Big Ten Expansion

[educator]

Just curious to see all you guys opinion on the Big Ten trying to expand. I for one would like to see it happen for a few reasons. 1) I'm tired of the Big Ten sliding into a BCS game without a conference championship game. I say that because sometimes the best teams could have an off game early in season, but still be the best in that conference and get dicked out of a BCS play. Whereas if a championship game existed, a team who may have stumbled early one, could have a chance to redeem themselves at the end of their season. 2) Every other "Big Conerence", (except PAC-10, and I think they need one too) has a championship game, so why shouldn't they all. Just tired of seeing Ohio State continuously get in, especially when the fact that they don't play everyone in the conference. Just think that is kind of shitty.

With that being said though, I'm not sure who they should go after. No to Notre Dame, and not because they already said no years ago, but because I don't think they would make that conference more competitive. I think it would just add another sub-par team. Plus they already play several Big Ten teams and typically lose. And to boot, they stink. They are talking about possibly Rutgers being considered. I don't believe that is a good idea. I think that overall the Big East is a joke and the teams in that conference for football are garbage, and unfortunately they take a spot away from other deserving teams of a BCS spot. I really don't know who I would like to see join, but definately believe they need to find someone. Any thoughts?

[bigwinnner8]

This is a hot topic in local news, coming from Big Ten country. Here is what I've been hearing in order of most talked about:

1. Notre Dame would be a clear first choice except they've already said no. Paterno doesn't want to offer them because Penn St is still without a rival. This one just looks unlikely based on prior experience.

2. Pitt (my personal favorite) adds new facilities, good programs in other sports beside football, a rival for PSU, it's within a managable distance from other B10 schools. However, Pitt plays in an NFL stadium and the B10 already thinks they have the Pennsylvania market with PSU.

3. Missouri brings southern expansion and somewhat a rivalry for Iowa/Illinois. Apparently Mizz isn't taking what the Big 10 has offered and would seemingly have no rival in their new conference.

4. Rutgers/Syracuse (most likely) both in upstate NY, both would become a PSU rival, could divide Big 10 into East/West conferences, would expand the Big 10 into a new state, both schools have on-campus facilities and Syracuse would get to play Michigan State in basketball every year. Rutgers coach is from the JoePa tree, making them the most likely candidate out of the two.

5. Everyone else (Cinn, ISU, WVU, Nebraska...)

[Louie]

Notre Dame will never happen as they would have to give up their multiple-million dollar NBC contract..

I think Rutgers would probabyp be the best fit.

The BigTen just wants to be able to spit the conference in to two dvisions so they can add a title game.

[mrsports]

The BigTen just wants to be able to spit the conference in to two dvisions so they can add a title game.

They don't have to add to do that, but I think 12 teams would be better for the Big Ten than 11.

Now if Missouri joined that would make the Big Ten have 12 teams and the Big Twelve would have 11 teams......I'm glad it was easier to comprehend when I was learning football at age 8.

[Louie]

They don't have to add to do that,

Yea, they kindof do...5 teams for a division is just not enough. I guarantee you that this is the #1 reason they are adding another team so that they can split it and add a conerence championship game. They miss out on a big paycheck at the end of the season like the SEC and Big 12

[Louie]

Now if Missouri joined that would make the Big Ten have 12 teams and the Big Twelve would have 11 teams

They should call the big 12 "Texas, Oklahoma, and the little 10 that could"

[bpd67]

Why not add Boise State? They want better opponents, more coverage, blah blah blah. Well here you go. Idaho isn't that far away.

[bigwinnner8]

I think Boise is too far for teams like Penn State, or at least that would be the argument. There are teams that travel farther then that for their conference games, but they don't have as much pull as JoePa.

They should call the big 12 "Texas, Oklahoma, and the little 10 that could"

We here in Big Ten country have started referring to our conference as the, "Big MAC"