this won't happen until the BCS has a playoff and Notre Dame loses its preferred place in the football landscape.

So why in the hell did T&R illustrate this thread with that creepy picture of Schiano?

It's the Big Ten, not the Big 11 or 12...

They already have 11 - maybe the 'Big Misnomer'?

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:06 AM ET  05.06 by JRM74

So why in the hell did T&R illustrate this thread with that creepy picture of Schiano?

Because Rutgers had been mentioned as one of the possible teams that would be included in the expansion. They even talked about Pitt, and West Virginia. I'm split when it comes to expansion. On one side, it would be good to have a bigger role in the post season with a chamiopnship. That would give teams a bigger portion of the marketing pie, and would help keep teams warmed up for the bowls. I'm against expansion because it would have the potential to make rivalries irrevelant. If they put Michigan and OSU in the same division, the Michigan/OSU game would be just that: a game. It also presents the problem of controling the divisions. How would you split them up. I don't want a 2008 Big 12 south in my confrence, I'd like to see the competition be level as possible on all sides. The other problem it presents is which team would the Commisioner want to add? None of the teams mentioned would add credibility, strength of schedule, or competitveness to the confrence. Not only that you screw up more sports than just football. Every sport within the confrence would have troubles readjusting to this nightmare. ?Until a better system is created I say hold off.

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:16 AM ET  05.06 by _Janus_

Because Rutgers had been mentioned as one of the possible teams that would be included in the expansion. They even talked about Pitt, and West Virginia. I'm split when it comes to expansion. On one side, it would be good to have a bigger role in the post season with a chamiopnship. That would give teams a bigger portion of the marketing pie, and would help keep teams warmed up for the bowls. I'm against expansion because it would have the potential to make rivalries irrevelant. If they put Michigan and OSU in the same division, the Michigan/OSU game would be just that: a game. It also presents the problem of controling the divisions. How would you split them up. I don't want a 2008 Big 12 south in my confrence, I'd like to see the competition be level as possible on all sides. The other problem it presents is which team would the Commisioner want to add? None of the teams mentioned would add credibility, strength of schedule, or competitveness to the confrence. Not only that you screw up more sports than just football. Every sport within the confrence would have troubles readjusting to this nightmare. ?Until a better system is created I say hold off.

Dude youre crazy by saying that none of the mentioned teams would add anything to the Big 10. You can talk about tradition until youre blue in the face. And yes it does count for something but besides a couple teams what has the Big 10 lately? Ohio State did win a national championship in the earlier part of this decade. Michigan has been living off its past forever. Purdue? Indiana? Illinois? Northwestern? Illinois? Iowa State? Iowa?Michigan State is a pretty good program. Same for Wisconsin. But your comment doesnt really hold water. The teams mentioned may not add a great televsion base but do you really get that with Ames?I do agree with NOT putting Michigan and Ohio State in the same division. Its one of the greatest rivalries in college football.

Like Joe said, if it ain't good for the big two, it ain't happenin' in the stonge age conference.

Iowa State is in the Big 12

Not a fan of expansion, but if they did I think they would break it up along the Big 10 North and Big 10 South lines. This would put Michigan and Ohio STate in different divisions.

The biggest problem the Big 10 has, as Paterno pointed out, is that they're done and then the conference championship games get played.

As often as not, the problem is that the Big 10 gets done a week BEFORE everyone else, and THEN the championship games are played. Ergo, no games for two weeks, and no buzz about the conference.

Play the OSU-Michigan game (and a few others) the same weekend as the conference championships, that might change. Of course, it'd be hard to get a TV slot then because of the championship games....

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 09:11 AM ET  05.06 by Spaceman Spiff

Play the OSU-Michigan game (and a few others) the same weekend as the conference championships, that might change. Of course, it'd be hard to get a TV slot then because of the championship games....

They can get TV slots. The Big 10 put in a mandatory bye week for each team, so now the regular season will finish at the same time. I agree though that this could be solved without having a CCG By copying what the Pac-10 does and play hte OSU-Michigan Game the same day and maybe throw in another game, such as Michigan State-Penn State or another one .

Once they add a 12th it would likely rule out Notre Dame as a member. The Big 10 wanted ND before so I wonder if it prefers to wait, since there are no other strong attractions. The administrators are pointing to the ACC and WAC as evidence that a playoff may not be successful, but those confs do not have the stars of the SEC or Big 12. The Big 10 would have more stars and should be an attraction, but it would be a tremendous attraction with ND.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:06 AM ET  05.06 by JRM74

So why in the hell did T&R illustrate this thread with that creepy picture of Schiano?

I always think "Heil Hitler!" when I see that. It just looks like a military salute or something. I think it is creepy, too. They don't have any better pictures of Schiano?

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:02 AM ET  05.06 by gocuse05

Iowa State is in the Big 12

But we'd be happy to trade I-State for a school with a real football team. Utah, maybe?

Thinning out conferences just doesn't seem to me like a good idea. Years where top teams don't have to play each other is not good for either school, or their respective conference.

They should add a 12th team so they can have a conference championship game. The talk has been Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers and possibly West Virginia. Pitt and WV would be good additions, Syracuse and Rutgers not so much (I would go for Cincinnati or Louisville or Iowa State before Syr or Rut). Pitt-Penn State every year would be great. Notre Dame is the obvious choice but it's not likely they'll give up their independent status anytime soon.

Of course the problem comes with the schedule. Two six team divisions means you'd play the other 5 teams once and play 3 teams from the other plus one predetermined "natural" rival to ensure Ohio State-Michigan, Wisconsin-Minnesota, etc are played every year. That's 9 games plus 3 non confernece games.

Since when this topic came up before, Rutgers seemed to be Delaney's target. So for the sake of argument, lets say Rutgers is the 12th team. As I said, I think they would break up the divisions along North-South Lines because if they did it by East-West, the disparity would be great. Anyway if they broke it down by North-South the divisions would look like this

North-Michigan, Michigan STate Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Iowa

South-Rutgers, Penn State, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Ohio State

The ACC was the most competitive conference last year. Almost all of the teams had a chance to win the title at the end of the year. However they do not have any great teams, just a collection of good teams. However the foundation is being laid for huge growth in the quality of teams in the league. In two years they will go from being a collection of good teams beating up on each other to a collection of great teams beating up on each other. The question is if any of the teams can rise up and separate themselves from the pack and be a force on the national level.

Why Big Ten expansion is unlikely...

Because it was hard enough to integrate the stupid 1 in the words Big Ten, and a 2 would be impossibly stupid and Big 12 name is already taken.

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 09:20 AM ET  05.06 by Joekidd1992

I always think "Heil Hitler!" when I see that. It just looks like a military salute or something. I think it is creepy, too. They don't have any better pictures of Schiano?

Careful, the FN police will pop you for Hitler references.