Big Ten and other Conference Expansion

[cincibuck]

What the Big 10 needs is a balance within any potential division split. Right now there are only 3 Big 10 teams with a legitimate, year-in-year-out shot at a BCSNC game: OSU, Michigan and Penn State. The most likely playoff scenario is to have division champs play and to have a fair division set up you need to balance the power of those three schools. Out of the teams seriously discussed (I don't consider Texas to be a "serious" response) only Notre Dame has the potential to balance the divisions, either East: OSU, PSU, Indiana, Purdue, Northwestern, Michigan State vs West: Michigan, ND, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa or North: Michigan State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Notre Dame, Northwestern vs South: Iowa, Indiana, OSU, Purdue, Illinois, Penn State.

For long term situations, the current set up with OSU linked with PSU and Michigan is a disadvantage to the Buckeyes. Michigan and PSU rotate occassionaly giving both teams an easier schedule than OSU

 

[Steve19]

I suppose there are lots of options that come to mind. I see two principles.

1. The Game must be the last regular season game for both contestants, so both conceivably have to be in the same division of a divided Big Ten.

2. The teams are close enough geographically to allow separation so that Ohio State doesn't have to play Penn State and Michigan every year.

Notre Dame is the logical choice, but it is unlikely to join. If they won't join, then the Big Ten teams ought to drop them from their schedules.

The alternatives aren't very appealing either. The West Virginia market isn't worth very much as a media market. Pitt is included in the region and fits nicely. Syracuse extends the league into New York state and maybe gets some exposure into Canada. Cincinnati takes the league further South but it may impact on tOSU's ability to recruit in that area.

In my mind, WV or Cincy probably are the best options. WV takes more away from the Big East with less impact on our recruiting.

Just a quick note. WV has blinding speed and are a formidable juggernaut. If they were to join the Big Ten, they would be a slow, lowly team comprised of medium quality corn hole players. Don't believe me, just ask the press.

 

[Mike80]

I dont see how Texas could be in the big 10, that doesnt make much sense geographically

but I guess Louisiana Tech is in the WAC so anything is possible

the Big Ten doesn't quite have the problem that the ACC, Big East or SEC have when it comes to naming. The name of the Big Ten isn't geographically based.

I won't include the PAC-10 due to distances, but in this day and age of relatively cheap charter travel, it would be a stretch, but it could happen.

It's not going to happen though.

 

[Mike80]

In what way is Texas marginal?

Distance mainly.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Big Ten expansion is still stupid...

 

[BuckeyeFan 52]

Big Ten expansion is still stupid...

As long as Dr. Gordon Gee is around, I wouldn't hold my breath on Big Ten expansion. He likes things just as they are, and he has as much "pull" as anyone regarding this topic. Here's to another 10 years of regular season OSU football ending in November, and praying to god we're prepared to play in January!

 

[bukIpower]

The point for me is... If OSU is going to be looked upon in a negative way (for our past performances) then this game could really help us if we're ever in the top 5 in the final week of the season.

This way no one can jump us if we're #1 or #2 if we win. Plus if we're #3 or #4 we can have a shot to jump with a outstanding performance. Not to mention we already have dominated the big ten for the most part over the years so what's one more game against these same teams going to do? Plus I feel it would like JoPa said put us in the National scene more since we'd be on ABC probably in primetime for our title game. For me while Tressel started amazing in big games I want to see us in one more big game a year for honestly nothing more than repetitions in a big game. The more big games we play the more comfortable we'd be.

Plus, IMO this current system benefits the big ten too much. No wonder Gordon Gee wants to keeps things as is though. If a team runs the table in the big ten (which is't that tough for the time being) it can go right into the championship game if that team is undefeated. Where as other teams (minus the pac-10) are playing that final game with the eveyrthing on the line in a all or nothing game. If a teams sucks in big games (which we need to improve on if we're gonna consistently be up for a NCG appearance) then that team will have to step up or lose out.

As for the Michigan week arguement... Look I love the rivalry, but I for one am realizing some things. This game will always be a big week no matter what, and the years were both teams dominate and then play for the Big Ten title at the end of the year are getting fewer and fewer.

The game will still be big if you put them in the same conference. Imagine if both teams are undefeated in the same conference with the winner moving onto the Championship game? Trust me that'd be just as intense what we see today. Hell we could both be in last place guys and it'd still be intense. I just believe the years were the winner of OSU/Michigan winner going onto the Rose Bowl aren't going to happen as much in the past.

 

[jwinslow]

If OSU can jump someone from #3 or #4, then obviously the opposite can happen. Winning is the only way to fix the respect issue, adding 1 team won't do it. The big ten has been on the national scene plenty... it just hasn't very pleasant lately.

I think the "exposure" for the abomination known as the b12 CCG is being greatly oversold by some, including JoePa. That game is generally a blowout or a mess.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

I'd rather have the big ten expand to be honest... If OSU can get into the BCS championship without a title game imagine what it would do WITH a title game.

I know we'd have more to lose really but I don't see it that way.

I'm not following. How can you do better than an NC game berth?

JoePa's opinion doesn't mean jack to me. Look at who PSU schedules. They should have schollies taken away for being such pussies. It's no surprise he wants to add another Big-East cupcake to pad his win total.

 

[bukIpower]

What I mean by that Oregon is this.

If we add one more game and go undefeated (with a title game victory) no way they keep us out. We got to the NCG in 2007 by pure luck and teams losing. The price teams sometime pay for a title game, but if you're a good team you'll step your game up and finish business.

For me I see how the media is lookin at the big ten (especially OSU), and I can see them dropping OSU in the near future if we are OSU to keep us out of another NCG. So if have to play in a title game and we win then it's a slam dunk no way they'll keep us out.

I'm just looking at it from a security stand point. When our season ends after Michigan I hate sitting back and watching others move up while we're Idle. There's nothing we can do at that point but sit and pray someone doesn't throw up 70 in a game and pass us. Which the way Oklahoma/Texas/etc play can defiantely happen.

 

[jwinslow]

If we add one more game and go undefeated (with a title game victory) no way they keep us out.

and if OU & Florida do the same?

For me I see how the media is lookin at the big ten (especially OSU), and I can see them dropping OSU in the near future if we are OSU to keep us out of another NCG.

People assumed this after 06, and there was OSU atop the polls early the next season. People assumed this after 07, and yet OSU was there yet again in 08, with only USC to beat to set up their NC run. OSU will be there again next year too if they beat SC.

Rumors of OSU's demise are greatly exaggerated.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

What I mean by that Oregon is this.

If we add one more game and go undefeated (with a title game victory) no way they keep us out. We got to the NCG in 2007 by pure luck and teams losing. The price teams sometime pay for a title game, but if you're a good team you'll step your game up and finish business.

For me I see how the media is lookin at the big ten (especially OSU), and I can see them dropping OSU in the near future if we are OSU to keep us out of another NCG. So if have to play in a title game and we win then it's a slam dunk no way they'll keep us out.

And if we lose, it's a slam dunk we get left out. It's a double-edged sword. I think there are a lot more negatives than positives. We can clearly get into the NC game without a championship game anyway. It's just unnecessary.

 

[bukIpower]

And if we lose, it's a slam dunk we get left out. It's a double-edged sword. I think there are a lot more negatives than positives. We can clearly get into the NC game without a championship game anyway. It's just unnecessary.

Yeah you're right, and it'd be risky. However, again I feel we'd control our own destiny more so with one more game. Look at Oklahoma from this year as a good reason how it can be a good thing though. They LOSE to a conference team, but yet still get to the Big 12 championship game. They win impressively and bamb they jump over Texas in the poll's and into the BCS Championship game. IMO, people like last impressions and ESPECIALLY in college football.

As far as more negative's than positives? The only way i'd consider it a bad thing is if we're #1 and undefeated because we'd having nothing to prove. However, considering most years we're gonna have 1-2 loses this gives us the shot to make up for a previous loss. I'd rather play another game to help advance us, rather than sit back and be done because we're afraid to lose. Because we're OSU and more than likely in a hypethical big-10 championship game we're gonna win 80% the time.

 

[edbuck51]

Always amazed me that when playoff discussions came up, university presidents pooh poohed it because it took away too much class time from the student athlete. Apparently that 12th game and championship payday don't affect class time.

All leagues should do away with championship games, and the Big Ten should send Penn State to the Big East and play a true round robing like the Pac-10 does. Shouldn't have any problem getting that proposal to gain a head of steam.

 

[BB73]

Yeah you're right, and it'd be risky. However, again I feel we'd control our own destiny more so with one more game. Look at Oklahoma from this year as a good reason how it can be a good thing though. They LOSE to a conference team, but yet still get to the Big 12 championship game. They win impressively and bamb they jump over Texas in the poll's and into the BCS Championship game. IMO, people like last impressions and ESPECIALLY in college football.

As far as more negative's than positives? The only way i'd consider it a bad thing is if we're #1 and undefeated because we'd having nothing to prove. However, considering most years we're gonna have 1-2 loses this gives us the shot to make up for a previous loss. I'd rather play another game to help advance us, rather than sit back and be done because we're afraid to lose. Because we're OSU and more than likely in a hypethical big-10 championship game we're gonna win 80% the time.

Oklahoma was ahead of Texas in the BCS before the Big 12 CCG. That fact was why they got into the Big 12 CCG, since it was the tiebreaking mechanism that was invoked to determine the Big 12 South Division rep for the CCG.