Straight from the horses mouth:[/i][/b]


Expansion in all areas was researched, but potential new additions had to be what Delany called "peer" institutions with the existing Big Ten schools. Delany said the Big Ten also looked into the expanding into the Sun Belt region.

"But there had to be a mutuality of interest. Rutgers and Maryland both fit the profile we wanted," he said.
.......
For now, Delany, 66, thinks expansion has stopped.

"I don't see anything on the horizon," he says. "I think now is a time for a period of quiet reflection about what has happened. But who knows what will happen? A lot of it is out of our control."

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/21961...-term-wins

Could be wrong of course, but I tend to agree with him that P5 realignment is now.

We'll probably see rumblings around 21-22 time frame when the B12 GOR is coming up for renewal and your Baylor/Iowa State types start pressuring UT and OU for an early renewal.

Georgia Tech? Florida? UNC? (Or are the Carolinas not considered Sun Belt) I heard rumors of all of them...

By definition here is a map of the Sun Belt Region

It doesn't matter about past dealings. The B1G is in trouble now and needs to get back to rebuilding the Name schools to proper strength. Michigan, Michigan state, Ohio state, Penn State, Nebraska need to step up and take charge of the league image. When those name programs have Their Mojo going the Fan support alone brings in millions in revenue. You need the B1G Guns Firing. Right now They are shooting Cap Guns.

I'm very much of the opinion that if the Big Ten had made a play at Florida State it could have gotten it (along with maybe Clemson and Miami, the more football oriented schools). It was not going to peel the bigger core of Mid-Atlantic schools which was their aim.

I think the key part is mutual interest. Like I said earlier I don't think the ACC schools are as willing to bolt for the b12, big ten, or even the SEC as much as everyone claims.

I agree the ACC was much more stable than it was seen 2 years ago (and I actually think the same for the Big 12). It's also much more stable now than it was 2 years ago even against an accurate perception.

"looked into" doesn't mean that they made any offers or went very far into it. it means they considered it. peer institutions for the big 10 in the sunbelt (i.e. AAU/high level academic/research schools, playing football at the fbs level, most likely already p5 programs, most likely public institutions) are few and far between - and i don't think they're even considering raiding the sec. that doesn't leave much.

ACC: Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia
Big 12: Texas

SEC: Texas A&M, Florida, Vanderbilt
Non-P5 or Private: Rice, Duke, Tulane

I'm curious where Rice will ultimately end up. Academically, they could stamp their ticket anywhere, but athletically, either nobody wants to field them, or the institution itself is a few pages back.

I think the Big Ten really wants to be in Texas, as the alumni are starting to head down that way. While the school in Austin is what they want, I wonder if they'd "dive" for Rice if it was still on the table. I'd have to bet some schools would really want to be "present" in the state, not just because of what the television haul could produce, but because of the talent pipeline.

I think both Rice and Tulane will hold spots in the hearts of a few of the major conference institutions because of the associative academic benefits. Not a lot unlike the soft spot some have for the service academies...you want to work with them, but do they fit?

Georgia Tech would be an obvious add - great academics, Atlanta.

I could see GT and Kansas coming in as #15 and #16.

(09-17-2014 09:50 AM)jgkojak Wrote:  Georgia Tech would be an obvious add - great academics, Atlanta.

I could see GT and Kansas coming in as #15 and #16.

I wonder who currently in the ACC is going to want to do business with Maryland again in the "near term." I mean, if it comes out a couple of the ACC schools take a pass on UMD's exit money, I'd start sniffing around there.

Kansas did that with Nebraska's money. And Colorado's. And the gesture toward Texas and OU diplomatically could probably get them anywhere those guys are or could end up.

Hostile realignment is probably taking a nap since the p5 school's seem to be working together rather than picking each other off. I could see friendly moves if espn changed the makeup. Maybe WVU, uconn and cincy to the ACC with BYU to the big 12. Or i like NC state and Wake the to sec with uconn and cincy to the acc. The only really hostile move i could see in the next few years would be if the pac 12 invited 7-8 big 12 school's to form a pac 20. In that case, the big 12 would fold with wvu going to probably the acc.

(09-17-2014 09:50 AM)jgkojak Wrote:  Georgia Tech would be an obvious add - great academics, Atlanta.

I could see GT and Kansas coming in as #15 and #16.

i think virginia and kansas would be just as likely.

it gives them another premiere basketball program (kansas) and more of a foothold on the east coast population base (virginia).

that combination is also contiguous to the current big 10 territory (if that matters).

(09-17-2014 11:21 AM)e-bethMSU Wrote:  

(09-17-2014 09:50 AM)jgkojak Wrote:  Georgia Tech would be an obvious add - great academics, Atlanta.

I could see GT and Kansas coming in as #15 and #16.

i think virginia and kansas would be just as likely.

it gives them another premiere basketball program (kansas) and more of a foothold on the east coast population base (virginia).

that combination is also contiguous to the current big 10 territory (if that matters).

Like most, I think things are at least on hold until closer to the end of some of these GORs.

Then, it comes down to what happened with the B1G cable deal. If they just get a nice increase, they will be making more than the ACC or B12 teams, but not enough more to get someone to move easily.

If the B1G cable contract triples like the Pac12's (and the EPL's and MLS') did, then there is the potential for B1G schools to be making $15mm + more than those conferences, which would be enticing.

Being the #1 football conference clearly was not the #1 priority in the last BigTen expansion.

Otherwise the BigTen would have added Texas, Texas Tech, oklahoma and Okie State instead of Rutgers and MD. Maybe throw in Missouri and Kansas and go to 18.

(09-17-2014 12:58 PM)goofus Wrote:  Being the #1 football conference clearly was not the #1 priority in the last BigTen expansion.

Otherwise the BigTen would have added Texas, Texas Tech, oklahoma and Okie State instead of Rutgers and MD. Maybe throw in Missouri and Kansas and go to 18.

Nah, Mizzou and KU yes, Tech and OSU, no. Those schools would have to merge into an AAC super conference. If that ever happened, great grab for the B1G with an actual midwest footprint. Now that Mizzou is SEC, they would probably have to take another Texas school though, but they'd want a better academic fit. Rice seems like a reach. Iowa State might be possible because of the rivalry and the AAU status. KSU less likely. Tech even less likely. OSU/KSU/Tech would be looking Pac-12 at that point with the AAC merger as a consolation prize.

There are numerous reasons why UConn would be the best choice for the Big 10, especially as it wants to capture the NYC market and diversify into basketball.

(09-17-2014 09:30 AM)e-bethMSU Wrote:  "looked into" doesn't mean that they made any offers or went very far into it. it means they considered it. peer institutions for the big 10 in the sunbelt (i.e. AAU/high level academic/research schools, playing football at the fbs level, most likely already p5 programs, most likely public institutions) are few and far between - and i don't think they're even considering raiding the sec. that doesn't leave much.

ACC: Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia
Big 12: Texas

SEC: Texas A&M, Florida, Vanderbilt
Non-P5 or Private: Rice, Duke, Tulane

Good post. As evidenced by the Rutgers add, the Big 10 is looking first and foremost for peer institutions.

However, I would add Georgia to the list. They're a better school than you think. And take Rice and Tulane off; they're just too small (as institutions) and aren't research-oriented schools.

(09-17-2014 02:38 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(09-17-2014 09:30 AM)e-bethMSU Wrote:  "looked into" doesn't mean that they made any offers or went very far into it. it means they considered it. peer institutions for the big 10 in the sunbelt (i.e. AAU/high level academic/research schools, playing football at the fbs level, most likely already p5 programs, most likely public institutions) are few and far between - and i don't think they're even considering raiding the sec. that doesn't leave much.

ACC: Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia
Big 12: Texas

SEC: Texas A&M, Florida, Vanderbilt
Non-P5 or Private: Rice, Duke, Tulane

Good post. As evidenced by the Rutgers add, the Big 10 is looking first and foremost for peer institutions.

However, I would add Georgia to the list. They're a better school than you think. And take Rice and Tulane off; they're just too small (as institutions) and aren't research-oriented schools.

Do not forget Missouri. AAU and arguably the best School Of Journalism on the planet.