Quote from: B1G41
The 'RICH' will always be richer...unless something major happens to upset the Status Quo.
The solution for this issue along with the playoff selections will come to a head with the next TV contracts. It may need be fully resolved at that point but EVENTUALLY...
I think there will likely be a POWER4 with the G5 left behind as an entity of their own. Then the 4 champions will always face each other in the playoff and that will be it.
For the B1G to expand to the 16, they have more difficulties to overcome than the other conferences. The current rules state that ANY expansion has to come from within the current footprint states OR states that border that footprint of states. Unless that changes; OU and Texas cannot join.
Also, there are fairly strict rules about academics that had to be 'worked around' already to get Nebraska in; and except from a Football viewpoint, Nebraska has been a more questionable addition than Rutgers! (I know most of us focus on football only on this board, but that's the reality!)
The Big 12 and SEC have no concern about borders or academics, just competition for eyeballs; so they will find it easier to accommodate any school that may want to merge.
The B1Gs best bets are Virginia and Missouri...but there is no good reason for them to leave their current conferences unless ALL the TV deals get re-done AND the other 4 work with the B1G to smooth things out. I'm not so sure that's likely at present!
A lot of Dogma here that has since been proven inaccurate.
"ANY expansion has to come from within the current footprint states OR states that border that footprint of states."
Delany has flat out said they no longer adhere to the continuous footprint clause, and that the conference is out for the best fit program.
"strict rules about academics"
This has also been downgraded to a preference by Delany. The B1G wants the best fit for the conference. And that can mean a lot of things.
I've mentioned several times I think Missouri and Virginia Tech would be great additions.
I see Missouri having a lot in common with Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois making them a cultural fit. Missouri openly campaigned for access to the B1G, and if the athletic money approximately the same I really think Missouri would prefer to have access to the Academic Big Ten. And if B1G would put Missouri in the "West" They would prefer that to being in the SEC East.
Virginia Tech I would argue has more common with B1G than Virginia. And Culturally seems to come across alot like PSU, OSU and Maryland. UV has a Southern Cultural (I would call it a Southern M*ch*g*n, and nobody wants more UM around here.) VT has an Appalachian one. Both are large land grant Universities with a focus on Graduate Research. VT, has much shorter history with the ACC and only had UV and a couple of Big East transplants as rivals. UV has many more southern rivals. And if Football is the driving force (Hint: it is) VT's history and passion for the Hookies appears to far eclipse that of UV. Either school would be a fine addition I just think VT is a better one
All told the B1G is getting the biggest piece of Pie for the next 6 years.
"According to Wilner’s projections for 2018, distributions of more than $50 million would give the Big Ten a sizable revenue advantage over schools from the SEC (approximately $43 million each), the Big 12 ($36.5 million), the Pac-12 ($32 million) and the ACC ($28 million)."
