Joe Paterno Is Correct: Big Ten Needs 12th Team, Possibly Notre Dame

Joe Paterno is a brilliant coach, but I don't usually find myself agreeing with him. That is different this time, though. The Big Ten (which is 11) needs 12 teams and needs a conference title game. Paterno brings up three good possible choices in Syracuse, Pitt, and Rutgers, but as I have always said, my Irish should be in the Big Ten.

I know the TV schedule is a problem and they don't want to be in a conference, but they have to look around and see that it is 2009 not 1989. They are not what they once were, and unless Urban Meyer is coming up in a year or two, they may never get back. This is a great way to become more relevant in my mind.

I will always root for the Irish and they will always have a huge following but will they ever get the great athletes again? I don't want to hear the excuse about grades because most great players could get into Notre Dame. It is not Harvard or Yale. These players want to go to USC, Florida, LSU, and Ohio State—case closed.

Notre Dame has to stop trying to figure out a way to get to 9-3 and sneak into the Fiesta or Sugar Bowl just to get the check and get crushed by talented squads.

Will this ever happen? Probably not, but doesn't it make great sense for all parties? Notre Dame will be in a better position, the Big Ten will get a lot better and have a title game.

So here is the idea for the conference layout. Two diivisions—East and West. Each team plays everyone in their division every year on a rotating home and away schedule.

They also have one natural rival in the other division (Michigan/Ohio State, MSU/Notre Dame, Minnesota/Northwestern, Wisconsin/Penn State, Iowa/Illinois and Indiana/Purdue) that they play every year. The other two games will be two of the other five in the other division on a rotating schedule.

The best record from each division goes to the conference title game, which will rotate between Soldier Field, Ford Field, and Lambeau Field. Ties will be broken similarly to the SEC and ACC.

WESTERN DIVISION

Michigan

Michigan State

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Iowa

Indiana

EASTERN DIVISION

Penn State

Ohio State

Purdue

Notre Dame

Northwestern

Illinois

Example schedule for Notre Dame:

Four non-conference games

at Penn State

Ohio State

at Purdue

Michigan State

at Minnesota

Iowa

at Northwestern

Illinois

This would be great in my opinion. What are your thoughts?