Big 10(11) Expansion?

[Ralph Wiggum]

Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez and the conference itself is floating plans to expand the Big 10 (11) to 12 teams.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=4745381

Here are a few of the teams they could be considering (with some editorial comment from me where necessary):

- Notre Dame: No chance.  Turned the Big 10 down once, I don't think they'll come asking again.  Plus ND doesn't want to share their lucrative NBC contract.

- Pittsburgh: A definite possibility.  Would give Penn State a natural rival in the conference.

- Missouri: Long been discussed, but why would they want to leave the Big 12?

- Louisville: Sort of a natural regional fit.  Not a football power, however.

- Iowa State: Makes no sense, the Big 10 already dominates the state of Iowa, why add a doormat?

- Nebraska: Intriguing, but I can't see the Huskers leaving all the tradition and teams they've played for eons in the Big 8/12.

- Cincinnati: Their recent football success makes them intriguing, but the rumor is that Ohio State doesn't want them.

- Rutgers: Too far east to be a good fit?

- Syracuse: Another wild-card, but probably too far away to make sense.

Thoughts?

[franksolich]

This was discussed in the Omaha World-Herald a couple of days ago, the consensus being, "no go."

But if the Big 10 kicked sorehead Penn State out, I hope Nebraska would think about it.

[Odin's Hand]

The only one I can see that is up to their standards and would want to jump conference would be Pittsburgh.

[USA4ME]

- Rutgers: Too far east to be a good fit?

That's who I'd pick.  It's a school that's far enough away it doesn't step on the toes of any current members and it opens the NYC market to a big conference.  I mean, if you're Michigan or Ohio State or Penn State, wouldn't you want to play a game in the NYC area every couple of years?  Just think of the number of recruits you could get to attend the game.

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