Maryland to join Big Ten

Maryland will join the Big Ten.  Read USA Today here.

"BTN will have live coverage beginning at 2:30 PM ET of the University of Maryland’s press conference regarding joining the Big Ten. Following the press conference, BTN will have analysis from a variety of guests. Dave Revsine will host BTN’s coverage."

The ES just doesn't get it. Who's next? Rutgers, and then who? Expect major musical chairs in the  next month:  UConn to the ACC, Florida State to the SEC or Big 12...

At least we know who will be at the bottom of the conference race in football, vying with Minnesota and Indiana every year. 

Michigan - Michigan State projected as season finale

Interesting post in the LSJ. Looks like as the Big Ten expands to 12, the big year-end games for Big Ten football will be Michigan State-Michigan, Ohio State-Penn State, and Nebraska-Iowa. Alas, Ohio State-Michigan will fall by the wayside. And, with Iowa and Wisconsin SPLIT in a new divisional structure, that is a hint at a possible North-South divisional alignment:

NORTH
Indiana
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Northwestern
Wisconsin

SOUTH
Illinois
Iowa
Nebraska
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue

And, my God everyone is high on William Gholston as the next speed rusher for the Big Green. My oh my we need one desperately... put some heat on opposing QBs to help out our secondary and cause some turnovers.

And you all noticed now that the Big 10 has twelve teams, and the Big 12 has ten teams. Any chance on swapping names?

Big Ten football title game in 2011; 9-game schedule? MSU report

Yes, the Big Ten will have a football championship game in December 2011, with the addition of Nebraska to the conference schedule. Where will it be? ES sez either Lambeau Field (Milwaukee), Soldier Field (Chicago), Lucas Oil Field (Indianapolis), or Ford Field (Detroit)... Early nod goes to Ford Field because it is INDOORS and is by far the nicest football facility in the Midwest, if not the country. Though, seeing a Big Ten title game outdoors in December would be sensational - imagine MSU vs Nebraska, playing for the Big Ten title, in a blizzard in Chicago or Lambeau. Yes, I'd buy that ticket!

But, maybe bigger news is a consensus of a need to move to a 9-game conference schedule. That is EXCELLENT. The more Big Ten-scheduled games, the better, and that will help to drop pathetic scheduling of D1-AA teams such as Montana State, Northern Colorado, Youngstown State, and the like.

Other news? Expansion is STILL in play... and the ES wouldn't be surprised to still see Pittsburgh, Missouri, and/or Notre Dame added in the next year and move up to a 14-member conference.

As for Michigan State: Coaching staff very high on Mike Sadler as a future punter or kickoff guy for Michigan State - reports are that he has an amazing leg.

On defense: "We have four starters back. We also have young players like Max Bullough and William Gholston, who I think are going to play for us. You take those two guys and try to implement defenses that allowed us to have four linebackers on the field. Certainly 3-4 lends to that."

And on offense, the Doctor mentions that the passing game is the strength: "When you look at us as an offense, positions of strength would be quarterback, wide receiver and tight end"... and, at RB there were "outstanding spring practices and are really poised for a great year. So it should give us a great combination in terms of running and throwing the football, which I think you have to have great balance as an offense to be truly successful."

Texas, Oklahoma to Big Ten?

Sources to the ES are stating that Texas is mulling an olive branch from the Big Ten and that the UT-Oklahoma link is solid. Texas A&M Also may follow suit and join the Big Ten. This is also being reported over at KCTV-5, though that station has OU heading to the SEC. But Texas is the Big Enchilada, and its regents will decide on Tuesday to accept an invitation to the Pac 10, apply to the Big Ten, or remain in the Big 12.

According to the sources, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney has been given the go-ahead to make contacts and gestures on behalf of Big Ten presidents, led by Big Ten Presidential Committee chair, MSU president Lou Anna Simon. These are no formal agreements... but rather setting the stage for adept, and quick formal negotiations.

My oh my how it gets interesting and more interesting. A Texas/Oklahoma/Nebraska addition to the Big Ten would be major shift and domination among one conference in NCAA athletics, particularly in football. it may be worthy of 2 automatic BCS bids.

If this is the case, don't be surprised to see Kansas/Kansas State/Missouri/Iowa State head to the Mountain West.

Stay tuned.

LIVE on BTN - Nebraska announcement 6 pm EST

The Big Ten Network will have live coverage of Nebraska Chancellor Harvey Perlman and Athletic Director Tom Osborne's press conference beginning at 5 p.m. CT (6 pm ET).

Check back with BigTenNetwork.com for live video streaming of the press conference.

TEXAS REGENTS TO MEET ON TUESDAY; OKLAHOMA, OK ST TO FOLLOW
And, this upcoming Tuesday, regents at the University of Texas are meeting to likely jump ship. Bye, bye, Big 12, it was nice knowing you. And, both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will quickly follow the lead of Texas.

BOISE STATE TO MOUNTAIN WEST
Boise State University has accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference in 2011.

Boise State, currently a Western Athletic Conference member, would become the Mountain West Conference's 10th member. The move would be effective July 1, 2011.

Nebraska has joined the Big Ten/12

Nebraska has joined the Big Ten, accepting an invite as of this morning. Board of regents were in closed session beginning 1 pm this afternoon. A news conference is scheduled for 4:45 p.m., according to a source in the NU athletic department.

According to Huskers Extra, "a packed house has filled the meeting room in Varner Hall today to hear a regents’ resolution that will carry Nebraska forward to the Big Ten."

Nebraska is 728 miles from East Lansing. The have 21 total sports, and their current ranking in the Learfield/SearsDirector's Cup is #36). Former Conference: Big Twelve. Another long-time AAU member. One of the historically strongest athletic programs in the nation. Strong football, and Olympic sports. 21 total sports. At one time, the ES had Nebraska as #7 on his list of expansion possibilities.

So, now the Big Ten stretches 1,088 miles from State College, PA (Penn State) to Lincoln, NE (Nebraska). Geographically, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa State, Pittsburgh all make sense. These are all AAU members.

It's only 200 miles from Lincoln to Lawrence, KS. 324 miles from Lincoln, to Columbia, MO. Kansas is right in between the two. Its only 314 miles from Lincoln to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Welcome, Nebraska!

And, Missouri, and likely Kansas, Syracuse, and Pittsburgh; maybe Texas A&M. The ES still has a tough time believing Rutgers or Iowa State.

But, Nebraska gets the first nod as the Big Ten's twelfth addition. Someone got a new logo for the Big 10/12? If so, post it somewhere and comment on the link to it.

But, it won't last long. Oh, no it won't. Colorado is now at the Pac-11/16. They'll add lots of Texas schools. Don't be surprised to see Texas A&M go to the Big Ten.

Nebraska board of regents will vote today (Friday) at 1 pm.

It won't solve the problem of finances in college sports - it just means more money to be made and spent on college sports, and more of the smaller schools (MAC, WAC, C-USA) will be further behind. But, who cares, right? Hell, MSU and Texas A&M were made for each other.

Realistically, Notre Dame is OUT and the Big 12 has vanished. I see the Big 16 and Pac 16 beginning in 2012.

And, this is all about football - nothing more. Basketball, who cares? All the other 20+ sports? Doesn't matter. Because football is money.

Hey, I've traveled to Penn State; I've been to Nebraska twice. They're about equal when it comes to campus environment and geographic location: a long way to go see a cool football game.

Big Ten 14 or 16 team alignment

The Big 12 is dead.

Y0ur new Big Ten in 2012? I say count Notre Dame out; they won't join, they have a superiority complex and a stick so far up their Catholic butt that money don't matter. The key here is all teams in consideration: Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse -- all are members of the AAU. One other school to consider would be Iowa State, if the Big Ten decides to nix the Big East and just steal from the Big 12.

16 teams:

WEST
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Nebraska
Northwestern
Missouri
Minnesota
Wisconsin

EAST

Indiana
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Pittsburgh
Penn Sate
Purdue
Rutgers/Syracuse

14 teams:

WEST
Illinois
Iowa
Nebraska
Northwestern
Missouri
Minnesota
Wisconsin

EAST

Indiana
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Pittsburgh
Penn Sate
Purdue

Big Ten expansion update

Looks more and more like Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa State are moving up the leaderboard of possible contenders in Big Ten expansion scenarios.

The Big Ten meetings are this weekend, and a recent interview with commissioner Jim Delaney noted three important points:

1. Gaining a foothold in the South. "In the last 20 or 30 years, there's been a clear shift in movement to the Sun Belt. The rates of growth in the Sun Belt are four times the rates in the East or the Midwest.” This boosts consideration of stealing from the Big 12 -- teams close to or in the Sun Belt -- and away from the Big Least.
2. Extending the reach of the league's lucrative television network. The Kansas City (#26 metro area in US) and St. Louis (#18 metro area) areas are significant - with more than 4.5 million households in these two areas alone. ES explored this earlier.
3. Membership in the Association of American Universities would be “very important." A previous list by the ES lists AAU membership among potential candidates

Well, the ES still doesn't see Texas (AAU member), Colorado (AAU member) or Oklahoma (not in the AAU) in the mix so much. They are just too far away -- too far. So, reviewing the potential candidates, the ES sees expansion to 14 at this point -

1. Notre Dame (not AAU but the only exception to the rule).
2. Missouri (AAU).
3. Kansas (AAU).

Others on the outside looking in:

4. Pittsburgh (AAU).
5. Nebraska (AAU).
6. Iowa State (AAU).
7. Syracuse (AAU).
8. Rutgers (AAU).
9. Texas (AAU).

Mizzou wants IN the Big Ten

If you asked Missouri head football coach Gary Pinkel, a former Toledo head coach, the Tigers want IN to the Big Ten. It's all about money - and you can read about his drooling of the BTN money going to rival Illinois:

"With their TV package, they'll get $11 million more dollars this year than Missouri does in the Big 12, so the value is what it is," Pinkel said of the Illini, emphasizing that the money is vital not merely to football but the entire athletic department. "We've got four more years of this contract, so Illinois, as they're building their athletic department, that's $44 million more. So that's not very good for our league. For the life of me, it's hard to understand."

The ES sees this happening. The Big Ten is waiting to tap the Kansas City-to-St. Louis metro areas, and with it the BTN will make even more money. Mizzou - you want in - you're in.

Delaney on BTN tonight at 9 EST

How much do you NOT want to learn about Big Ten expansion?

Will in case you are interested in hearing nothing new, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany will talk with Dave Revsine on Big Ten Tonight at 9 PM ET. Topic: the latest news pertaining to the possibility of Big Ten expansion.

Adam Rittenberg: I told you so

In reference to Big Ten expansion talk and it taking it's own sweet time... I hate to tell Mr. Rittenberg, "I told you so, Adam"... but, as reported in USA Today, I TOLD YOU SO. "We have not accelerated anything," said Big Ten conference commish Jim Delany.

Adam Rittenberg's Rumor Mill

The funny thing here is that ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg doesn't pay attention to the same things he writes and reports on. OK, Big Ten officials and institution presidents may be attending an AAU meeting, but they won't make any decisions on Big Ten expansion this weekend... or in the next two months. Why? Because, as Rittenberg hisself reports, "The Big Ten said in December its expansion study was expected to take 12-18 months."

With schools of this size, you just can't get approval for anything that large in less time. And, every other conference is waiting for the Big Ten's move to see what it will do... so, wait we will, until the study is delivered no sooner than December 2010 and Big Ten school leaders review it a few months following. ES sez any expansion will take place no sooner than June 2011.

Adam needs to stop the rumor mill, innuendos, and conjectures and pay attention to his own reporting.

Notre Dame to join Big Ten? Chris Allen suspended

Has the sleeping giant finally awoke? Read over at NY Times about Notre Dame rethinking its football status, and if enough teams join the Big Ten expect ND to be one of them. Financially, they can't afford it otherwise... especially after paying out about $20+ million in football buyouts of Willingham, O'Leary, and Weis and getting crappy football the past 8 years. The ES moves ND up his list to a maybe to a LIKELY to join the Big Ten. Maybe they aren't so dumb down in South Bend after all.

Chris Allen suspended

OK, so our recent best-defender, Chris Allen, has been suspended by Izzo for "classroom issues" although his eligibility isn't in jeopardy. Not sure if he will play in the Big Ten tourney. If I was coach, I'd make him stay home. He's not traveling already, and he needs to learn what he went to MSU for. If he came to MSU for basketball, he can stay home. If he wants to learn something -- Allen will never play pro ball anywhere except maybe in Israel or Hong Kong -- then he should screw his head back on and hit the books.

#11 MSU slips past JoePa; Big Ten report considers the Big 16

The ES returns from a stint in Washington DC to listen on the radio to his Spartans taking a nap and slipping past Joe Pa last night, 67-65. Huh?

Still, MSU plays the Yellow Bellies in the season finale for a chance at a repeat Big Ten championship. Tipoff is 4 pm... WHITE OUT, yes, wear White.

ES wuz a bit disappointed at the #11/#12 ranking this week... but rankings really don't matter this late in the season other than: you are a GREAT team, you are a GOOD/TOURNEY team, you are a NIT team, and you are a BAD team. Here's your AP poll, with Ohio State at #6 leapfrogging Purdon't.

RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Syracuse (59)	27-2	1,618
2	Kansas (6)	27-2	1,550
3	Kentucky	27-2	1,493
4	Duke	25-4	1,415
5	Kansas State	24-4	1,377
6	Ohio State	23-7	1,232
7	Purdue	24-4	1,169
8	New Mexico	27-3	1,151
9	Villanova	23-5	1,143
10	West Virginia	22-6	1,024
11	Michigan State	22-7	960
12	Butler	26-4	762
13	Vanderbilt	22-6	741
14	Brigham Young	26-4	633
15	Wisconsin	21-7	625
16	Tennessee	21-7	615
17	Pittsburgh	22-7	612
18	Gonzaga	24-5	554
19	Georgetown	19-8	548
20	Temple	24-5	547
21	Baylor	22-6	393
22	Maryland	21-7	249
23	Texas A&M	20-8	210
24	UTEP	22-5	124
25	Xavier	21-7	101

Others receiving votes: Texas 94, Richmond 44, Northern Iowa 32, Oklahoma State 24, Marquette 21, Missouri 13, Illinois 10, Utah State 9, Virginia Tech 8, Mississippi State 7, UAB 6, Cornell 5, Louisville 4, Notre Dame 1, Old Dominion 1
Dropped from rankings: Texas 21, Richmond 23, Northern Iowa 25

THE BIG 16? MORE BIG TEN EXPANSION TALK
The ES opened the pages of ESPN this week and saw another article on Big Ten expansion that seems to keep the blinders on Big Ten faculty. A third party firm which completed a report for the conference found that it would make money... but only if a "loyalty fee" of $5 million or more would be paid by new schools. The report considered all the likely schools talked about by the ES and others: ND, Pitt, Mizzou, 'Cuse, and Rutgers.

Big Ten expansion looks dimmer

Well, the ES learned through the grapevine that a meeting held within the past week between the Big Ten office and faculty representatives included comments from commissioner Jim Delaney - of which he cooled to the possibility of expansion. While there is serious investigation by the Big Ten office (as requested by the Big Ten presidents), the number of schools that the Big Ten is looking at has gone "down from three to none (not one, but none)." This is an interesting consideration, given the Free Press comments.

Now, it is true the faculty reps aren't getting the full story -- they are only being told what they need to know. And, knowing the pressure of finances on college sports, any possibility of more money via revenues will be given serious consideration. But, will adding a 12th team for a football playoff add enough new money to offset the costs for championships in the other 20 sports? Likely not, certainly not in the long run.

So, what will happen? ES still sez either: nothing, Pitt, Mizzou, or Notre Dame. Seems like it is leaning toward nothing...

Pac-10 joins Big-10 in expansion talks

Watch out Mountain West Conference and Western Athletic Conference... here comes the Pac 10 with expansion talk.

Leading teams to consider: BYU, Utah, Colorado, Colorado State, Boise State.
Others in the running: San Diego State, Fresno State, Hawaii, and TCU.

Problems with Boise State, Fresno State, and TCU? (1) All provide no substantive increase in market share, they are in the middle of nowhere and (2) other than football, they lack significant broad-based success in their athletics programs.

Add this to the Big Ten's expansion talks and potential theft of Pittsburgh from the Big Least and Missouri from the Big 12, and watch the dominoes fall from coast to coast as other institutions jockey for position in the game of Big Time Football Conference Musical Chairs... Looks like the dominoes may fall in spring of 2011 or 2012, sports fans.

More on Big Ten/14 Expansion. Add Three?

OK, Big Ten expansion made the national media over this weekend, and the ES is happy to see his buddy, Kyle Sweitzer, mentioned in the NY Times to better understand the relation of what Big Ten membership means to academic prestige. As the ES has said once and said again, AAU membership is an important factor in determining access to the Big Ten -- but it IS an athletics conference.

So, considering all the factors including not only AAU membership and academic prestige, geographic proximity, history with the Big Ten in football, broad-based athletics program (eg. lots of sports offered), current conference athletic affiliation, and television draw/current contracts, here is how the ES handicaps potential Big Ten conference teams joining in 2012. Shown in parentheses are distance from EL and Learfield/Sears Cup (LC) standings as of January 11, 2010 (MSU is #15 overall, impressively).

1. Missouri (411 miles from EL, #121 LC). Everything you read from Missouri, and the more you figure this institution will be the next team, regardless of any decision by Notre Dame. As said by the Governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon, would "rather the state’s flagship school hang out with Northwestern and Wisconsin than Texas Tech and Oklahoma State." Over at StLouis Today, they are already bracing for a Mizzou departure, and begging the Big Ten to take Kansas with and not moan an end to the Mizzou-Kansas "Border War." Adding the St Louis television market is revenue, and it is all about money, no (In 2000, US Census ranked St Louis Metro area as #18 in the nation at 2.7 million)? If it smells like fish, is it chicken? Give this a 75-25 shot.

2. Pittsburgh (283 miles from EL, #95 LC). This just makes sense for a variety of reasons. Pitt is an AAU member. This is halfway between Ohio State and Penn State, meaning travel isn't extended beyond the current boundaries. Joe Pa and Pitt have a long football rivalry. Pitt has a long tradition of successful athletics, but is stuck in the Big Least. They have Wannstache. And, according to the US Census, in 2000 the metro area was 2.4 million. A 60-40 shot.

3. Notre Dame (147 miles from EL, #26 LC). It is in the heart of Big Ten country. Again, ND has its own football contract and independence... but it can be easily traced that ND athletics has lost an incredible amount of prestige since the departure of Lou Holtz and the beginning of the information age. Add the Big Ten network and its $80 million annual contract, and Notre Dame finds its football independence and non-football Big East affiliation to lack complete fulfillment. That NBC contract and Big Least affiliation is no longer the goose the laid the golden egg. Will the Irish priests-in-charge be so stubborn to allow them to miss their best (or last) opportunity for probably the next 20 years or more? The Big Ten won't offer anything more than an invitation. The ND would be foolish to blink, but may be stupid enough to do so. But, from a Big Ten standpoint, while ND has strong academics (and high minimum admissions standards), it also ain't AAU. This is a 50-50 shot.

4-10: Others (read ES examination): Syracuse (#34), Iowa State (#22), Rutgers (#49), Nebraska (#36), Louisville (#70), Cincy (#52), Memphis (#121). All are no better than 25-75.

What about Kansas? 771 miles from EL. Not ranked in LC standings. But, a long time AAU member (since 1909). It would be the new West and South border for the conference, and 1,200 miles from Penn State. If you bring Kansas because of the Mizzou-Kansas rivalry... OK. But this year the broad-based success just doesn't compare without any rating at all in the fall. Seems to me a school needs to bring more than just a rivalry with another. Maybe it does: it is only 40 miles from Kansas City, Missouri, which according to the US Census is the #26 metro area (1.8 million). So, if you added both Mizzou and Kansas, you are adding a potential 4.5 million individuals to the Big Ten, which is an ENORMOUS draw. The problem: look at the map. They are just way out there; at a time when institutions are hurting with money and trimming their budgets for travel, adding a team that extends the current boundary by more than 300 miles doesn't seem to make much sense. I'd say 25-75 shot.

What if Mizzou, Kansas or Pitt, and Notre Dame joined the Big Ten/14? What would the Big Ten/14 Divisions look like? Here is the most likely geographic division split.

Big Ten West
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas or Purdue
Minnesota
Missouri
Wisconsin

Big Ten East
Michigan
Michigan State
Northwestern
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue or Pittsburgh

When will there be an announcement?

Despite rumors here or there, it will take time. University of Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther stated on January 11, "in the next six to 12 months, expansion will be addressed or not addressed." Which puts the earliest window at July 2010. The original statement from the Big Ten, released in December 2009, said it would take 12-18 months, which would put the earliest window at December 2010. So, don't believe the rumors. Getting 11 Big Ten presidents together in one place within a month is nearly impossible to begin with, let alone all the data and dialogue to approve and submit an invitation... this is higher education, not business. It doesn't just turn around on a dime. Or does it?

Big Ten Expansion Is on the Docket. Let Thy Count the Possibilities

Yes, Money Does rule the day. The day after the ES sez that the Big Ten is more likely to add hockey than expand to 12... well, the Big Ten issues a statement in which its Council of Presidents asked Commissioner Jim Delaney for a recommendation of schools to approach IF the Big Ten were to consider expansion. The Big Ten Network covered their statement with input that Big Ten presidents may receive considerations within 12-18 months. See the video below.

But first up, the most likely nominations? The ES shows distance from East Lansing. A current NACDA/Learfield Sports' Directors Cup (formerly Sears Cup) ranking is also provided as food for fodder to consider competitiveness of the full athletics program. FYI - Michigan State is ranked #13 so far. Ranking is listing by the ES in order of best fit for the Big Ten.

1. Notre Dame (147 miles from EL. Cup: #39). Won't happen unless they give up FB independent status. NBC football TV contract worth $9 million will expire by 2015 and is already equated by Big Ten Network revenues; Big Ten also receives $19 million per school from CBS & ESPN for all sports -- something Big East can't match. Negative is ND Not an AAU member.

2. Pittsburgh (283 miles. Cup: NR). Big Least - its closer than Joe Pa (454 miles). Has a lean 17-sport program. Pitt is an AAU member. Strong in football and hoops.

3. Missouri (411 miles. Cup: NR). Big Twelve. KC Star already on this possibility. A long-time AAU member, with a robust athletics program. A total of 20 sports. Strong in both football and hoops.

4. Syracuse (466 miles. Cup: #5). Big Least. Accepted into the AAU two years after Michigan State. A total of 20 sports, including women's ice hockey. Terrible football, strong hoops.

5. Iowa State (562 miles. Cup: #19). Big Twelve. An AAU member. A very lean 16-sports, average football, good hoops. Likely just too far, and too small.

6. Rutgers (682 miles. Cup: NR). Big Least. A recent AAU addition. The Knights have 22 sports. Recently strong in football, great women's hoops teams. The Big knock is they are just too far, and again a smaller institution.

7. Nebraska (728 miles. Cup: NR). Big Twelve. Another long-time AAU member. One of the historically strongest athletic programs in the nation. Strong football, and Olympic sports. 21 total sports. However, many historical ties to Big Twelve (former Southwest Conference) schools. And, likely too far.

Others? Louisville, Cincinnati, Memphis... May the dominoes fall. The ES still sez that ice hockey is a greater possibility than a 12th member. But, let us revisit in 2012.