Conference Expansion

[boxerboy]

Re: Conference Expansion

I keep following the SDSU womens game with one eye on Michigan and Florida, what a game this one is turning into.

[BornBredBunny]

Re: Conference Expansion

Okay, 2 things:

1) If Notre Dame ever decides (or is essentially forced to) join a conference, it will be the Big East. Existing conference affiliation for every other sport and Irish football program won't have to compete with The Ohio State University or Michigan or Wisconsin or Penn State for the BCS automatic bid every year....they would only have to be better than West Virginia, Louisville, Pitt, Rutgers, South Florida, Connecticut, etc... Get the point, much better opportunity for ND to dominate the Big East year in and year out than the Big Ten.

2) The Big Ten is very happy where it's at, thank you very much! If they voluntarily go to 12 teams, they would almost be forced to stage a conference title game and they don't want any part of one of those! Big Ten (and to a lesser extent, Pac 10) teams benefit greatly from not having to play a title game against some serious competition late in the season. OSU being the latest poster child this year.

If, and this is a big if for the foreseeable future, the Big Ten looks to expand, some school from Conference USA is the most likely target. Conf. USA isn't a major conference but is probably the highest regarded "mid major" conference and it's schools are tempting targets for conference expansion....anybody remember when Louisville, South Florida, Depaul, etc joined the Big East? If I was a betting man, my money would be on Louisville. Established basketball tradition and servicable football program as well as solid overall reputation make them the most likely canididate for the Big Ten.

[sfsd]

Re: Conference Expansion

http://sdsufans.com/board/showthread.php?t=4964

[rational thought]

Re: Conference Expansion

ND loves their independence because of the almighty dollar....not the Almighty. They don't share any of the revenue with any other teams...(ie..Big ten...every team in the big ten shares revenue from television to bowl games...I believe it's a 2 to 1 split)....and as long as they have that TV contract I really can't see them joining a conference.....and if they do go to a bowl game that's just a little more money for the Athletic budget...