Big 10 Expansion: This One Goes to Eleven - but should go to twelve...

With the current state of college football contracts and the post-season shake-out, it's time to realistically look at the Big Ten expanding. This issue is not new, in fact it's been in the air for years (in mean, PSU joined as the eleventh team almost 20 years ago), but it's always been a back-burner concern. However, every year, CFb becomes more and more a big business with records, coaches, bowl bids, championship games, and most profitably, conference revenue and TV contracts, forming the foundations of the industry. The wind has changed and the Big-10 knows it. The question is, what will they do about it?

Joe Paterno has been calling for expanding as quickly as possible, expressing his concern that the longer layoff has been hurting B10 teams. While other big time programs are playing into December, B10 teams are done by T'giving. "Everybody else is playing playoffs on television," Paterno said, and he's right. Playing longer keeps teams in playing shape and, most importantly, a bigger conference would mean a Championship Game - something Big-10 fans would embrace with as much fervor as their SEC counterparts.

Jim Delany, B10 commish, seems hesitant, though. "Just because you have a championship doesn't make you more competitive. ..The SEC game has been a marketing bonanza. I wouldn't discount that. But others have struggled with it." And, he's right. The ACC, MAC and CUSA have not built the excitement the SEC has. But, I think Delany's fears are unfounded. The Big-1o fan base would be as open and supportive of a CG as people in the south or in Big-12 country.

Beyond CG marketing and profit, expansion would strengthen the Big-10's claim at being an elite conference and in addition to their already extensive TV contract, could open a new market or two. Which, while certainly important in ratings and popularity, is absolutely necessary in recruiting.

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Now we get to the fun part of this conversation: Who, then, should the Big 10 add to fill out the conference ranks? This could be easily decided if the Minnesota State Screaming Eagles were, in fact, a real team, but their non-existence could prove difficult in filling out a stadium. So, who? Well, let's explore the possibilities.

Notre Dame: This is the most obvious choice, but maybe the least likely to happen...right now, anyway. Face it: The Irish don't need a conference as much as the Big10 needs Notre Dame. While they're a perfect fit, they won't go easily or quickly. I feel Delany's aforementioned hesitance is rooted in patience and not fear. ND has an independent TV contract that's up for renegs soon and many think that could send them looking for a league to call home. If so, I'd bet the commish wants to have a spot open and a welcome mat out and, until then, is happy to dodge and dance around the issue. Next.

Raiding Neighboring Conferences: This, if looking to expand expeditiously, would be the B10's best bet.

The MAC: The team that joins has to be on par with the rest of the league and these little brothers aren't the way to go. Even Northwestern wins 10 games once in a while, I doubt the same could be said for a directional Michigan playing with the bigs. We need to look at other BCS conferences if we're going to got this route.

The Big East:
Cincinnati is right in the heart of B10 country, but what will they really add? I'd bet the Bucks like having the state on lock and the league needs to look for geographic and market expansion with their new addition.

Pitt - If the Panthers were bigger or better, or it was 1981, this would be a no brainer. But, the Fightin' 'Staches aren't a powerhouse or a traditional program anymore, and the Nits already dominate this market. As such, Pitt would be relegated to a 3rd or 4th choice. It would be nice to see PSU-Pitt kick-up again regularly, though.
West Virginia - New Market? Check. Competitive? Check. In fact, on the surface, WVU seems like a fine choice to flesh out the old Western league. But, there's just something about them that doesn't quite fit properly. They're too much Appalachian and not enough Rust Belt. Also, I would bet that the B10 would like to keep their academic profile where it is - the top of FBS - and the 'Neers would definitely put a damper on that.

Rutgers or Syracuse? These teams just don't say "Big Ten" to me. They're too far east and as such are perfect where they are.

OK, granted this is a long shot, but what if the old timers raided their nearest big-time BCS neighbor, the Big-12? Who would likely be the juiciest (yet somewhat attainable) targets?

Iowa State - This would make the Hawkeye-Cyclone in-state rivalry more important as now it would be a league game. You don''t get a new market or any real geographic gain, much like the Pitt option, but unlike that choice, this rivalry is still played regularly and remains intense, enough pros to make it easy for the B10 to look the other way on all the cons.
Missouri - The Tigers have never really seemed to belong to the Big-12 and the state does fit nicely into a geographic nook right under Iowa and beside Illinois. Not only that, but if this was a league game, then the high flying Tiger-Illini series wouldn't have to end in 2010 and the Big10 would gain a HUGE market in St. Louis. Another fine choice.

Who Else?

Navy has been hinted at, and while they'll add to the twin pillars of tradition and academics, they lack the chops to hang regularly with the Ohio States of the world. Not only that, but Annapolis is a bit too far away (see Big East above) and despite their location, the Middies don't bring the DC or Baltimore markets with them. A resounding Meh at this.

More mehs for Marshall, Kentucky and Lousiville (see WVU).

In the end, we all know that Notre Dame is the best fit, but it's just not going to happen quickly enough. Expansion is inevitable. Joe Pa knows it, I know it, and you know it. The Tillers and Tressels can cry foul on the idea and Delany can drag his feet waiting on the Irish to realize it's meant to be, but in the end, it's bigger than all of them. The Big-10 will expand sooner rather than later as TV money and fan bases demand it and if they want to thrive, they'll need to begin taking a proactive stance on it now.

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GAWD DAMN IT!!! Bleacher Report posted a peice yesterday on this same exact issue. I guess it's on everybody's mind right now. I should have just sucked it up and finished this post Wednesday when I started on it.