be concerned that Rip Van Winkle has once again fallen asleep at the wheel!!!!

[RealityCheck]

UTSA is greater competition than MTSU because of market.

UTSA isn't competition at a time went it hasn't even played a single football game. If these conference moves were happening effective in 2013, then maybe. But UTSA's timeline is not to be FBS until 2014. Hard to see a 12-team conference taking UTSA in with football being in lame duck status until its third year of membership because of what that would mean regarding a conference championship game.

Same goes for South Alabama in 2012 with its timeline being FBS in 2013.

[LookingForResults]

UTSA isn't competition at a time went it hasn't even played a single football game. If these conference moves were happening effective in 2013, then maybe. But UTSA's timeline is not to be FBS until 2014. Hard to see a 12-team conference taking UTSA in with football being in lame duck status until its third year of membership because of what that would mean regarding a conference championship game.

Same goes for South Alabama in 2012 with its timeline being FBS in 2013.

Your argument seems logical, but it's rumored that it's not currently playing out that way. MTSU is in consideration and might prevail, but at this time UTSA is in first position between the two (but behind us if we don't falter and stumble, which, unfortunately, could happen).

[johnnylightnin]

Your argument seems logical, but it's rumored that it's not currently playing out that way. MTSU is in consideration and might prevail, but at this time UTSA is in first position between the two (but behind us if we don't falter and stumble, which, unfortunately, could happen).

If you're right (and I don't have any reason to doubt you), BB must either be sure that the timeline isn't in the next 12-18 months OR okay with less than 12 teams in his league.