Big Ten Expansion Update: Nebraska and Then What?

The first piece of the puzzle fell in place for the Big Ten last week as the conference added a twelfth member—the Nebraska Cornhuskers—which will allow them to have a conference football championship game. On the other hand, by losing both Nebraska and Colorado (to the Pac-10), the Big 12 conference is looking like Jenga blocks ready to topple.

Announcements yesterday indicate that the Pac-10 is now in the process of working with Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to create a potential Pac-16.

However, similar to how the Big Ten sped up their decision to invite Nebraska to the conference due to the Pac-10’s power moves, the Big Ten needs to take quick, strategic moves to assure that their expansion will lead to conference success down the road.

Most analysts believe that adding Nebraska in order to have the mandated number of teams for a conference championship is only a first step for the Big Ten in what’s sure to be an intense game of chess between them and the Pac 10 for super-conference supremacy.

Here’s what the Big Ten could do next to keep their expansion on track.

Tempt Texas

How much of a blow would it be to the Pac-10 expansion if the Big Ten could steal the Longhorns? The only problem is, Texas is pretty much engaged with the Pac-10.

College football analysts believe that the Big Ten has little to no chance to persuade Texas to join. But a small chance is better than no chance at all.

In this case, it’s better to have attempted to snatch Texas and get turned down than to not have tried at all because the reward far outweighs the risk.

Invite Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish are in an interesting predicament. They are already members of the Big East in basketball and they are independent in football. Let me assure you college football fans, both of those will change in the near future.

The possible implications of creating super conferences around the league could lead to the demise of the BCS and creation of a playoff system (or something similar) between mega-conferences. As a result, independent schools such as Notre Dame could be left out in the cold if they decide not to join a conference in football.

Notre Dame previously rejected an offer to join the Big Ten in 1999, but now the Big Ten in a great position to negotiate with the Irish once again

Look for the Irish to join the Big Ten in football this year and shortly after become a member in basketball as well.

Add Missouri

Mizzou fans are sweating bullets right now. The Tigers, like Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor, could potentially be left out of both Big Ten and Pac 10 expansions. Last week MU officials reported that they had not received any invitation to join the Big Ten.

Missouri was an early favorite to be the first team to join the Big Ten considering the success of their football organization, the presence of two large television markets in Kansas City and Missouri and their annual out-of-conference rivalry with Illinois. So, what happened?

The Big Ten decided to take their sweet time. However, now with the Pac 10 looking to bag five Big 12 schools in no time, the Big Ten has no time to mosey around. If the Big Ten wants to land the big fish, they have to start by using guppies like Nebraska and Missouri for bait.

Attract enough teams to make 16

Now here’s where everything starts to get hazy. We know Missouri and Notre Dame are likely contenders to join the Big Ten, but where do they go from there?

The Big Ten has a lot of options of schools that they can poach from either the Big East or the crumbling Big 12.

I know what you are thinking—what other schools could the Big Ten possibly want from the Big 12 if they will most likely have Missouri and Nebraska? Well Kansas and Kansas State aren’t bad schools to consider.

It would actually be smart if you think about it. The Jayhawks and Wildcats could compliment Missouri in Big Ten, allowing for their long-standing rivalries to continue.

Even though Big Ten and Pac-10 expansion talks have been fueled by college football, the addition of these two schools would also assert the Big Ten as the best basketball conference in the nation. To some the extent to add these schools would be ludicrous, but don’t forget Kansas was one of the few schools being considered for a twelfth team in the Big Ten in 1993.

Alternatively, Big East schools may be more realistic options. Schools rumored to have been considered have been: Syracuse, Rutgers, Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

Syracuse and Rutgers are mainly being considered because of their proximity to New York City, considering the huge TV market it could provide. However, Rutgers may be unable to keep up with the Big Ten athletic arms race taking into account their budget. Syracuse on the other hand could provide great competition in basketball, but probably not so much in the football realm.

UConn, Pitt and Cincinnati would also make good candidates. Both Pitt and Cincinnati would contend well in the conference and on a national level, while providing great in-state rivalry games (Cincinnati-Ohio State and Pitt-Penn State).

As of now, the Big Ten’s future members are a mystery to sports world, but this shouldn’t stress any of the conference’s fans at all because expansion is a much lighter subject than extinction. Sorry, Big 12 faithful.