Md and Rutgers to the Big Ten?

[SFP]

Right now the ACC in non-football sports will have 15 teams in a 3x5 pod setup.

South: Miami, FSU, GT, Clemson, one of the NC schools
Mid: Virginia, VT, the other NC schools
North: BC, ND, Syracuse, Pitt, ???

Maryland is the last piece in that puzzle. Since you really can't send a VA or NC team north, it has to be Maryland. This setup would tear Maryland away from all their natural rivals in the non-football sports. I wouldn't be surprised if this triggered everything.

Rutgers, on the other hand, would do anything to escape the Big East. The Big 10 would be a massive bonus to them.

I believe you hit the nail on the head. Maryland has always and even more so lately feel like the redheaded step child. ACC and all their moves have been about NC and Duke.

On GT moving to the Big Ten I doubt it. Yes it would be a great fit but Geographically GA is not continuous to any Big Ten team. What I could see is UVA and Vanderbilt becoming the 15th and 16th team later on.

Big Ten then could split their conference.

East
MD
PSU
Rutgers
UVA
Vanderbilt
OSU
MSU
Michigan

West
Indiana
Illinois
Wisky
NW
Purdue
Iowa
Nebraska
Minn

[TheAsianSensation]

I don't know if the Big 10 can tear Virginia away from the ACC like they did Maryland. I actually think their prizes are (in no particular order) Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia Tech. Which is why I'm a bit surprised they're adding Rutgers right now, I thought they'd try to pry loose some other ACC teams first. Maybe they already did try behind the scenes and failed.

As for geography in major conferences, West Virginia disproves everything. I think Ga Tech would take the shot.

[SFP]

I'm reading The Washington Post and the majority of the posts are pro-Big Ten! The ACC has been very NC centric and UVA I'm sure feels the same way. MD is a much bigger prize then UVA when it comes to the media market. UVA will though could expand the market and it is on par with Michigan when it comes to academics. As a prize in the ACC? Besides academics I'm sure the NC schools really care less.

TAS- OK re-read your post. I'd have to believe UVA would be the prize because of its Geographic location. Every Big Ten school is geographically connected.

[BUBalum05]

Big Ten then could split their conference.

East
MD
PSU
Rutgers
UVA
Vanderbilt
OSU
MSU
Michigan

West
Indiana
Illinois
Wisky
NW
Purdue
Iowa
Nebraska
Minn

Big Ten would never split East/West due to the imbalance the East holds in football.

Unrelated to the divisions, I do like that I can watch Big Ten team in person only about 20 minutes away in College Park now!

[Gary the Gargoyle]

Word is, Illinois will be flipped to join Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern, Nebraska, Michigan, and Michigan St., while Maryland and Rutgers will be added to Wisconsin, tOSU, Penn St., Indiana, and Purdue.

I like Illinois and Iowa playing every year.

[SFP]

Big Ten would never split East/West due to the imbalance the East holds in football.

Unrelated to the divisions, I do like that I can watch Big Ten team in person only about 20 minutes away in College Park now!

I bet Nebraska and Wisconsin would see this differently and the SEC has an imbalance that has not hurt them.

[Braves4Life]

ESPN is reporting that Louisville will replace Maryland in the ACC. That's an upgrade or the ACC, IMO.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8685541/acc-votes-add-louisville-cardinals-source-says

[amckillip]

ESPN is reporting that Louisville will replace Maryland in the ACC. That's an upgrade or the ACC, IMO.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/st...ls-source-says

An upgrade in basketball and football as of late, a definite downgrade in academics, though I think the Big Ten may be the only one who is in the least bit concerned with that.

[JMM28]

Creeping ever closer to MVC implications. If the Big East basketball schools decide to do something, it could start reaching out to the Creightons of the world.

[tornado]

interesting -- as a very similar Jesuit school in a larger market, Saint Louis - did jump to an eastern-based conference and there has been gnashing of teeth ever since...

http://www.bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5436

http://saintlouis.scout.com/2/941553.html

[SFP]

ESPN is reporting that Louisville will replace Maryland in the ACC. That's an upgrade or the ACC, IMO.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/st...ls-source-says

Academics, market demographic, all other sports, national reputation, natural fit for the ACC, Louisville only had a few years of success in football and MD has the backing of Under Armour which should pay off some dividends the next few years. If that is an upgrade for you then I'd have to believe its sour grapes from being an ACC fan.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

Creeping ever closer to MVC implications. If the Big East basketball schools decide to do something, it could start reaching out to the Creightons of the world.

Wouldn't it be easier for the Big East to poach the A10 first?

[SFP]

Wouldn't it be easier for the Big East to poach the A10 first?

No because of the TV markets. Most of the A10 are out in the east coast in markets where they have schools already.

[ChewaBrave]

Academics, market demographic, all other sports, national reputation, natural fit for the ACC, Louisville only had a few years of success in football and MD has the backing of Under Armour which should pay off some dividends the next few years. If that is an upgrade for you then I'd have to believe its sour grapes from being an ACC fan.

Full disclosure, I'm a native of Louisville and have been a fan all my life. But Louisville has a pretty solid program across all sports. Louisville has some of the best facilities in the country, as well as a substantial budget - the UofL Athletics budget surpasses every team in the ACC. It is hard to make an argument that Maryland is stronger in 'secondary sports' when they are actively shutting down scholarship sports programs because of funding issues (they cut 7 scholarship sports recently). As well, they are planning to save money further by shutting down lacrosse when they enter the Big Ten. They left the ACC because of financial problems, so the financial power of underarmor as a bargaining chip doesn't seem all that impressive. I understand that UnderArmor wants maryland to be their "Oregon", the problem is that Oregon is actually good at football.

Financially, and on of the field performance as of late in target sports, both point to Louisville as an upgrade.

But i'm biased.

[TheAsianSensation]

No because of the TV markets. Most of the A10 are out in the east coast in markets where they have schools already.

Butler
St Louis
Xavier and Dayton (if Cincy bolts someday)
Richmond/VCU
UMass
Duquesne

They have new markets to tap.