Who In The World Would’ve Been the Big Ten’s 12th Team?

By Adam Kiefaber

Last week, the Big Ten was supposedly thinking of adding a 12th team to its league by August 30th.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has now said that the idea is on the “back burner” and that it could be a “long-term possibility.”

On Tuesday at the Big Ten Media Day, Delany said, “You might [have thought] that the Big Ten was announcing it was going to expand, and really that was not the case. Every three to five years we look at expansion and we’ll continue to do that.”

The story stemmed from the comment Delany made to the Des Moines (Iowa) Register, “I think we need to look at it [expansion] in the next year. “The broader (the Big Ten Network) is distributed, the more value (expansion) has. We have eight states. With expansion, you could have nine.”

So, Delany might have been thinking of his baby (Big Ten Network) again, which seems to be an obsessing thought for the commissioner.

My question is, who in the world would’ve been the Big Ten’s 12th team?

The two schools brought up the most are Rutgers and Syracuse of the Big East Conference. Other names that were being thrown around were Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, West Virginia and Louisville.

You have to figure that the first place Delany would look is in the Big East Conference. Also, remember what he wanted, “We have eight states. With expansion, you could have nine.”

Okay that rules out Pittsburgh and Cincinnati of the Big East. Their football teams might not be ready to compete yet in the Big Ten, however the schools would be able to build up their teams and rivalries. Cincinnati has been on the Ohio State schedule many times in recent years. Also, Pittsburgh and Penn State could be a nice matchup.

Louisville and West Virginia are good enough to compete for a Big Ten title right now, but who knows if they would want to leave. A move to the Big Ten could hurt the recruiting those teams receive. I know that seems crazy, but Penn State legendary coach Joe Paterno has complained ever since his team entered the Big Ten (in ‘93) that many in-state recruits were being lost to Big Ten staples Ohio State and Michigan.

Rutgers makes sense, since it is in a different state and has a successful football program. However, the football program hasn’t been successful for a long period of time. The school’s basketball program is average at best. If Rutgers would join the Big Ten, they could get beat up in football up by the big-four teams in Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan. All of sudden, Rutgers rise to respectability will be derailed and they will become the Rutgers of old.

Syracuse? This team is expected to finish last in the Big East this season. The school has the tradition similar to that of a Big Ten school. Great basketball program and a rich running-back history. However, the football program finished 4-8 last season and 1-10 in ‘05. Syracuse could be the only school that might want to go to the Big Ten, since it has every thing to gain and nothing to lose since the team is already a loser.

Kevin Weiberg joined the Big Ten Network, after he had left his position as the Big 12 commissioner. That is how the rumors began about Nebraska and Colorado entering the Big Ten. The conference would love the addition of Nebraska, however it is hard to believe that they would leave their already established rivalries. However, a move for Nebraska to the Big Ten is not out of the question. My guess is the Big Ten tried to get Nebraska and failed, that is why Delany is trying to play it cool. I don’t know how Colorado fits.

Missouri was brought up for two reasons. First is, the Big 12 connection and second it would add another state to add to the Big Ten. It fits the Big Ten’s midwest layout, you would have Missouri fitting snug in there with Iowa and Illinois.

Many people don’t want the expansion since Notre Dame doesn’t want anything to do with it. Also, because it would depreciate the value of the last game of the season. Mainly it would hurt the national audience that tunes in for the Michigan-Ohio State game.

The expansion would give the Big Ten a championship game and it would place teams in two separate divisions.

Personally, if they would add a team to the Big Ten you would have to be happy with Louisville, West Virginia or Nebraska. Also, I wouldn’t mind seeing Cincinnati or Pittsburgh in there. Missouri and Colorado just wouldn’t look right. However, Missouri fits geographically and is expected to have a good season this year. Rutgers isn’t ready. Syracuse would never be ready.

Other names I’ll throw out there (just for fun):
Kentucky: Football team is improving, but the basketball tradition will keep them in the SEC. However, if I were the Wildcats I would want to get away from the Florida Gators and they could be a nice fit in the Big Ten.
Memphis: Not close to being ready on the football front, however like Syracuse they would start to see better recruiting classes just by being in the Big Ten. Main reason for the team to join is that they have no real competition in basketball as part of the C-USA.
An Ohio or Michigan MAC Team: None of these teams are Big Ten ready, but could complete with the lower half of the conference. The state of Texas has the Longhorns, Texas A&M and Texas Tech and each perform well year in and year out in the Big 12. Also the conference has Baylor, which is a team that continues to improve. Why not put another Ohio team in the Big Ten. Toledo, Akron, Miami (OH), Bowling Green or Ohio would love to make the jump. Any of which will struggle from the start, but eventually the team will be able to steal a few recruits from Ohio State and be able to compete for a title once in every 10 or so years. Just not to be biased, they could add a Michigan team in either Western Michigan, Central Michigan or Eastern Michigan.