The Big Ten has gone on an expansion spree over the last couple of years, adding UCLA and USC last offseason, then bringing Oregon and Washington on just over a year later. The so-called “Big Ten” now sits at 18 teams and nobody would be surprised if a couple of more programs joined the conference before all the dust settles on this college football extreme makeover.
But the four teams that were 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 and double its namesake, but 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 is currently an AAU member (including those from the West Coast), aside from Nebraska that was when it joined the league. We have a list of those institutions here if you are interested.
- The Big Ten won’t expand for sake of conference imperialism, but if there’s an opportunity there to grab a part of 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 ten most likely programs 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.
10
Clemson Tigers
Why joining makes sense
Going after Clemson would simply be a power move for on-the-field football performance. Sometimes you just go out and get a great football program despite all the other things that play into it for the added exposure and money that comes with the biggest revenue sport there is. It would enhance the power and exposure of the Big Ten immediately.
Why it doesn’t make sense
It feels a lot like fitting a Dabo Swinney shaped peg into a mis proportioned hole. It makes almost zero sense academically and culturally, and there’s not really much to be gained market wise unless the Big Ten just wants to get into the South. Oh yeah, and the ACC Grant of Rights deal is something you are going to hear a lot throughout this as a roadblock.
9
Pittsburgh Panthers
Why joining makes sense
Pittsburgh is a Buckeye nut’s throw to the Big Ten’s legacy footprint already and would have the natural rivalry with Penn State. Academically, it’s a fit too with the university being an AAU member.
Why it doesn’t make sense
Again, you’ll hear this throughout with all the ACC teams. Someone is going to have to challenge the Grant of Rights deal all the teams are locked in, and it will likely be a significant cost if and when it happens. Pitt doesn’t have much in terms of revenue to do it, and the Big Ten isn’t really gaining much market-share wise.
8
California Bears
Why joining makes sense
AAU member? Check. Getting into the San Francisco Bay area television market? Check again. There’s some things that definitely make sense to bring Cal into the fold with culture and having another team on the West Coast for the other four that just joined.
Why it doesn’t make sense
There’s not much in the way of fan draw here. If you’ve ever been out in the Bay area, it’s a heavy pro sports town and the college game doesn’t move the needle much. Plus, Cal was a bit irritated by one of its satellite schools, UCLA, joining the conference, so there would have to be a few come to Jesus meetings.
7
Stanford Cardinal
Why joining makes sense
Academically and culturally it makes a lot of sense. Obviously, having Stanford in the Big Ten would be great for all those Olympic sports and anyone looking for one of the finest academic institutions.
Why it doesn’t make sense
If it were a homerun fit, it would have happened already. There are likely some of the same things in play with Stanford as there is with Cal, and this wouldn’t be seen as an appealing team that would increase revenue for the Big Ten.
6
Miami Hurricanes
Why joining makes sense
Miami would get the Big Ten into the largest Florida market and bring on a program that could turn into one of the best in the country again if it can figure things out. The institution was just newly crowned an AAU member as well, and you’d have another private school to boost the things academically.
Why it doesn’t make sense
It would feel a little off because Miami feels like a better fit in the SEC, academics aside. And yeah, you are probably getting tired of hearing it, but it’s another ACC program and that means getting out of the Grant of Rights deal somehow, someway. There are also some things that come along with being a private school that would have to be sorted out.
5
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Why joining makes sense
Culturally, academically, and sports performance wise, this has, and will continue to make the most sense of any other institution that’s not already a part of the Big Ten. To be fair, the Irish are a better fit than some of the teams that have been a part of the conference for a long time. At some point, it feels like Notre Dame will have to finally give in and join a conference or be left behind money-wise.
Why it doesn’t make sense
I struggles with where to put Notre Dame, but the reality is that there are some longstanding issues between the Big Ten and the Irish. For whatever reason, both have told each other to go pound sand at times, and with Notre Dame now aligned somewhat loosely what the ACC, and the independent status pride, there’s a lot to work through. If it hasn’t happened by now, how does it? Can Ross and Rachel please finally get together?
4
Duke Blue Devils
Why joining makes sense
For starters, Duke is indeed an AAU member and one whale of a school academically. And while its football program hasn’t been the best on the field historically, it is one of the ten biggest fanbases according to a recent study. Additionally, if we’re going to rank one certain program higher, can we really leave out the Blue Devils? It would also prop up the basketball pedigree of the league significantly.
Why it doesn’t make sense
Though Duke has a big and loyal following, there’s not much revenue that will come with this addition. It gets the league into the fast growing Raleigh-Durham area, but Duke is an ACC school through and through. There’s a lot of pride there and yes — the Grant of Rights deal that would be hard to walk away from.
3
Florida State Seminoles
Why joining makes sense
There is no question that Florida State wants out of the ACC and has its eyes on some bigger paydays with the Big Ten or SEC. Though not a part of the AAU, the university does have a lot of research funding and academic things in common with schools in the Big Ten. Performance wise in athletics, most notably on the gridiron, would also be very, very appealing.
Why it doesn’t make sense
If any program might challenge the Grant of Rights thing, it could be FSU. Still, it’s an obstacle. The Big Ten would also have to get over the school not being a part of the AAU, and the SEC might get in an arms race with the conference if it too decides to expand further.
2
Virginia Cavaliers
Why joining makes sense
There’s a lot to like about Virginia and the cultural fit. It gives the Big Ten another school on the East Coast, brings in an AAU member, and could become a rival for schools like Maryland and Penn State. There have been reports of Virginia being eyed by the Big Ten for a long time, even when Nebraska, Maryland, and Rutgers joined the league.
Why it doesn’t make sense
There’s not a ton of appeal for future revenue deals, and the sports performance isn’t the best of other programs out there. As one of the flagship schools of the ACC, it might be hard to leave that seat at the table.
1
North Carolina Tar Heels
Why joining makes sense
This is a very underrated fit for the Big Ten. The conference would love to get a school that aligns culturally and academically, and I’m not sure there’s a better fit still out there that combines AAU membership, academic profile, sports performance, following, and breaking into a new market more than UNC.
Why it doesn’t make sense
Is there another school more “ACC” than North Carolina? There are deep rivalries established with teams like Duke and NC State, and it might be hard to pull away from the pride of “Tobacco Road” and what those schools mean to the region and each other. Would UNC leave without it being a packaged deal, and would it want to challenge the Grant of Rights deal in place currently with the league?
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
