New Big Ten Logo: 15 Better Options For The Big Ten

Really, Big Ten? That's the best you could do in coming up with a new logo?

The new logo, according to the conference's official website, "was developed to symbolize the conference's future, as well as its rich heritage, strong tradition of competition, academic leadership, and passionate alumni," said Michael Gericke, one of the developers of the logo.

As Charles Barkley would say, "That's turrible."

The New Logo

The new logo was co-developed by Gericke and Michael Bierut of the international design firm Pentagram.

"Its contemporary collegiate lettering includes an embedded numeral "10" in the word "BIG," which allows fans to see "BIG" and "10" in a single word. Memorable and distinctive, the new logo evolved from the previous logo's use of negative space and is built on the conference's iconic name, without reference to the number of member institutions," Gericke continued.

The new logo also provides the flexibility of multiple versions which can be used horizontally, vertically and within new media.

"The new Big Ten logo provides a contemporary identifying mark unifying 12 outstanding institutions," said Delany. "It conveys some elements from the past while simultaneously introducing new features. We think the new logo is fun and has something for everyone."

We, in turn, think the new logo is incredibly lame and has something for everyone...to make fun of.

So, without further ado, here are some of the rejected new logo submissions for the Big Ten.

Big 12

Oooooh, the Big Ten will have 12 teams starting next year with the addition of Nebraska.

And, this one would have worked so nicely...if only it weren't already taken by the Big 12...which will have 10 teams starting next year.

Apparently neither math nor logic are taught at any of the fine universities that make up these conferences.

Welcome, Huskers!

Meet the new Big Ten.

Same as the old Big Ten.

(With Penn State.)

Plus Nebraska.

Big Ten(ish)

Courtesy of Sports Pickle

Another solid option that could leave the possibilities open for further expanion down the road.

Big Ten (Or Is It 12?)

This is one fan's rendition of what the new logo should look like.

But, no—this makes far too much sense.

Photoshop Newbie

Ouch. I appreciate the effort, but this is little more than a bad Photoshop fail.

Tom Hanks

This submission came from a boy who turned into a man and likes to play a human-sized piano by dancing on the keys.

Is another Oscar on the way for Hanks? Or is it a Heisman?

Tommy, a 3-Year-Old Boy

Let's be honest, a child's scrawling of the conference name would be better than the Big Ten's new logo.

"Good work, Tommy! Your mommy is very proud of you!"

Tommy's Second Attempt

Tommy gave it another shot and added some nuance this time.

Well played, Tommy. Still better than the Big Ten's final decision.

Tommy's Little Brother, Stewie

"What a big boy, Stewie! Good finger-painting, little buddy!"

Still better than the Big Ten's final decision.

Dan Gilbert

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert submitted his own idea for the new logo.

Straight to the point, and you have to love that Comic Sans.

And no, LeBron still isn't coming back.

Zodiac Killer

The Big Ten also received submissions from some unexpected sources.

This one, received from someone in the San Francisco Bay Area who called himself The Zodiac, seemed kind of cool.

Pink Floyd

All in all, the new Big Ten logo is just another brick in the wall.

The Big Ten Theory

The cast of the CBS sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" offered up this idea.

It actually looks OK, and their collective nerdiness would no doubt fit in at several of the universities that make up the Big Ten.

Harry Potter

We're still waiting to hear back from Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger, but the Big Ten did get this submission from the Hogwarts School of Wizardry.

Serial Killer

This submission, which came from an anonymous source in the form of a ransom note asking for $10,000,000,000 for the return of the logo was reportedly briefly considered by the Big Ten artists.

But the league revealed that Texas would have had to join the league to afford that kind of fee.

Jeffrey Skilling

Speaking of Texas, this submission with an old-timey Houston-scandal twang, came from an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution.

See if you can guess where he got his inspiration.

Bo Derek

This one came to the Big Ten office from actress Bo Derek, who's now 54 but is still pretty easy on the eyes.

We're all about commemorating your classic 1979 flick, Bo, and even the late Dudley Moore would say that this works far better than the new Big Ten logo.