Changing the Big 10

Minnesota reacts to the news
Minnesota president Joan Gabel and AD Mark Coyle have issued the following statements about today’s news:

Gabel: “The additions of USC and UCLA align perfectly with the Big Ten’s academic and athletic culture. These are two of the most prestigious institutions in the nation and they are grounded in education and research. We are excited about future athletic competition and academic collaboration between 16 of the finest universities in the country.”

Coyle: “I am excited for USC and UCLA to join the Big Ten and for our student-athletes to be able to compete in league play against the Trojans and the Bruins. USC and UCLA are two of the best and most competitive athletic departments in the nation and their presence will bolster the entire conference. These additions will also greatly enhance the student-athlete experience, expand the conference footprint from coast-to-coast and provide fans with compelling matchups and new travel destinations. This is an exciting day for Minnesota, USC, UCLA and the Big Ten.”

Just another stepping stone in forming a super conference of the haves vs have nots.

Oh well. College sports were fun while they lasted.

I never want to hear the word integrity or the phrase “student athlete” come out of a Big 10 university’s presidents mouth ever again. This is a pure money grab.

Are they going to be forced to start Hockey programs. LOL

They were saying on KFAN yesterday that eventually there are only going to be two college football conferences: the SEC and the Big 10.

Apparently these schools don’t give a rip about geography and travel costs. Its all about the TV contracts.

On the bright side, your boy Fleck will get to play at the Rose Bowl! The ACC and rest of the PAC 12 will be scrambling to get a seat at the table. Maybe once it’s down to just the SEC and Big 10 they will rename conferences to the Union and umm South…

While I am a big Gopher fan, joining the player led NIL Club (Name, Image, and Likeness) for $199 to hang with the Gopher football team ain’t happening.

gimruis wrote:

They were saying on KFAN yesterday that eventually there are only going to be two college football conferences: the SEC and the Big 10.

Apparently these schools don’t give a rip about geography and travel costs. Its all about the TV contracts.

X2

This changes a lot obviously. As I get older I really try not to be one of those people who complains about things just because they’re a change (those dang cell phones and video games and rap music! Country ain’t country anymore!)

These changes will, however, remove a lot of what we’re used to. Might be hard to keep regional rivalry games as significant. New, spread out conferences will definitely make CFB conferences a national thing now. USC and UCLA gonna kick off at 11am at Penn State or Rutgers? We gonna see the Gophers or Wisconsin kick off at 9pm in California?

It will be interesting. I understand all the comments about money-grabs, TV deals, etc. but that all became a reality along time ago. I also used to be one who touted the phrase “it’s STUDENT-athlete” but I’ve come to accept that’s not reality anymore. Things have changed and will continue to change, mostly centered around money, and that’s capitalism at work in America. The demand is there and they’re maximizing it.

gimruis wrote:

They were saying on KFAN yesterday that eventually there are only going to be two college football conferences: the SEC and the Big 10.

Apparently these schools don’t give a rip about geography and travel costs. Its all about the TV contracts.

This is exactly what is happening. It’s a race for teams that consider themselves true Tier 1 teams to get into conferences where they perceive all of the other real Tier 1 teams are playing.

When the split comes and a super division is formed nobody wants to be the team that is stuck in a conference with Southern Dickweed State and Western Central Southern Appalachian Christian trying to convince the people in charge that they really are deserving of a place in the new super division based on their strength of schedule.

Follow the money.

You know they are going to realign the divisions again. The west will most likely move Purdue and one of the Illinois teams to the east and add the Kalifornia teams.

Not that it is likely now but this means that Minnesota,and Nebraska will never compete for a conference or even division title, especially in football.

blackbay wrote:

Not that it is likely now but this means that Minnesota,and Nebraska will never compete for a conference or even division title, especially in football.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but prior to this recent announcement adding two teams from California, the Big 10 Championship was altered moving forward anyways. Instead of having the winner from the east versus the winner of the west, they are going to simply take the two best teams, regardless of which division they’re in.

What does this mean? Its very likely going to be a combination of Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Sparty, and maybe Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship moving forward. The Gophers now have to compete with every single other team instead of just Iowa and Wisconsin to make the Big 10 Championship.

Saw this online and figured there’s a pretty decent chance it happens, the Big 20:

West: UCLA, USC, Oregon, Wash, Stanford
Midwest: Neb, Iowa, Wisco, MN, NW
Great Lakes: Michigan, Mich St, Ohio State Tech College, Illinois, Indiana
East: Penn St, Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue, NOTRE DAME

I actually kind of like this, and have a 4 team playoff for the Big 20 Championship to go on and play the SEC champ for the Natty.

BigWerm wrote:

I actually kind of like this, and have a 4 team playoff for the Big 20 Championship to go on and play the SEC champ for the Natty.

That’s an interesting concept because there’s definitely a demand for a more expanded playoff system. The CFP has discussed expanding but always finds an excuse not to. If the CFP continues to drag their feet their loss could be major conferences’ gain. If the “Big 20” were to have a 4-team playoff they’d have 3 playoff games to generate a lot of revenue from, and it would be pretty fun to watch.

Dan wrote:

The CFP has discussed expanding but always finds an excuse not to.

Yeah the ironic thing is if the NCAA had any forward thinking leaders, they would have instituted a similar playoff system as they use in all the other divisions years ago, and most of this Conference realignment bs would have never happened.

It is kind of hard to get up for a Bowl Game between a 7-5 team and a 6-6 one.

Miac should be looking pretty tempting to Fleck.

I think it sucks.College sports is slowly circling the drain like most of the pro sports did.

I first gave up on all pro sports exc NHL about 10+ years ago. NHL 2 years ago when I went to a $140 a month satellite pkg with a 2 year contract to get my hockey. Only to have them drop it 3 months into the contract. Watched some college for a few years. Last few I’ve been watching a lot more High School and under sports. Being in a small rural community. The players still put their hands over their hearts for the anthem, shake hands after the game, and can even participate in a prayer before the game if they choose. I’ll trade good behavior and sportsmanship over overpaid athletes bitching how American did them wrong. Paying them 10s of millions of dollars with a high school diploma or less. But good luck running from corruption in organized sports. Watch the Little League World series. When the pitcher has to shave during the 7th inning stretch.