As for the Big Ten adding a 12th school, this is my breakdown:
Notre Dame - as for me, the heck with them. Until they can deal with reality and admit that they are no better than any other Big Ten school I don't want them and I don't think it will happen.
Syracuse & Rutgers - Brings in the New York market more than what Penn State does already. There interest would be the money. The Big Ten Network is a driver for them to give serious consideration.
Pittsburgh - would renew the rivarly in football with Penn State
Missouri (or Miz-ur-A if you live there) - somehow they always make the list and would be a decent addition and another big rival to Illinois.
Iowa State - I hope not.
Cincinnati - Ohio State would not favor this and I am not sure there reputation is good enough to give them much consideration. Thank Bob Huggins for that.
I read some other posts about the possibility of MAC schools - not a chance. Big Ten presidents would not consider them on the same level academically.
My sleeper pick is....UConn - while football drives the Big Ten ship, certainly men's basketball is the bread and butter when it comes to continued success...(see teams in the Final Four). They compete for bowl games at the BCS level in football so they bring something to the table. The other thing is they bring men's hockey. Is it possible for the Big Ten to have another revenue-making sport/championship because UConn gives them six Big Ten teams - the minimum to sponsor the sport at the conference level. Bye WCHA?
Division A
Penn State
UConn
Indiana
Ohio State
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Division B
Minnesota
Iowa
Michigan
Michigan State
Purdue
Illinois
In football, you would play everyone in your division, plus three teams from the other divisions (maybe four). You would protect your rival from the other division and play them each year meaning cross-divisonal rivals would be:
Penn State vs. Michigan State
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin
Ohio State vs. Michigan
Purdue vs. Indiana
Illinois vs. Northwestern
Iowa and UConn I guess would start a new rivalry...sorry, the Iowa-Wisconsin game does not make the list.
Notre Dame - as for me, the heck with them. Until they can deal with reality and admit that they are no better than any other Big Ten school I don't want them and I don't think it will happen.
Syracuse & Rutgers - Brings in the New York market more than what Penn State does already. There interest would be the money. The Big Ten Network is a driver for them to give serious consideration.
Pittsburgh - would renew the rivarly in football with Penn State
Missouri (or Miz-ur-A if you live there) - somehow they always make the list and would be a decent addition and another big rival to Illinois.
Iowa State - I hope not.
Cincinnati - Ohio State would not favor this and I am not sure there reputation is good enough to give them much consideration. Thank Bob Huggins for that.
I read some other posts about the possibility of MAC schools - not a chance. Big Ten presidents would not consider them on the same level academically.
My sleeper pick is....UConn - while football drives the Big Ten ship, certainly men's basketball is the bread and butter when it comes to continued success...(see teams in the Final Four). They compete for bowl games at the BCS level in football so they bring something to the table. The other thing is they bring men's hockey. Is it possible for the Big Ten to have another revenue-making sport/championship because UConn gives them six Big Ten teams - the minimum to sponsor the sport at the conference level. Bye WCHA?
Division A
Penn State
UConn
Indiana
Ohio State
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Division B
Minnesota
Iowa
Michigan
Michigan State
Purdue
Illinois
In football, you would play everyone in your division, plus three teams from the other divisions (maybe four). You would protect your rival from the other division and play them each year meaning cross-divisonal rivals would be:
Penn State vs. Michigan State
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin
Ohio State vs. Michigan
Purdue vs. Indiana
Illinois vs. Northwestern
Iowa and UConn I guess would start a new rivalry...sorry, the Iowa-Wisconsin game does not make the list.