Now is the perfect time for Notre Dame to finally join the Big 10 Conference in football.
At 6-6 in 2008, following a lame 3-9 season in 2007, the Irish have lost a lot of luster and bluster over the past 2 seasons. They had one of the weakest schedules in the country this season and next year's schedule looks even weaker. Their TV ratings are sliding and their future contract value with NBC has never been lower.
Let's face it, its all about money. Hey, we live in a capitalist society, deal with it. I would argue that ND joining the Big 10 for football would be extremely lucrative for all those involved: ND, the Big 10, the NCAA and oh yea, every TV network that covers college football.
Obviously, the Big 10 would need to offer ND a bundle of cash to get them to play along, as ND generates multi-millions annually on their own. The Big 10 would need to guarantee a higher annual pay day to get ND to even think about it.
Where does the Big 10 get the $ to pay them? TV. Adding ND would allow the Big 10(11) to create two, six-team divisions, just like the Big 12. Poof, you've got a league championship game raking in huge $, on a payscale comparable to another bowl game. Give ND all the TV revenue for that game for the first 10 years.
Next, renegotiate the NBC TV deal that ND has because it will be worth 50% more if they played a Big 10 schedule. Imagine the increase in total viewership when Navy gets replaced by Ohio State and Air Force gets replaced by Wisconsin or Illinois. ND already plays Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue almost every year any way. Give ND the annual $ increase from a more lucrative NBC TV contract.
ND would also get their fair share of revenue from the pool of $ earned by the Big 10 thru all of their bowl game appearances. So, we've covered off ND's $ needs and then some.
So, what's in it for the Big 10? More $.
First, you get your share of the attractive NBC deal. Done.
Next, let's say you're Iowa. Every other year, ND shows up in Iowa City instead of Indiana (yawn). Charge higher ticket prices (Purdue does it when ND comes to town). The TV ratings soar, generating more advertising $. The stadium is sold out for every ND game, generating maximum concession revenue and in-stadium ad revenue. 20,000 ND fans pay scalper prices to get in, then spend a ton of blue-blood $ in your one-horse town.
But here's the best kicker. The last game of the year between Minnesota and Iowa, Illinois and Northwestern, etc. now means something to people outside of Iowa/Minnesota or Illinois because it will dramatically influence who wins each division. Every game in the league has division and league championship game implications. Attendance and TV ratings across the league would increase, resulting in double-digit increases in advertising revenue for the league, plus increases in concessions and team merchandise sales. (If you think this is bull, consider the financial benefits of MLB's wild card races every year)
Bottom line, all Big 10 related TV and radio contracts are renegotiated - up, by at least low double-digits.
And who gets stuck, holding the bag and paying the extra freight? College football advertisers. Will they pay up? Heck yes, because these companies highly covet the educated, high income viewers of college football.
If the Big 10 was smart, they'd start talking to ND now. The price may never be lower..
..Follow the money..
http://www.top10sportslist.com
Cheney Larschied
Shanon Lersh
Nation's Top Basketball Recruits
Back in Time: November 20
Comments (8) Add A Comment
I agree. The time is now.
One thing I've pondered in the past is how the 12 teams split into two divisions. Geographically, the Big Ten is spread out more east/west than north/south, so I would assume that the line would be drawn vertically on the map. The line would have to disect Indiana because there would be three universities in that state with two needing to be in the east and one in the west. Since the twelvth team, Notre Dame, has pre-existing annual rivalry matchups with Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue, the logical divisional breakdown would be as follows:
Eastern Division
Penn State
Ohio State
Michigan
Michigan State
Notre Dame
Purdue
Western Division
Indiana
Northwestern
Illinois
Wisconsin
Iowa
Minnesota
This breakdown aligns geographically and upholds the most prominent pre-existing rivalries. The problem I see with this breakdown is it's extremely unbalanced in all aspects of economics and competitiveness.
Given this year's results within the suggested divisional breakdown, Penn State would play Northwestern for the Big Ten Championship while every sportswriter and fan endlessly complains that Ohio State should be there instead.
My conclusion is that a divisional breakdown in the Big Ten probably isn't the greatest of ideas.
RP-29
Oshkosh , WI
Total Comments (647)
Not gonna happen. There is no incentive for them to join. They now have the ability to schedule any team in any conference and play across the country, not just Big Ten territory. Also, not true about the NBC contract being worth 50% more if they joined the Big Ten, did you get those figures from NBC or did you pull them from your butt? And do you think the rest of the Big Ten would go for ND getting the increased revenue from such a contract? No freakin way! You cited teams such as Illinois and Wisconsin, they sucked this year so where is the incentive? Where is the advantage? This means that they couldn't play USC, or North Carolina, or Washington (which was a good team when it was scheduled). ND is in a unique position unlike any other team in the country, and for better or worse they will stay independent.
MrMiyagiJr
Total Comments (2662)
Solid points across the board.
If ND was going to join a conference, I think they would be more likeely to join the Big East. Aside from already playing basketball, the Big East has a history of paying 1 big name team a bonus for being in the league as they did with Miami.
You do make a good point about the divisional breakdown of the B10.
Rivalries not beneficial to break up have Michigan, Michigan State, and tOSU in the same division. tOSU is the closest thing PSU has to a rival. It wouldn't surprise me that if the B10 did expand (it has been discussed to expand the geographic viewing audience of the BTN) they would still play as they do now - keep the rivalries, inviting the top 2 records to a conference title game.
Prove It
Frellin Cold In, AK
Total Comments (6718)
I agree with Prove it, if the Irish join any conference it should be the Big East. That conference, like ND, needs a shot in the arm.
PROFESSOR X
Total Comments (95)
ND will only join a conference if NBC cancels their contract.
OregonTideFan
Total Comments (64)
Haha, ND will never join a conference, Iowa wishes they had the money ND does...I live in Iowa City, and the fans here are terrible, go win a National Championship why don't you.
Besides, if ND joins a conference it has to be the Big East.
yabbadabba
Iowa City , IA
Total Comments (7)
wow, great job man. I'm writing a paper on this topic. I need an author. can some one claim it?
yabbadabba is wrong I live in iowa city and the fans are amazing. GO HAWKS
WESTSHERLOCK
Iowa City , IA
Total Comments (2)
wow, great job man. I'm writing a paper on this topic. I need an author. can some one claim it?
yabbadabba is wrong I live in iowa city and the fans are amazing. GO HAWKS
WESTSHERLOCK
Iowa City , IA
Total Comments (2)
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