Big Ten Football: Options for expansion to 16, 18, 20, or 24 teams
By Ryan Kay
Georgia Tech from the ACC Conference
. . . Yellow Jackets . 20. team. 880
AAU Member: Yes
Top 30 Revenue School: No (#63)
Top 100 National University: Yes (#35)
Top 20 tv/streaming market: Yes (#7)
Criteria Score Card: 3/4
Miami from the ACC Conference
team. 834. . . . Hurricanes . 19
AAU Member: No
Top 30 Revenue School: Yes (#29)
Top 100 National University: Yes (#49)
Top 20 tv/streaming market: Yes (#18)
Criteria Score Card: 3/4
Oregon from the PAC 12 Conference
. Ducks . 18. team. 820. .
AAU Member: Yes
Top 30 Revenue School: Yes (#18)
Top 100 National University: No (#103)
Top 20 tv/streaming market: Yes (#21)
Criteria Score Card: 2/4
The Big Ten can realistically convince Georgia Tech to leave the ACC to join the Big Ten conference. The Yellowjackets have the No. 7 tv/streaming market, an AAU member, and good academics being a top 35 nationally ranked university.
The University of Miami may not be an AAU member but has ranked in the top 50 nationally academically and is a team that would bring some genuine excitement to Big Ten football. Having the Hurricanes along with Georgia Tech would allow the Big Ten to open the door to expanding its conference in the southeastern portion of the United States.
Oregon is just outside being a top 100 academically nationally ranked university and one spot away from being in a top 20 tv/streaming market. The Ducks like the Hurricanes would bring an exciting brand of football to the Big Ten.
Oregon is a top 20 athletic revenue-generating school backed by the company Nike and adding the Ducks to the Big Ten seems doable and not impossible.