B1G expansion to 18 teams rumor

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

Take this for what it's worth. A rumor (for now). 

I'm aware that a very small percent of people here are subbed at Rivals. bluevod is a poster that is thought to be someone inside the athletic department. 

Some people even believe that he is Jim Hackett. Sounds crazy, right?

UPDATE: We're gonna need a bigger logo.....

 

@umichWD I heard that may go 18 nine in each division. That would only allow 1 cross over game.

— Bluevod (@Bluevodreal) January 6, 2016

Hearing B10 expansion rumors again.BTN TV deal up in 2016 with projection in first year 2017 of being roughly 44m per school. B12 in panic

— Bluevod (@Bluevodreal) January 6, 2016

@maizenblu I've heard Ok but not Kansas. Need big TV viewer market. Texas would be ideal plus a team in DC market and/ or Atlanta.

— Bluevod (@Bluevodreal) January 6, 2016

@maizenblu told it is not doing as well as they hoped. But Texas may see the writing on the wall and jump. B12 may be a house of cards.

— Bluevod (@Bluevodreal) January 6, 2016

 

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JTGoBlue

January 5th, 2016 at 10:14 PM ^

An expansion like this without including notre dame would be disappointing. Other three I would like to see are Pitt, Virginia, and Kansas. Good balance of adding strength across both football and basketball, and quality academics.



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Jack Hammer

January 5th, 2016 at 10:17 PM ^

why don't we just have 8 conferences with 10 teams each and have an 8 team playoff with each conference regular season winner? and revert the big 10 back to its roots.

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Eye of the Tiger

January 5th, 2016 at 10:51 PM ^

Let's go to 20. Then we could have a "Big 10 Division" with Michigan, Staae, OSU, Iowa, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Northwestern, and a "Big Whatever" Division with Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, PSU, Rutgers, Maryland, etc.



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L'Carpetron Do…

January 6th, 2016 at 9:19 AM ^

 I was gonna say we shuold have  a 78 team conference - let's add Oklahoma, Texas, Syracuse, Kansas, Mizzou, Colorado, Arkansas, UVA, UNC, NC State, Miami, G Tech, BC, Virginia Tech, Cal, Stanford, UCLA, Arizona, Harvard, Wellesley, Hawaii and Alaska Fairbanks, just to name a few...

At what point does the conference just become all of Division 1?

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Yeoman

January 6th, 2016 at 10:25 AM ^

B1G-MW Expansion Rumors

A prominent poster at Rivals (thought by some to actually be A.D. Bolden) has posted that the Midwest Division of the Big Hundred is plotting expansion into major media markets in the south and west. Possibly as many as 18 teams in two subdivisions with a divisional championship game.

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smwilliams

January 5th, 2016 at 11:07 PM ^

Again, the important things to remember are the following:

1) The B1G won't expand unless they feel like said school actively adds money to the conference. So, forget any school that isn't a "brand name" or in a major television market. Football, not basketball is the key sport.

2) I believe the AAU thing is a real concern and not something to be tossed aside, which means you can eliminate any school that doesn't fit the academic requirements of the conference.

3) You can pretty much forget any school in the ACC as an option.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9200081/acc-media-rights-deal-lock-schools-okd-presidents

I can't imagine the conference wants to engage in a protracted legal battle to get any school besides UNC and/or Duke. Is Charlotte a big enough media market to make flipping those two schools worth it? And, will any school cough up the cash necessary to leave the ACC for the B1G.

The East Coast schools are locked into the ACC. The only possible option that I can possibly consider is that the B1G is trying to flip Texas and Texas A&M. That would give them two legitimate schools and bolster the West Division while flipping Purdue back to the East. If they can ignore the AAU thing, I wouldn't be shocked if they want Oklahoma, Okie St, Texas, and A&M. That would put those four, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois in the West and the current 7 plus Purdue and Northwestern.

That said, I think this is a crock of shit.

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bj dickey

January 5th, 2016 at 11:19 PM ^

I agree with yo re the aau. I am skeptical about the acc contract, for several reasons. Perhaps most importantly their network,has been delayed again,a Nd may implode altogether. http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/college/acc-channel-launch-facing-dela… It's just as likely the acc breaks up into the big 12 and big 10 as the big 12 breaks up. Recruitimg and dollars would tend to,favor expansion down the east coast. Potentially, expansion could go all the way from UVA to FLA staying in the aau and taking geographically adjoining states. (Fla is much more like a big 10 school then an sec school academically).

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Don

January 5th, 2016 at 11:37 PM ^

a major break with longstanding conference tradition, any expansion will be limited to schools that either are already in the AAU or in good shape to be admitted quickly.

Since it's below the sports radar, it's easy for fans to ignore the academic side of membership in the conference, but for the school Presidents—who are virtually all career academics—the academic side of conference membership is extremely important, and belonging to the AAU is a big part of it.

Finding four AAU members elsewhere willing and able to move to the BIG isn't an easy slam dunk.

And bringing in Texas would be a mistake—the most high-maintenance, egotistical, greedy, it's -all-about-me athletic department in the country. There will be nothing but strife if we bring those clowns in. Some things aren't worth the money, and she ain't.

I don't give a shit about expanding the footprint beyond what it is already; I'd rather bring in schools that fulfill the academic mission of the conference and also strengthen the athletic side. Two schools that fit that profile are Missouri and Pitt—both AAU members—and they could cap membership at 16. At one time Missouri wanted to join the conference badly, but I don't know if they'd want to leave the SEC now. And from what I've read, PSU would be dead set against admittance of Pitt. Frankly, I'd be happy to exchange those two and PSU could join the ACC. It's a helluva lot easier to get to Pittsburgh than Happy Valley.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_American_Universities

 

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GoBlueInIowa

January 6th, 2016 at 12:44 AM ^

If it went 16, just for the example below, let's say Pitt and Missouri

4 divisions

Division 1:
Minnesota
Iowa
Nebraska
Wisconsin

Division 2:
Indiana
Northwestern
Illinois
Missouri

Division 3:
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Purdue

Division 4:
Penn State
Pitt
Rutgers
Maryland

Always play teams in your division and 2 from each of the other divisions. Once you play those teams home and away, you play the other two teams from that division.

So Michigan's schedule could look like:

Ohio State
@ Michigan State
Purdue
@ Iowa
Minnesota
@ Northwestern
Missouri
@Pitt
Maryland

Next year would flip the home and aways, then after that year swap out the other 2 teams from each division.

Best two records, even if in same division play in conference title game. Would not go more than two years without playing a team. If a player plays for 4 years, will play home and away against all other 15 teams.



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Nuckin Futs

January 6th, 2016 at 12:45 AM ^

I would like to see 4 - 20 team conferences, no crossover.  Non-conference games, 1 home and 1 road vs another, P4 team, and 1 game vs the lesser conference. Any neutral field games can only count as a home game for each team. 

The winners of each division would play in their conference championship and it would instantly become an 8 team playoff.  Winners of each conference championship game gets to the final 4. 

 

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Kewaga.

January 6th, 2016 at 8:12 AM ^

 

it's: 

1) Missouri   (SEC has no restrictions on leaving and they originally wanted in B1G), AAU*

2) Kansas     (Will take as a group with the rest for basketball), AAU*

3) Oklahoma (#3 all time record in football wins), WILL overlook AAU for that ^

4) Texas        (It may be that the #2 and #3 could force their hand, along with LongHorn Network not doing as well as hoped for as of yet) AAU, does not want to go to SEC due to academics and PA-C has disadvantange of time-zone issues.

 

Purdue and Northwestern to the B1G East

The above teams go to the B1G West

 

* It has been known that behind Nebraska, these two institution are most worried about being next in line to loose AAU accrediation

^ Has always wanted to be in AAU

 

Consideration: Academics/AAU, Football/Viewers, Geography 

 

Result:

A- 6 of the top 10 most winniest programs in one conference: 3 in each

 

East: 

2) Michigan

4) OSU

10) Penn State

 

West:

3) Oklahoma

5) Texas

7) Nebraska

 

B- reestablish long-time rivarlies 

C- All AAU excpect Nebraska and Oklahoma (see above)

D- All ranked in US News and World Report as #75 nationally or better

except (Missouri at 97, Kansas/Nebraska/Oklahoma at 101)

E- Geophaphy makes sence, all contiguous and competitive symmetry to "divisions"

 

www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/3d8yhi/whats_going_on_with_oklahoma/

 

 

 

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The Claw

January 6th, 2016 at 8:45 AM ^

I hope they look at schools outside of just football powers.  We need schools who have the boosters and ballz to start up a couple more hockey programs as the B1G Hockey Conference is just too small.  And obviously lacrosse.  

If Oklahoma and Okie St. would come into the B1G then the B1G could potentially sweep all the National Champs in wrestling.  Good lord, the BiG tournament would be tougher than Nationals!

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BJNavarre

January 6th, 2016 at 8:50 AM ^

They should just go to 20:

Big Ten South:

Texas, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Maryland, Oklahoma, Rutgers, Penn State, Nebraska, North Carolina

Big Ten North:

Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Northwestern, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin.

No crossover games.

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AdW124

January 6th, 2016 at 8:54 AM ^

My somewhat bold prediction: Houston will join the Big 12 within two years, not sure who else would join. Maybe Texas will just leave evening it back out at 10. Also, I think Kansas and maybe Oklahoma will join the B1G later on. Kansas would be a big Basketball contributor and market. Oklahoma brings football of course.

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mgobaran

January 6th, 2016 at 9:17 AM ^

BTN Guy: Everyone is cutting the cord. Our numbers are going down!

Jim Delany: I have the perfect idea!

BG: Uhh....okay. Let's hear it....

JD: Listen, listen, listen. We make the conference 18 teams! 

BG: This is the Big Te...

JD: Let me finish! We go to 18 teams. That's four more potential TV Markets.

BG: That's the problem Jim, no one has TV anym...

JD: Listen we add Georgia Tech, Virginia, George Washington, and Pheonix University.

BG: Pheonix University? That's an online school!

JD: Larry Fitzgerald went there!

BG: No, that's no...

JD: Larry Fitz went there and they span the whole USA! Best TV Market on the planet IMO. Sign sealed delivered, this ones a wrap. 

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superstringer

January 6th, 2016 at 9:54 AM ^

Blow it up.

The billions of $$$ has fundamentally changed this sport. Time for total makeover. Create a division where players can be paid and are not required to go to school; and a lower division for true student-athletes. Schools can choose what they want to do. In the pay to play, conferences would lose meaning, but I guess you keep them if possible. For instancr, If enough of SEC went that way, I suppose you could keep comferences for TV and playoff purposes; depends how many schools go into that division. The pay to play becomes a real minor league for the NFL.

Seems inevitable football ends up here--if it doesnt go away completely due to CTE.



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Brodie

January 6th, 2016 at 10:47 AM ^

For 18, I'd reach out to UVA and UNC. Let the SEC sweep up Va Tech and NC State and I dout the state governments would have many complaints. Then you reach out to Oklahoma and Texas. Ideally, I'd argue you should kick Rutgers out in this scenario as they add almost nothing in terms of footprint and then you can add another team... OK State, Kansas, Georgia Tech, Duke, Notre Dame, whoever.

The SEC would be at 16 in this scenario and would likely take a few Big 12 leftovers like TCU, Baylor, Texas Tech or OK State. Then the remnants of the ACC could take the top programs from the AAC and Big 12 to compile a franken-conference... the big two Florida schools, Syracuse, Pitt, BC, Wake Forrest, Clemson, Duke, Louisville, potentially Georgia Tech, WVU, etc. That would allow them to stay afloat.

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EThos92

January 6th, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^

Not a fan, at all. As intriguing as the possibility of playing teams like Texas and Oklahoma may be, I don't like the idea of Michigan and OSU losing power within the conference. It may not happen right away, but eventually Texas would start making plays to try and dominate the conference politically. Schools like Nebraska and Penn St we can live with. Maybe even Oklahoma, although I think it would be a travesty if the Big XII broke and all of that history went down the drain, but Texas would be a mess. They're the richest athletic department in the country, and they are downright bullies. The only move to four conferences I'd be in favor of would be if the ACC broke up and the other conferences snatched a few schools up and sent the less than relevants to a G5 conference. This comes with the downside of the SEC possibly snatching up Clemson and Florida St though, which would make them even stronger. I am ok with breaking with some tradition if it actually improves the product for everyone, like the playoffs. But, wrecking a hundred years of history and iconic rivalries just to make some extra cash is awful. Texas and Oklahoma should ALWAYS be in the same conference, and it should not be the Big Ten. I don't want freaking Notre Dame either. Nothing but a headache for everyone else.

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doggdetroit

January 6th, 2016 at 2:39 PM ^

The Big 12 has only been around for 20 years the same time that Texas and Oklahoma have been in the same conference. Before the Big 12, Texas played in the Southwest Conference for 82 years. Oklahoma played in the Big 8 for 78 years.

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wbpbrian

January 6th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^

1. Okalahoma- they are a great pick up for the big ten overall.

2. Gerogia Tech- Great academics and may serve well for the Atlanta Market

3. Houston/Baylor- I feel like we could easily get either one and we would be a not hard way to get into the Texas market I would lean more towards Baylor because of better academics but houston would be great access to a bigger market.

4. Notre Dame- I know this probably won't happen but they should have joined a long time ago.

My backups would be:

5. UVA- Great academics and more access to the DC market.

6. Duke- I feel there football is improving and their academics are elite.

7. Stanford- Just a wish

8. Texas- another wish

 

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