Around the Big Ten

[Whitley]

The reason I asked about the rivalry is that I get sick of 4-4 teams, or Louisville or NIU getting in the prime bowls.

So teams not in a AQ conference should never have a chance to compete against BCS conferences if they earn it on the field?

[whodean]

Northern Illinois didn't earn it.

An undefeated top 10 team from a small conference? Sure, otherwise fergettaboutit

[Paul L]

They played a MAC schedule, lost to Iowa at HOME, and squeaked past a 2-9 Army team by a point.

NIU getting in was an absolute joke.

[iam416]

Gene Smith is to blame! If OSU were eligible, NIU is pushed down to #16 right away. Plus, a Nebraska loss to OSU may not have dropped them as far as the loss to Wisky did. A few more votes in either poll and UNL is ahead of NIU meaning NIU is #17 and outside automatic qualification.

[WM Wolverine]

There weren't 14 teams that much better than Northern Illinois, rules stated they had the spot because the Big East, ACC, B10 were all that weak. It'll be good to see when the Big East loses it's spot at the table and shares it with CUSA, MWC, Sun Belt & MAC.

[Da Geezer]

and the sooner the better with the end of the "big" East.

[WM Wolverine]

Virginia Tech & Florida State as expansion candidates? Thoughts?

[iam416]

VT makes sense. Academically, they're good enough. They have the resume to get into the AAU. Market-wise, it's big. And the conference remains contiguous.

I'd prefer UNC to FSU.

[lineygoblue]

Va Tech - Ok.

FSU - No.

[WM Wolverine]

VT is certainly growing on me. They've built themselves into a pretty impressive football school since the other Virginia school doesn't emphasize its revenue sports much. In football the Hokies dominate the Virginia market relative to its sibling, UV... Academics & research are marginal for a B10/AAU/CIC school. I have relatives that just moved from northern Virginia and the Hokies are huge relative to the Cavaliers...

The rumor I heard is the B10 called NC the same time as Maryland and was given a firm no. I'm not sure what those that are important (presidents, BOR, etc.) prefer but NC's fan-base is far-and-away pro-SEC, which makes sense as they've bordered the SEC for a long time...

B10 growing into Maryland and potentially Virginia could change the Tarheels preference, still I think NC is one of the last markets the SEC covets if they go towards 16. VT isn't a rival to NC and the B10 doesn't have room for a rival NC would want to bring with them; e.g. Duke or NC State...

Really interesting to see if and where this next round of expansion lands these ACC schools; I really believe 16 is the end game (ND or Texas can change that) which leaves very few precious spots available in the B10 & SEC... Big XII will probably pick up the scraps.

[WM Wolverine]

I prefer UNC too, I just don't think they are as willing to move, let alone move to the B10 as GT, VT, Virginia or FSU.

[WM Wolverine]

FWIW, I think VT & UV are connected, while UNC would like to be connected with both NC State and Duke...

Not sure any of these 'core' ACC schools leave without their siblings having a home.

[Whitley]

UNC might take another generation to become more nothern demographically. It certainly will not be a team that is going to start the exodus. I am starting to think that the end game might be 18 or even 20. I can see a Big Ten with 20 members that includes no Notre Dame or Texas. It would look like this:

#15 Virginia
#16 Virginia Tech
#17 UNC
#18 Duke
#19 Georgia Tech
#20 Miami (FLA)

Go with Pods

Pod 1: Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois
Pod 2: Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Indiana, Purdue
Pod 3: Ohio State, Rutgers, Maryland, Penn State, Virginia
Pod 4: VTech, UNC, Georgia Tech, Miami (fla.), Duke

Pod games: 4....5 against another Pod. 1 or 2 games against another pod (depending if one of the 5 games against that year is against a protected rival). 10 games in conference. 2 OOC and CCG gives you 13 games.

(Bolded teams are the only non AAU teams)

[WM Wolverine]

20 teams is a merger of two conferences, twice as big as the Big XII.

[hack]

Were I the SEC I'd be competing very hard to pull in UNC and Duke.