Tag: Big Ten Expansion

ACC legal battles could open door for more Big Ten expansion

If the ACC crumbles, the Big Ten could be ready to pounce on a few potential members.

If you thought the Big Ten was going to settle in an 18-team membership following this year’s additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington, you are probably fooling yourself. Expansion could be looming on the horizon once again if things in the ACC continue on the path they seem to be heading.

Florida State previously opened a significant legal battle challenging the ACC on its grant of rights. If Florida State is successful, it would open the doors for a potential mass exodus from the ACC to the Big Ten or SEC in a similar fashion to what happened in the Pac-12, although perhaps not quite as devastating in the grand scheme.

Florida State is not alone in its legal challenge of the ACC, however. Clemson officially joined the battle this week with its own lawsuit filed in South Carolina, potentially opening the door for Clemson and Florida State to carve a path to leave the ACC in search of greener pastures in the Big Ten or SEC. And if Clemson and Florida State do force their way out, then it stands to reason others in the ACC would explore their options as well, including North Carolina.

And, of course, this somehow all gets back to the future of Notre Dame as well.

SEC Network analyst and radio host Paul Finebaum created a stir suggesting Notre Dame is inching closer and closer to having to make a big decision on its future with football independence or conference membership. As Finebaum suggests, and something I’ve been saying for years, at some point Notre Dame’s leaders will have to realize that it is far more profitable and beneficial for the school to be a member of a conference than it is to be an independent. Considering the revenue shares that Big Ten and SEC schools receive compare to the revenue Notre Dame football generates, it has to fiscal sense to at least strongly consider ditching football independence in the evolving world of college sports.

This would especially be true if the ACC cracks with its membership. Notre Dame is a member of the ACC in most of its other sports (although it is a Big Ten school in ice hockey), but if members start leaving the ACC, it would make sense for Notre Dame to look for a more stable future.

The Big Ten would be the natural landing spot for Notre Dame, one might think. This is especially true if a crumbling ACC loses Stanford and Cal to the Big Ten amid potential realignment changes. The Big Ten adding Stanford, Cal, North Carolina, and Notre Dame would be a decent haul overall.

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Florida State took a giant step toward a potential departure from the ACC

If it hasn’t been made abundantly clear by now, Florida State REALLY wants to leave the ACC behind.

It feels like the idea of Florida State making a move out of the ACC had been dangling about for over a decade. But now, the discussion feels more real than it has ever felt before.

On Friday, Florida State trustees voted unanimously in favor of suing the ACC over the legality of the conference’s grant of rights and withdrawal fees, the two strongest reasons why the ACC has held on stable ground in the recent shifts of conference realignment changes. But Florida State supporters have long felt those were merely hurdles yet to be cleared. Now, Florida State is backing up the talk with actions.

In short, Florida State is filing a lawsuit with the hope of having the grant of rights and withdrawal fee voided, thus making it easier to swiftly move to a new conference. Which conference that would be, of course, remains to be seen, but you had have to expect the Big Ten would be mentioned as a possibility. And if Florida State cracks the door open with this lawsuit, other ACC members could follow the lead of Florida State. And some of those options could be interesting expansion candidates if the Big Ten keeps an eye open for additional expansion moves.

The Big Ten is already set to add four new members in 2024 from the Pac-12; Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington. That will bring the total membership count up to 18 full-time members, which equals the number of teams in the soon-to-be-expanded SEC with the additions of Oklahoma and Texas in 2024. The Big 12 scooped up more members from the collapsing Pac-12 (Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah), and California and Stanford are set to join the ACC, ironically. The last two Pac-12 members, Oregon State and Washington State, are hoping to continue carrying the Pac-12 banner while organizing affiliate memberships and scheduling agreements for football and other sports.

Talks of Florida State’s frustrations with its ACC membership are nothing new. They have been bubbling ever since the first wave of seismic realignment changes that saw Texas A&M and Missouri leave the Big 12 for the SEC, Nebraska for the Big Ten, and Colorado for the Pac-12. The pair of Florida State and Clemson have typically been thrown together as an expansion candidate duo for the Big 12, SEC, and Big Ten. But to this point, the SEC has supposedly said it is fine where it sits now. The Big Ten will sell that message too with its last batch of expansion efforts, although it would be expected the Big Ten offices would at least entertain a phone call with Florida State leaders if the school came looking for a new home.

The Big 12 may be the most likely option for Florida State if the program does find a way out of the ACC, although it may lack the profits and revenue Florida State ultimately desires that would be offered with membership in the Big Ten or SEC.

This may ultimately lead to nothing if a court rules in favor of the ACC, and Florida State willingly signing off on the conference’s grant of rights and withdraw terms seems like a possible open-and-shut case to some, in which case Florida State’s frustrations will continue and grow louder and louder.

But if Florida State gets its way, could the school be the next big expansion move for the Big Ten?

RUMOR: Florida State working to leave ACC for Big Ten within next month

Rumor has it that Florida State will be heading to the Big Ten

Rumor has it Florida State will be heading to the Big Ten.

Conference expansion and realignment has been major news storyline across  college football for the last two years, and it appears another big shake-up is on the way. On Friday, a report emerged that Florida State is working to leave the ACC and join the Big Ten within “the next month.”

Blue Bloods Bias shared a report on the potential massive realignment news (which can be found below) on Friday, and it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise honestly. It’s been no secret Florida State has wanted to get out of the ACC, and the latest College Football Playoff snub may have been the breaking point for the Seminoles.

The Big Ten is set to add four teams in the upcoming year: USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington. The additions will push the league to 18 teams. Should Florida State actually head to the Big Ten, my assumption would be another program would join them to make a 20-team conference. North Carolina, Miami (Florida), Virginia, Clemson and, of course, Notre Dame would be top contenders to pair with the Seminoles.

Click on the tweet below to learn more about this rumor and the potential of the Big Ten adding Florida State soon:

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Which teams are most likely to join Oregon in the Big Ten down the road?

If the Big Ten were to further expand down the road, who might they go after? We’ve got a few ideas.

Though it appears this round of conference realignment and expansion is over for the time being, I would be willing to put a lot of money on the notion that once next summer rolls around, we will once again be talking about which team is going where.

In the world of college football, there has been so much movement over the past decade that it feels like nothing will stop until we eventually get two major 30-team conferences that look like the NFL rather than collegiate athletics. There is also the idea of college football adopting a relegation system, much like European soccer, which is starting to catch on with fans.

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Regardless, it’s clear that the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies joining the Big Ten this past month was not the finale for the conference when it comes to expansion. There are major brands in the ACC that seem to be uneasy with their current situation, and they could be gearing up for a jump in the near future.

Before we dive into potential expansion candidates, let’s first look at what the Big Ten’s position on all of this has been.

  • It has to be a culture fit, and that means it would be really helpful if a program were an AAU member. Basically, that means academically, a program would need to be a certified research institution. Every single Big Ten program is currently an AAU member (including those from the West Coast), aside from Nebraska which was when it joined the league. Here is a list of those institutions here if you are interested.
  • The Big Ten doesn’t want to be viewed as a conference destroyer, tearing others in the nation down while they accumulate power. However, if an opportunity arises to expand, they will jump at it, as they did with Oregon and Washington.
  • Notre Dame would be an exception to anything else out there. The Irish are the golden ticket for every conference to add, and they’ve been elusive thus far. That could change with the shifting landscape in the future, however.

With all of that said, here are the 10 most likely teams to jump to the Big Ten when further expansion and realignment takes place.

Ranking 10 teams that could join the Big Ten in further expansion

Which two other teams would you like to see still join the Big Ten to make it an even 20? #B1G

The Big Ten has gone on an expansion spree over the last couple of years, adding UCLA and USC last offseason and bringing Oregon and Washington on just over a year later.

The Big Ten has 18 teams scheduled to be members starting next year, and nobody would be surprised if more programs joined the conference before all the dust settles on this college football extreme makeover.

But the four teams talked about the most on the West Coast out of the Pac-12 are the four teams that ended up singing kumbaya with the fine folks in the middle of the country (oh, and Rutgers and Maryland). So, this is now a moving target if the league were to add a couple of more to make it an even 20. Still, would anyone be surprised?

Before we throw caution to the wind, let’s first understand what the Big Ten’s position on all of this has been.

  • It has to be a culture fit, and that means it would be really helpful if a program were an AAU member. Basically, that means academically, a program would need to be a certified research institution. Every single Big Ten program aside from Nebraska is an AAU member (including those from the West Coast). Nebraska was one when it joined the league. We have a list of those institutions here if you are interested.
  • The Big Ten will not expand for sake of conference imperialism, but if there’s an opportunity to grab a market it isn’t in, the league will listen — and act.
  • Notre Dame would be an exception to anything else out there. The Irish have so far given a super-wedgie to the Big Ten, but the conference would listen if there was a change of heart.

Here’s a look at the 10 programs most likely to enter the game of conference expansion musical chairs if the Big Ten were to add a couple of more. We go from least likely to most — of course, all in our opinion.

And while we’re at it, if you want another perspective on teams that could be ripe for more Big Ten expansion, check out our friends at Rutgers Wire.

Updated Big Ten recruiting rankings with four teams from West Coast included, mid-August

A look at how the 2024 recruiting classes stack up in the Big Ten with the inclusion of the four new West Coast teams. #B1G

We are one week from the start of the college football season, but the 2024 recruiting cycle continues to spin. We like to look at the 247Sports team composite for the recruiting classes of all the teams in the Big Ten, but we can now expand that.

With the addition of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington in the conference, what’s being put together now with recruiting classes will matter when the four former Pac-12 teams begin play in the Big Ten in 2024.

So how do teams like USC and Washington stack up with historically good recruiting teams in the league such as Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State? Well, we’re glad you asked.

Here is a look at the updated Big Ten recruiting rankings of all 18 future teams for the 2024 class.

What joining the Big Ten means from an Oregon fan and media perspective

We sat down with @zacharycneel of @DucksWire to talk about how Oregon fans and media members feel about joining the Big Ten. We also give you a little more about the Oregon program like best places to eat in Eugene, traditions, best players, and more. #B1G #GoBucks

The Big Ten expanded again to make a pod of four teams on the West Coast. Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington will begin play in 2024, so developments are moving fast and we are left to figure out what it all means.

For Ohio State and Big Ten fans, there’s plenty of reasons to get excited about these additions. Of course, there are also reservations because of tradition being shucked aside and all that comes with such a change at breakneck speed.

We have colleagues who used to call the now defunct Pac-12 home, and we thought it would be good to check in with them to see how this news is being ingested.

We’re starting with our friends at Ducks Wire to see what the temperature is up in the Pacific Northwest. What’s the excitement level over joining the Big Ten? What do Ducks’ fans think of Ohio State? And what are some things OSU fans should know about Oregon?

Ducks Wire publisher/editor Zachary Neel sat down with us to answer some questions that may interest you on those topics and more and we are sharing his comments with you.

And, if you missed it, we did the same for Oregon fans to let them know a little bit more about life in the Big Ten, some things about Ohio State and what Buckeye fans think of Nike U.

Ranking all 18 Big Ten football stadiums by seating capacity after addition of West Coast teams

Where do the stadiums of the four new Big Ten teams on the West Coast fit into the Big Ten with stadium capacity? #B1G

The Big Ten has some of the largest, most iconic stadiums not only in college football, but also in the country. From the famed Horseshoe at Ohio State, to Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley at Penn State, to Michigan’s “Big House,” the scenes inside stadiums in the Midwest don’t take a backseat to any other conference. Now, with the addition of four more stadiums with the expansion of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington, there are other venues to add into the mix.

The conference actually boasts three of the top four largest stadiums in college football — all exceed 100,000 seating capacity, with Ohio Stadium being right there.

The “Ole Horseshoe” on the banks of the Olentangy in Columbus, as the late, famed broadcaster Keith Jackson would say, is a staple of college football. Many used it as a template for their own designs. It was completed in 1922 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service on March 22, 1974.

But there are also those that aren’t massive and venerable and feel more like a large high school atmosphere. Some are more like a bandbox with opposing fans traveling to gobble up what little space there is. Also, what about those stadiums on the West Coast? How do those fit into the equation and atmosphere?

Here is a listing of all 18 Big Ten stadiums after expansion, and their seating capacities for you to impress your friends with should the topic ever arise (and if not, find a way to slide it into the conversation).

WATCH: MSU football coach Mel Tucker comments on Big Ten expansion

Watch as Mel Tucker gives his comments on the further expansion in the Big Ten:

The landscape of the Big Ten and college football as a whole in changing, whether fans like it or not. Expansion and conference realignment is at the center of every collegiate sport discussion. It is confirmed that the Big Ten is adding USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington to the conference, but it may not end there, and the conference could look to add more teams.

Mel Tucker was asked about expansion in his latest press conference, and much to some fan’s dismay, talked about how he likes the expansion.

You can watch his full comments via X, formerly Twitter, courtesy of Spartans Illustrated:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

Nebraska AD makes statement that further conference expansion is expected

The Big Ten has been at the center of recent conference expansion and realignment, and it appears more changes will be coming

The Big Ten has been at the center of recent conference expansion and realignment, and it appears more changes will be coming.

Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts recently spoke with Amie Just of the Lincoln Journal Star about the recent moves the Big Ten has made in adding Oregon and Washington. As you should know by now, both the Ducks and Huskies will join the Big Ten along USC and UCLA in 2024. Those moves will push the Big Ten to 18 teams and from what Alberts told Just, it sounds like he expects that number to grow even bigger.

See in the tweet below how Alberts envisions the future of the Big Ten and how he expects more expansion to occur:

The statement from Alberts isn’t directly noting the Big Ten is actively looking to add more teams but really comes off as a warning to fans who aren’t happy about the recent moves. Alberts is essentially giving everyone a heads-up that they should expect more changes to come in the future.

We at Spartans Wire also expect more changes to occur within the Big Ten and even put out a list of potential schools the league will pursue. Check out that post below:

Who’s next for the Big Ten? Ranking schools the league may consider if expansion continues

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on Twitter @RobertBondy5.

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