Super Conferences

With all of the talk about what could happen with the Big Ten expansion and what would follow I think its time to talk about what I would like to see happen. I know this will affect every sport, but all that matters in college athletics at the end is football and men's basketball. We know how big hockey is Minnesota and a few other select areas, but expansion will not affect hockey at all. No offense to women's basketball, but other than a few select teams, not many people follow it, the money is all in two sports, and money talks. That being said, when expanding conferences we have to remember that while this is being done mainly for football, with basketball in mind, every sport will be affected. This is why I think it is crazy when I hear that Texas is being considered, and even more bonkers when I hear other schools from Texas being mentioned too. Is it worth the extra money a team like Texas would bring in if we had to pay for baseball, softball, soccer, gymnastics etc. etc. etc. to have to fly down to Texas for regular season games and meets? Is it really better for student athletes to have to fly to Texas instead of Indiana for a game? No. I know that part of the reason they are talking about those teams is because if they added four teams from the Big 12 they could be their own division and compete more in division to keep traveling down, but part of what I love about college sports is the regional competition. I love being from the Midwest and competing against the West Coast, the East Coast, the South. I love being called the meat and potato teams, the tough teams. I love going against the "speed" of the SEC, it makes for better conversations. So in my perfect world, the conferences would look a little like what follows.



Big Ten



The Big Ten is making the first move, so they should get to do pretty much what they want to. I've heard everything from adding four Big Twelve teams and Notre Dame to adding UConn, Syracuse, Rutgers, Pitt and Notre Dame. Neither of these scenarios makes any sense and neither do much for me. As I said, I love the regional feeling to conferences. I would however be open to one team stretching the conference if it were for a good reason. I would love to see the Big Ten add Notre Dame, Missouri, Pitt, Iowa State and then either Rutgers or Nebraska. Why Iowa State? Three reasons. First of all, it keeps the Big Ten more compact. It also keeps other conferences closer together. Iowa State is also a great educational university, something very important to the conference. Third, something that should not be overlooked, is Iowa State is a bit of a pushover. I know that everyone wants to be the best, but when you have 16 teams competing it is nice to have a few teams that are only going to compete every decade or two. It allows the powers of the conference to have a game on the schedule that they know will help propel them to a better chance at making the Championship game or eventually an at large bid into the tournament. I think Notre Dame is an obvious choice, Missouri brings a good market and solid football and basketball program in, Pittsburgh also has great programs and the location is ideal, then comes the choice between the New York market (which is not a big college market but is New York) and the prestige of Nebraska football. Personally I want Nebraska to bring another power into the conference. Sure the thought of New York is riveting, but real college football fans will turn on Nebraska vs OSU over Rutgers vs anyone, unless Rutgers was competing for a title. I know you can make the argument that in that case Rutgers should be taken over Iowa State, but again the location drives that addition. Also, if the Big Ten takes Nebraska and Missouri, Iowa State is almost out on an island, which means for the good of all conferences they should join. I know it's all about money, but I want what is best for all of college football and basketball, it would not be as compelling without the debate over which conference was the best, and of course if you add Notre Dame, Nebraska, Missouri and Pitt, the Big Ten would be the best conference, and Rutgers does not add anything but television sets. Unfortunately I think Rutgers will make it in, leaving Iowa State in the Big Twelve.



After the Big Ten adds Notre Dame, Missouri, Nebraska, Pitt and Rutgers the race would begin, and I think it would end with five Super Conferences.



The SEC would be next in line to choose teams, after all ESPN and the rest of the media has us believing that the Dolphins and Jaguars would be lucky to get an invite from the SEC. The SEC would take over Florida by adding South Florida, Miami and Florida State. They would then add Georgia Tech, East Carolina and Louisville, (I know, that's six, but Arkansas is making a move too)


The ACC and Big East would then be forced to join forces and become the dominant basketball conference, at least initially. Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, V Tech, West Virginia, Clemson, Boston College, Wake Forrest, Maryland, NC State, UCONN, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Memphis and Central Florida would become the eastern conference, whatever they want to call it. They would still need one team which could come from telling a school like Villanova to move their football program up to the FBS division, or from getting a smaller school like FIU or Southern Alabama to join.



The Big Twelve, having lost Nebraska and Missouri would add Arkansas, TCU, Houston, Colorado State, New Mexico and New Mexico State. Sure they would drop down a notch, but what can they do at this point but hope these schools can step up their level of competition.



The Pac Ten would be the final conference and would add BYU, Utah, Boise State, UNLV and Air Force. Sure they would like to add teams from the Big 12, but when your conference has the least to offer you end up picking up the scraps. Sorry Pac 10, but you will never be what the Big 10 and SEC are.