More B10 Expansion Rumors + My Own Opinion

[The Ancient Enemy]

Take a gander.

http://www.eersauthority.com/yuletide-expansion-update/

I have no idea if that is true or not, but here's what I think is happening...

I personally feel that the B10 is trying to kill the ACC so they can have the upper midwest/NE/Mid Atlantic to themselves. I think that Delaney will grow the conference to 16, 18, 20, 24, 40 schools if needed. I think that what he wants to do is create multiple divisions of 8-10 teams, who will all essentially be conferences within an umbrella conference. Think about that. You monopolize over a quarter of the United States, the most heavily populated areas, and all the revenue falls under the Big Ten. Then to appease the old brass, you let the original B10 teams have their own division. Now Penn State, Rutgers, Maryland, UVa, BC, UNC, GTech, whoever else, all have their own atlantic "division"... But all that money falls under the umbrella Big Ten. I think that is genius.

So basically what will end up happening, if I am correct, is that Penn State will essentially be in the current-day ACC, but still a Big Ten team. You play a couple crossovers, and everyone is happy.

What a strange time to be a college football fan. But I really think we are headed towards a Big Ten that is composed of 30-40 teams.

[KirkHerbstreit]

TAE..thanks for the link and Merry Christmas. I think you are close to being right, but I think the B1G will be made up of 20 teams. I would be surprised to see them go further than that, but stranger things have happened. I think it would be ideal if 4 Super Conferences were composed of 20 teams each. Each Conference would be broke up into 10 team divisions. You play every one in your division one crossover game. Winners of the conference championships make the 4 team playoff, so in essence you have an 8 team playoff starting with the conference championship games.

The six additional teams I would like to see in the B1G would be Florida State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Boston College, and Syracuse. Virginia Tech would never happen and i doubt Pitt as well, but that's what I'd like to see.

[davesandstorm]

I think that 20 teams, made up of two divisions of 10 each (where you play everyone in your division) would be a great setup. It would allow the Big Ten to put the original 10 in a division and everyone else in a division. Nebraska can suck it.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Phil Grosz confirmed a few minutes ago that the top targets are UNC and GT. UVa is "Plan B".

He also said that it is no longer a question of "if" UNC leaves the ACC, it is WHEN and to which conference, SEC or B10? Reportedly, FSU's SEC future was given a green-light by Floirida. UF was holding the trump card over FSU being included, but now it sounds like they are smart enough to see the writing on the wall and do not want the B12 grabbing Clemson and Florida State. Unbelievable.

Grosz has been adamant: The Big Ten will have 16 teams no later than June 1st, 2013.

We shall see.

[S Cube]

This pisses me off. While Pitt was stuck in the middle of a deteriorating BE, it was such a relief to be "safe" in the ACC. Now it looks like the ground could fall out from under Pitt again. If it goes to 20 team conferences, Pitt won't be left out, but the uncertainty still sucks. The SEC just needs to go ahead and snag all the southern ACC schools, B1G can take the northern ACC schools, and the Big 12 and Pac12 can fight over everyone else. Of course it's never that easy, Boston College will probably end up in the Pac30 before its all done. If I woke up with my head sown to the carpet I wouldn't be more surprised than I am now.

[WPIAL~Titan]

Don't Phil Grosz and McAndrew have some top secret inside information that will totally exhonerate Paterno and his role in the PSU football coverup and scandal? I've been hearing about that for the last year.

[The Ancient Enemy]

I never heard that, Titan, who knows.

I'm definitely concerned about Pitt, and as much as I hate to say this, S Cube, Pitt will not be one of those 20. They are attacking media markets. The Raleigh-Durham market is growing like mad, with growing Charlotte nearby. Plus when you add UNC's academics, UNC is a TREMENDOUS fit. G-Tech is Atlanta exposure. What does Pitt add to this conglomerate?

Listen, I like Pitt. I don't hate Pitt or want to see them excluded. But they are going to be excluded, and that's the reality of it. If the Big Ten goes to 20, it will be UNC, G-Tech, UVa, BC, and God knows who else. I honestly don't think Pitt will be included, and that's a shame. Those 4 get you to 18, and now you're playing the "hope" game if you're a Pitt fan, with 2 spots left. Do they grab a market they basically already have, or do they look at someone like NC State or Wake or whoever?

I don't know where Pitt ends up. You gotta figure Louisville is on the table too, and I think Syracuse vs Pitt is an interesting game to play if you are taking one or the other.

[S Cube]

I agree that there is a pretty good chance they wouldn't make the cut for a 20-school Big Ten. But they would eventually have a spot in the Big 12. What I'm saying is they won't end up in the Sun Belt if the ACC does indeed crumble.

I just wish they would leave the ACC alone and pick away at the Big 12. Why doesn't the Big 10 go after Oklahoma? Oklahoma would bring more to the table than UNC and GT I would think.

[The Ancient Enemy]

I have to ask, how do you figure they end up in the Big 12? WVU lobbied hard for Louisville, who picked the ACC. Does WVU lobby for Pitt and Syracuse? Why would the Big 12 take Pitt when they can get Virginia Tech, NC State, USF, Miami, Louisville, etc?

I hope they end up in the Big 12, but I think it is a stretch. Maybe a new league gets created, who knows. But you gotta figure the SEC is also maybe a possibility.

[Head Roadie]

Very interesting stuff....I'm amazed there is not more in the national media right now about all of this, seems like maybe things are going to start happening pretty quickly right after Jan. 1.

Here's my take for what it's worth and realizing this is a crapshoot.

Big Ten....AE, outstanding comments and I think you're right, everyone is so stuck on this 16 Team superconference thing, who says it has to be sixteen???

18, 20 or even 21 (Three 7's and wildcard in a playoff system within the conference that basically is a national 1st round and quarterfinal game).

Who are the candidates. 1. Notre Dame as always 2. Ga Tech 3. NC and/or UVA 4. BC or U.Conn. 5. Duke with NC 6. Kansas or Missouri

I find it interesting that ND signs a deal with the ACC so then Big Ten raids the ACC--wonder if there's any connection? If the Big Ten could put ND in a division that included their natural rivals who they play basically every year and excuse them from the non-divisional games, they might bite. This is where my projection of 21 comes in. ND would have to play 6 games (Only one more than they agreed to in the ACC deal) and several of these are games they would have played anyway and then if they are excused from crossovers that makes a nice neat 20 teams playing crossover games.

Moving on.....

The ACC is the conference in the most trouble right now (assuming the Big East is already dead, of course). At one point in time the Big 12 appered to be 'that conference' but preserving the most coveted program in college sports other than ND (TEXAS) is their savior. If the Pac-12 or Big 10 could poach Texas from the Big 12, then the ACC jumps them immediately on the hierarchy. Doubt that will happen at this point in time.

I'm guessing the ACC will have their conference shredded with some going in each direction and the leftovers (Duke and Wake??) ending up in a lesser football conference and possibly joining the Catholic 7 Basketball schools for hoops.

AE, you mentioned why would the Big 12 take Pitt? WVU lobbied for Louisville....if Louisville and Pitt are BOTH on the table (remember Pitt was headed to the ACC before WVU's Big 12 alliance) don't you think WVU would lobby for Pitt AND the Pgh. market vs Louisville market????? c'mon man....I agree with a lot of what you say but disagree here. I think Pitt and Louisville could end up in the Big 12, depends who the SEC grabs first. I would think the SEC would want FSU, Clemson, NC State and Va. Tech.

That leaves Miami, Pitt, Louisville and ??? Boise St, BYU, SD St.????? for the Big 12.

How the Pac 12 reacts might be the most interesting. Do they sit or do they move on expanding further. If they expand there is only one direction for them to move, eastward and into the Big 12. This decision, and Texas, are still the linchpins on how this thing goes.

ND and Texas are the big prizes out there.....once there fate is solidified things will fall into place very quickly and we'll have 4 superconferences with anywhere from 64-80'ish schools and these conferences will have what amounts to lucrative national quarterfinals for their own wallets instead of the ncaa's.