Around the Big Ten

[whodean]

How long 'til GA Tech and UVA get their invitations?

[Wild Hoss]

Do those 13 games include the conference championship? If so, that would make 14 games. Then, assuming you make the "playoffs" or a bowl game that would add another one or possibly two games. Is that what we really want for these student/athletes? Even a 13 game season seems an awful lot. These are kids--student/athletes. As much as I am against paying the players, I think I am reaching the point where I favor just "professionalizing" college football and basketball (if it's not already happened). Do away with the student part of the college experience and let the kids eat, sleep, get tatoos or whatever on campus and let the money roll in.

Just spitballing, but we could extend the season on the front or back end by a week without seeing a whole lot of change IMO. Running the regular season Aug 31st through December 14th (CCG games etc) this year for instance would encompass 16 weeks for 13-14 games.

Two weeks off for the playoff participants put the first round on December 28th, and the title game on Jan 11th (Only four days later than it was played this year, despite both teams being off for more than a month) Or if we start Aug 24th and end on December 7th you could wrap it up on January 4th...which would be nice. Do both (Aug 24th through Dec 14th) and you have a 17-week season with plenty of breaks. Maybe too many?

As injuries and wear occur during practice as well (Typically 8 practices for every game played, counting Spring and Fall camp) I think having the NCAA mandate a certain number of non-practice days to be worked in at coach?s discretion would be a good idea as well. The kids would get complete days off during bye weeks and before tomatocan games, saving some wear and tear to offset the extra game.

[WM Wolverine]

April is the rumor when stuff starts happening but everything is waiting on Maryland's exit fee, court situation which could delay things...

UVA and UNC will get invited first, if UNC declines (supposedly UVA has unformally already accepted) then its probably GT as #16. Then Delaney will hope the SEC, Big XII destabilize the ACC enough to shake loose NC and maybe another ACC school (Duke, FSU, ND, etc.)

[iam416]

Virginia is in and done.

[iam416]

"Things are kind of in a stand-still (as of Sunday). Obviously Virginia is in, and they're helping the B1G look for partners. Their first choice is UNC and UNC is similarly interested.
UNC has to decide internally whether the totality of circumstances that comes from joining the B1G outweigh the totality of joining the SEC. At this point they think that they DO.
Duke is not as big of a sticking point as once thought. Though the B1G would take Duke if it were forced to, it believes that the dilutive effect that it would have on the TV deal would negate the large endowment and research expenditures.
The B1G is working UNC to make sure the Duke rivalry could stay in tact if they do separate. The idea of a locked in B1G-ACC match up has been thrown out. It's hard to determine until the dust settles and we know where Duke finds itself, but it is being discussed.
On the ND front, they are working out what a ND transitional plan would look like. It would likely include phasing in a full B1G schedule over many years and allowances that it would play conference neutral site games in New York, Atlanta, Washington and other big markets.
Assuming UVA and UNC are 15 and 16 (which still isn't a guarantee). They may sit tight until the landscape shakes out. The ultimate goal is still 20, IF the right markets are included. Including GT, FSU, ND. A potential 20th could be Kansas. But with 15 and 16 of UVA and UNC, they will have destabilized the ACC permanently and strengthen their position of power."

[iam416]

The important thing is that the B10 wants 20. That' 4 pods of 5. Play your pod every year. Rotate through other pods each year. 9 total games.

I also seriously think they're aiming for semifinals + CG.
.

[Hannibal]

If they try to preserve UM vs OSU, the pods are going to be pretty lacking in balance.

[WM Wolverine]

I've heard the same, Virginia is in, Delaney wining and dining NC showcasing them the CIC, projected new tv deals which will make the Pac 12's 'huge' deal look quite small and the ACC's 'small' tv look tiny...

I personally would put the brakes on at 16 unless ND, FSU are interested. With Virginia & NC I believe I read the B10's 'footprint' would exceed 100mil in population.

[DennisT]

Why stop now? Big 120 here we go.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Agree with you WM. If they can get UNC and UVA, there's no need to ever go beyond 16 unless it's to add a powerhouse.

[whodean]

My bet is on VA and GaTech and stoppin there.

[Whitley]

UNC getting out of the ACC is on par with getting Texas out of the Big 12. UNC wields a lot of power, so things would have to be really enticing to get them out of it. Something like having some other teams come in as well.

The key phrase is with the right team the Big Ten goes to 20. As such I think this is the long term plan for the Big Ten. They are going to 18 in the short term.

UVA, UNC, Duke and Georgia Tech all come in.

All of those unis are excellent academically. All are AAU schools and while none are a great football school. UNC and Duke are big time basketball schools which will only help the BTN. In addition, UVA along with Maryland could very well not only give the BTN the DC market but lock it down. That would be absolutely huge in negotiating TV rights.

That would probably be the end of the ACC which would mean that FSU would be there for the taking (and the Big Ten would take them in a heartbeat) and with the ACC done...I think Notre Dame probably comes along as well.

4 pods of 5 would be something like this:

Pod1: Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illini, Northwestern

Pod 2: FSU, Georgia Tech, UVA, UNC, Duke

Pod 3: Penn State, Maryland, Rutgers, Ohio State, Indiana

Pod 4: Michigan, Notre Dame, Indiana, Purdue, Michigan State

Preserve the Michigan-OSU rivalry but everything else is about as well put as you can have it.

[entropy]

If it has to go to 20... Can't do better then that, IMO.

[entropy]

But... ND won't join... So I would add kansas

[WM Wolverine]

Why did you boot out Minnesota?