Here we go again... Maryland, Rutgers to the Big Ten

[venture]

Report: Maryland, Rutgers in 'serious' negotiations to join the Big Ten - CBSSports.com

Maryland and Rutgers are in advanced and ongoing negotiations with the Big Ten regarding membership, according to multiple reports.
ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy first reported the news that Maryland was in "serious negotiations" to join the Big Ten. According to the report, Rutgers is in a similar situation and would also join the Big Ten if the negotiations are finalized. That news was then confirmed by Yahoo! Sports' Pat Forde, who -- citing multiple sources -- said both schools are in "advanced discussions" to join the Big Ten.

Announcement could come as early as next week. Maryland was always rumored to want to go to the Big Ten at some point. This would take them to 14 teams now to match the SEC. Rutgers would be exiting the Big East and Maryland from the ACC.

I still think the Big 12 needs to go to 12 or 14 teams at some point. If the PAC 12 goes to 14, the three conferences are going to be chewing up a ton of TV time and bowl space. So who should the Big 12 get to fill?

I would say ND would be great to add, but I think their new agreement with the ACC would allow them to easily slide in and replace Maryland. However, the Big 12 might help them more when it comes to big bowls (not that they will have an issue this year).

Other options:

• Louisville (Big East) - They were #2 to WVU coming on board. They are 9-1 this year and continue to do well. They would also open up Ohio, KY, and IN markets to recruiting and TV.
• Cincinnati (Big East) - Another decent option. They would probably be more middle of the road in the Big 12 football world, but big when it comes to basketball. Also big TV markets.
• Florida State (ACC) - Gets the Big 12 into Florida, a major market. However, a little out of the way - but WVU seems to be working alright.
• Clemson (ACC) - Would probably need to be a package deal with FSU.
• Air Force (MWC) - Gets the Big 12 back into CO, they are a consistently decent program and normally always in a bowl but might get stuck in the basement a lot.
• Fresno State (MWC) - Gets a big market in California, but not sure they could survive well in the Big 12.

[Hawk405359]

Considering the Big East is losing their "major conference" status and automatic bid once the playoff is instituted, I don't blame teams for trying to jump ship. That said, I'm a bit surprised that the Big 10 would consider those two.

[bluedogok]

Air Force is a non-starter, they don't want in a big conference. During the last Big 12 go-round they evidently were asked about their interest in the Big 12, the AD decided they would rather stay in a conference with similar programs rather than go up against the OU and Texas level of spending.

[adaniel]

Considering the Big East is losing their "major conference" status and automatic bid once the playoff is instituted, I don't blame teams for trying to jump ship. That said, I'm a bit surprised that the Big 10 would consider those two.

If this is indeed the fork in the Big East, what's the chance the Big 12 goes after Louisville and Cincinnati?

[venture]

If this is indeed the fork in the Big East, what's the chance the Big 12 goes after Louisville and Cincinnati?

I hope it would be pretty high. It would really help bridge WVU.

[OKCisOK4me]

Louisville and Cincinnati would be awesome but so would Florida State and Clemson. How bout we just invite all four?!

[Easy180]

I say we try desperately to steal Colorado back...They have been lighting up the scoreboard in football since moving out west

[kevinpate]

FL State, Air Force, Louisville and Fresno State .. in that order, were I king for a day and allowed to set up decent road game experiences for the fans.

[betts]

I say OU moves to the SEC. Without Texas if they're being prima donnas again.

[venture]

I say OU moves to the SEC. Without Texas if they're being prima donnas again.

Just remember OU signed its TV rights away to the Big 12 for the next 6 years. So chances of anyone leaving the big 12 are nil right now.

[Just the facts]

If we go to 14
FSU
Clemson
Louisville
Cincinnati

If we go to 16
Virginia Tech
Georgia Tech

[venture]

I like the list. A good balance of quality schools.

Media market wise...
Tallahassee: 106
Greenville: 100
Louisville: 48
Cincinnati: 35
Roanoke: 68
Atlanta: 9

I think FSU gives the Big 12 more tradition and of course open recruiting in Florida. Clemson and Georgia Tech are highly ranked educational institutes (US News has them at 25 and 7 respectfully). UL and Cincy open up a good amount of recruiting in the Ohio Valley and more media exposure there in markets of similar size to other Big 12 schools. Virginia Tech also comes in with a storied program, good following, and strong academics.

It would be one of those if it has to happen, these would all be great choices. The difficult part I think might come down to picking which legacy Big 12 team would go to the Eastern division to even it out. Unless you break it up to be North and South divisions to make the travel requirement equal for everyone. If that happens we would look at either OSU or Clemson going to the North.

North Division: ISU, KU, KSU, UL, Cincy, WVU, VT, OSU.
South Division: OU, TTU, TCU, Baylor, Texas, Clemson, GT, FSU.

If we looked at the BCS rankings right now for those teams to see how they balance...

North Division: ISU (46), KU (97), KSU (6), UL (19), Cincy (44), WVU (48), VT (69), OSU (20) -- Avg: 43.625
South Division: OU (13), TTU (31), TCU (40), Baylor (37), Texas (16), Clemson (11), GT (68), FSU (10). -- Avg: 28.25

So definitely a bit lopsided. However WVU, VT, and Cincinnati have all shown they can be very good. So who is to to say they during a good year the North could easily stand up to the South.

[OKCDrummer77]

I say OU moves to the SEC. Without Texas if they're being prima donnas again.

If?

[Bellaboo]

I say we try desperately to steal Colorado back...They have been lighting up the scoreboard in football since moving out west

Unless you are just kidding........


No they haven't, the score board has been lit up by everyone they play........they are horrible.

They are 1 and 10 so far this year, given up 50 + points 4 times, including 69 and 70.......

[venture]

If?

Has anyone else noticed that Texas seems to be the only one that has put their name inside the Big 12 logo on the field. I think Kansas use to do this but got rid of it, unless I'm blind.

[Just the facts]

Going to 16 teams opens up lots of option for scheduling. How about instead of 2 divisions we go to 4 pods. You play everyone in your pod (3 games) and all the teams in another pod (4 games). That gives everyone 4 non-conference games (ala SEC). You then rotate the other pod you play every year. In 3 years every team will have played every other team at least 1 time and it would take 6 years to complete a home and home series with every team. Then to bust up the BCS playoff, I wouldn't have a championship game (why give a loss to one of our best teams at the end of the season). Here is how it would look.

Pod 1:
A, B, C, D

Pod 2:
E, F, G, H

Pod 3
I, J, K, L

Pod 4
M, N, O, P

In year 1 (Y1) pods 1 and 2 play each other and pods 3 and 4 play each other
In (Y2) pods 1 and 3 play each other and pods 2 and 4 play each other
In (Y3) pods 1 and 4 play each other and pods 2 and 3 play each other

Conference champs would be based on final BCS ranking.

So if you put in the team names it might look like this
Pod 1: Iowa St, Kansas, Kansas St, Oklahoma St
Pod 2: Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, TCU
Pod 3: Baylor, FSU, Georgia Tech, Clemson
Pod 4: Virgina Tech, West Virgina, Cincinnati, Louisville

So in year 1 - OU plays: Texas, Texas Tech, TCU, Iowa St, Kansas, Kansas St, Oklahoma St
in year 2 - OU plays: Texas, Texas Tech, TCU, Virigina Tech, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Louisville
in year 3 - OU plays: Texas, Texas Tech, TCU, Baylor, FSU, Georgia Tech, Clemson
pattern then repeats switching home and away games.

[venture]

That's pretty creative. I kinda like it.

[Just the facts]

OSU's schedule would like this:

Y1 - OSU: Iowa St, Kansas, Kansas St, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, TCU
Y2 - OSU: Iowa St, Kansas, Kansas St, Baylor, FSU, Georgia Tech, Clemson
Y3 - OSU: Iowa St, Kansas, Kansas St, Virgina Tech, West Virgina, Cincinnati, Louisville

And of course we should employ the SEC scheduling method by playing all 7 conference games in the fiirst 9 games of the season. This would insure that each conference teams ends with two cupcakes so as to not have any late season loses. Then all we have to do is sit back and let the SEC, Pac 12 and Big 10 beat each other out of the 4 team playoff.

[Hawk405359]

That actually is a very interesting idea. I don't know how much I like the "conference champion is determined by final BCS rankings" though.

[Just the facts]

That actually is a very interesting idea. I don't know how much I like the "conference champion is determined by final BCS rankings" though.

If the goal is to get as many teams as possible into the BCS playoff why have your first or second best team take a loss in the final game of the season? Let the first or second best team in the SEC, Big 10, and PAC 12 take the losses. Look at the SEC this year. Alabama and Georgia are 2 and 3 but will have to play each other in the last game of the season. In ND loses and the SEC doesn't have an championship game - both Alabama and Georgia would play for the National Championship instead of a conference championship.

[kelroy55]

Considering the Big East is losing their "major conference" status and automatic bid once the playoff is instituted, I don't blame teams for trying to jump ship. That said, I'm a bit surprised that the Big 10 would consider those two.

I agree but not sure who else is left for them to take.

[kelroy55]

Unless you are just kidding........


No they haven't, the score board has been lit up by everyone they play........they are horrible.

They are 1 and 10 so far this year, given up 50 + points 4 times, including 69 and 70.......

I'm pretty sure he was kidding.

[BoulderSooner]

Just remember OU signed its TV rights away to the Big 12 for the next 6 years. So chances of anyone leaving the big 12 are nil right now.

try the next 13 years .. teams can not leave the big 12 before then ..

[kevinpate]

Do the when you're in, you're in rules apply automatically to any newly added teams as well?

[Hawk405359]

If the goal is to get as many teams as possible into the BCS playoff why have your first or second best team take a loss in the final game of the season? Let the first or second best team in the SEC, Big 10, and PAC 12 take the losses. Look at the SEC this year. Alabama and Georgia are 2 and 3 but will have to play each other in the last game of the season. In ND loses and the SEC doesn't have an championship game - both Alabama and Georgia would play for the National Championship instead of a conference championship.

But if Georgia wants to go to the NC game, they need to beat Bama. The SEC title game can only help them.

I think we have to plan for hte situations like this year, where a Big 12 team wouldn't get in without a title game. You have to be in the top 4, getting two teams in is going to be very difficult in any given year, but a game that can nearly ensure that your number 1 gets in could help.