Big Ten expansion BP poll: Nebraska is in, who is next?

[Emperor Brutus]

In the expansion thread there is a recent post that has Dave Brandon quoted saying he believes the Big Ten will move to a 14 team conference in the next few years possibly a 16 team conference. So it seems the conference is starting to send out messages that they, in fact, aren't done yet. The poll in the old thread is outdated now; I thought with all the information that's come out over the past year as well as with the new reality of the conference as a 12 team league, it is time to see where the Buckeye Planet community stands on the issue of who should be invited if we do move into an era where the Big Ten has 14 to 16 teams. I personally don't think a lot of these schools deserve an invite but I tried to put in every team that someone posted a serious interest in.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

Added a few choices. The poll is now back open.

 

[Emperor Brutus]

http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/dave-brandon-today-toledo-alumni-club

DB sees the Big 10 at 14 teams in the next couple of years, with 16 teams being possible. Only big name teams that have a large market share / successful in sports and in academics. He did not name names, but mentioned only a few schools fit that profile.

I thought I should add the quote about expanding again from Michigan's AD.

 

[BB73]

If they expand, I went with Ga Tech, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia. Although I apparently put my checkmark for N Car on the ND line by mistake. edit -counts have been adjusted to correct that.

My votes were based primarily on geographic expansion and academics. But it would really help in Big Ten lacrosse as well.

 

[bassbuckeye07]

Where is the choice for Auburn?

 

[Muck]

North Carolina but no Duke? I see them as a package deal.

Besides that way I can vote to match the dream I had a month or so back...

(Duke, North Carolina, Notre Dame & Pitt...14 Teams...Ten States...Big Ten)

 

[tmporter]

I have made the choices of Maryland, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech and Syracuse.

Maryland is competitive in sports and academics. It is an AAU member, it is a land grant institution and does a fair amount of research $518 million as of 2009. Maryland offers 27 mens and womens varsity sports. It fits the mold of a Big Ten university. It bring the DC and Baltimore TV markets.

Vanderbilt is a bit of a hope for Big Ten expansion. Academically they would be in the top of the Big Ten with Northwestern. They are definitely a research university, receiving $444.3 million of federal research money in 2008. They are a member of the AAU also. They would have some work to do in terms of athletic team numbers and that could be what keeps them a longshot. The biggest concern would be what TV market does it bring. Nashville isn't the biggest city and it is definitely behind the Vols in terms of following.

Georgia Tech is a space grant university which is close to land grant so it fits there. It was just voted into the AAU and it's research budget is a bit on the low side at just over $200 million. It has 17 varsity sports which would be on the low side, but the Atlanta media market would be a nice market to crack.

Syracuse is another private university and not a land grant university. It is also in the AAU and has strong academics. I couldn't find an amount for their research dollars and they only have 8 women's varsity sports and 12 men's. The other thing is what media markets would they bring.

I think the Notre Dame ship may have sailed along with the Missouri and Texas ones. All in all this makes for some great discussions.

 

[RugbyBuck]

GT and Vandy.

 

[OSU_D/]

I picked:

Maryland & Virginia
Georgia Tech & North Carolina

Texas was who I really wanted. But reviewing the last round of expansion talk leads me to believe that they only talked to the Big 10 in order to gain leverage with the Pac 10 in negotiations.

Also, I know that my choices are improbable because I don't think the Virginia legislators will allow UVA to go anywhere without VPI these days. In addition, I don't see UNC being separated from NC St or Duke.

I picked my choices of who I'd like to see based upon academics, sports (all-around, not just football) and population trends.

If you ask me which 4 I think the Big 10 is likely to take then it is some combination of the schools along the east-to-northeast and perhaps ND. So ND + 3 of U Conn, Rutgers, BC, Syracuse, Maryland etc or 4 of those universities along the coast in areas of large population.

Dream 4: UVA, UNC, UGA, UF (Screw ND)

 

[muffler dragon]

For some reason, I've found myself recently very intrigued by keeping things contiguous; therefore, I like Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, and Syracue.

 

[JBaney45]

UCLA, Hawaii, Florida International, Montana State, University of Alaska

[/Big East expansion logic]

 

[sflbuck]

I think they lock up the last large midwest TV market by adding Mizzou. You ask ND one last time if they are in or out. Then its two out of three of the following east coast markets- DC/Maryland, NY-NJ/Rutgers or NE/Boston College. If ND has said no you take all three.

 

[Buckeye86]

My preference would be Notre Dame, Mizzou, Pitt, and someone else, in that order. So if they just add two; Notre Dame, Mizzou.

 

[cincibuckeyenut]

I want Kansas, Connecticut, Texas and Notre Dame, two football powerhouses and two basketball powerhouses, all four solid in both. I think football butters the bread, but basketball can be a huge moneymaker for BTN and there is a higher quantity of games for showing. I think that is the big miss right now is the basketball opportunity.

 

[JBaney45]

I want Kansas, Connecticut, Texas and Notre Dame, one football powerhouse and two basketball powerhouses

FIFY