College Football Conversation Starters: Big Ten and More

It is here. It's the quiet time between the end of the regular season and the start of the bowl games. It is your opportunity to shine when you know what is in the news from around the nation in college football.

At College Sports Matchups , we want to make sure you have the news you need to make that happen. Here are some notes to help you get the ball rolling.

Big Ten Considers Expansion to 12

• Its last conference expansion was in 1990 when Penn State joined the conference.
• The reasons for expansion are the ability to grow revenue with a conference championship game and maintain the league's exposure level.
• Possibilities: Rutgers, Syracuse, Pitt, Missouri, Connecticut, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Toledo, or one of the Michigan directional schools.
• Notre Dame would be the favored candidate, but is not likely to come on board. Look for several of the Big East teams to raise their hands eagerly.

Click here to read news from across the nation on Big Ten Expansion.

AP All-American Team

• Alabama had six players named to the first team—a Tide record. The players include: Mark Ingram(RB), Rolando McClain(LB), Javier Arenas(CB), Leigh Tiffin(K), Terrence Cody(DL), and Michael Johnson(OL).
• Colt McCoy beat out Tim Tebow at quarterback.
• Here is the representation by conference: SEC (11), Big Twelve (7), ACC (2), Big Ten (1), Big East (1), Pac-10  (1), Independents and other conferences (3).

Click here for a complete report on the AP All-American team.

Good Week for Minority Hires

Randy Shannon of Miami was the only black head coach among college football’s 66 BCS programs this past season. It would seem that there may be more access available to minority hires based on the past week. Here are black head coaches that filled vacancies recently:

• Charlie Strong, Louisville
• Larry Porter, Memphis
• Mike London, Virginia
• Willie Taggart, Western Kentucky
• Turner Gill, Kansas

Click here to read the news on Turner Gill's hiring by Kansas.

PAC-10 Brings Back Tons of QB Experience Next Season

Ten teams. Eight returning starters will grace the football fields of the PAC-10 next year if upstarts and injuries stay away. Here is who will be back and where: 

• Arizona, Nick Foles
• California, Kevin Riley
• Oregon, Jeremiah Masoli
• Stanford, Andrew Luck
• UCLA, Kevin Prince
• USC, Matt Barkley
• Washington, Jake Locker
• Washington State, Jeff Tuel  

Click here for the latest PAC-10 headlines.

'Tis the Season for Bowl Gifts

Players are given gifts as part of playing in bowl games by their respective hosts. Players are allowed to be given merchandise valued at up to $500. Various electronic toys are big at almost every site. Here is a sampling of other items given by the various bowls:

• All BCS bowls will be giving players a OGIO backpack.
• Alamo Bowl is providing Dr. Dre Monster Beats Headphones.
• Liberty Bowl participants will receive a Nike sports pack.
• Sun Bowl guests will be well groomed with their Brut hair dryers.
• Humanitarian Bowl will make sure players can stay warm with gloves and hand warmers.
• At the Hawaii Bowl tropical dress will be provided by supplying each player a Kahala Aloha Shirt.

Hope these items will help you keep the conversation going until the bowl games get going.