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I previously posted on this thread that the Big 12 had a clause in their TV contracts that gave them more cash if new teams joined the Big 12, and that what I read online is that the Big Ten's contracts did not have such a clause.

Well -- Ohio State's Gene Smith just let the cat out of the bag -- Fox Sports paid more to allow Oregon and Washington to come into the Big Ten receiving $30-35M per year, less than the full share of the other Big Ten teams, until the TV contracts expire circa 2029 as I recall. Ohio State AD Gene Smith says Fox paid the tab to bring Oregon, Washington to Big Ten (msn.com)

I saw that too and it just ticked me off more.

Oregon is pretty clearly the better addition from a TV Ratings perspective over THIS contract (through 2028ish). Thus, the TV people who are only tied to this for the current contract preferred them.

For our league (Petitti's job) and the members thereof (Gene Smith's and others jobs) this is NOT just a 5-7 year deal. It is permanent. 

The home of the Big Ten Conference Football championship game may no longer be solely Indianapolis.

Des Moines-based radio show "Miller and Condon" reports that future Big Ten title games will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

"I think that the Big Ten football people are getting very, very close — in fact, maybe dotting I's and crossing T's — that the Big Ten Football championship is coming to Las Vegas," Ken Miller said Thursday from a remote broadcast from Las Vegas. "Potentially twice in the next five years."

I have given up on Tradition, so I am ok with this.  I can get a cheap flight to Vegas and see the game live. I already do that for some pro games. 

It was a long drive to Indy (9 1/2 hours) but, I'm not driving to Vegas

many Husker fans would drive (only 18 hrs from Lincoln)

CCGs have no real tradition anyway, so I certainly never cared where they were played.  I liked the ones that were close enough to drive, and when they rotated further away I was fine watching them on TV.

I agree on this.  The only issue is for fans following their team.  If you are going just to go, you can plan that months or even years in advance.  However, if you were say a Michigan or Ohio State fan last year, you didn't know whether or not your team would be in until their game ended which means that you only have <a week to plan your trip.  That can make airfare tricky but being in Vegas would probably help with that anyway.  

Indianapolis was nice in the pre-West Coast B1G because it was reasonably drivable for everybody.  It is pretty far from Rutgers but Rutgers' lack of appearances makes that a moot point.  In terms of schools that actually made it:

• 6 appearances, tOSU is 2:44, 179mi.  
• 6 appearances, UW is 5:31, 373mi (shorter but takes longer via Chicago, this is via Bloomington, IL)
• 3 appearances, MSU is 3:56, 260mi.  
• 2 appearances, M is 4:07, 268mi.  
• 2 appearances, IA is 5:26, 368mi.  
• 2 appearances, NU is 4:07, 202mi.  
• 1 appearance, PU is 1:29, 72mi.  
• 1 appearance, PSU is 7:42, 500mi.  
• 1 appearance, UNL is 9:41, 643mi.  

Among teams that have made more than one appearance the longest trip is about five-and-a-half hours from either Iowa City or Madison to Indianapolis.  That is a long drive but possible to do Friday after work or split between Friday after work and Saturday morning then have plenty of time in Indy before the game Saturday night, then drive home on Sunday and that is an easily achievable drive for Sunday even if you are up pretty late celebrating (or otherwise) on Saturday night.  

It was a long drive to Indy (9 1/2 hours) but, I'm not driving to Vegas

many Husker fans would drive (only 18 hrs from Lincoln)

I imagine this would depend a lot even for instate fans on exactly where in Nebraska one lives.  

Lincoln, as you said, is 18 hours and Omaha (where a substantial portion of the state's population lives) is about 19.  If you lived in extreme western Nebraska you'd only be ~13 hours from Vegas.  

I imagine this would depend a lot even for instate fans on exactly where in Nebraska one lives. 

Lincoln, as you said, is 18 hours and Omaha (where a substantial portion of the state's population lives) is about 19.  If you lived in extreme western Nebraska you'd only be ~13 hours from Vegas. 

I was shocked by the number of fans that drove from Nebraska to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl in 2001

Wait, didn't that happen?

He forgot to add the words...

Or any team from the old Western Division,  ever again after 2023