Big Ten Football: Options for expansion to 16, 18, 20, or 24 teams
By Ryan Kay
The Big Ten does put a big emphasis on the school’s academic standing and prestige when looking at possible schools to add for conference expansion but a school’s football program and the emphasis put on promoting the school’s football program matters as well.
Boston College is a member of the ACC Conference
team. 826. . . . Eagles .
AAU Member: No
Top 30 Revenue School: No (#62)
Top 100 Academic National University: Yes (#35)
Top 20 tv/streaming market: Yes (#10)
Criteria Score Card: 2/4
On paper, Boston College looks great as a possible alternative to Notre Dame but unlike the Fighting Irish, the Eagles don’t generate anywhere near the revenue that Notre Dame’s football program does and does have the same fan/alum following as well. Boston College is not an AAU member but like Wake Forest has great academics. They also are in a prime tv/streaming market but with the Big Ten adding Rutgers and even Maryland, it is highly unlikely that the Big Ten would add a school from the northeast in this round of expansion.
Vanderbilt from the SEC Conference
. . Commodores . . team. 887.
AAU Member: Yes
Top 30 Revenue School: No (#60)
Top 100 Academic National University: Yes (#14)
Top 20 tv/streaming market: No (#29)
Criteria Score Card: 2/4
The first issue for Vanderbilt is that the SEC wants to keep the Commodores in the conference. The second issue would be, is Vanderbilt interesting in playing in a predominately northern conference in which the schools are further from them in comparison to fellow SEC schools? Third, the Big Ten already has Northwestern and Vanderbilt’s revenue in is bottom tier among power five schools and the Nashville market is not as big as you may believe. It is not an impossibility for Vanderbilt to receive an invitation to the Big Ten if it were to expand to 24 teams but it is unlikely.
Virginia Tech is a member of the ACC Conference
. team. 847. . . . Hokies
AAU Member: No
Top 30 Revenue School: No (#38)
Top 100 Academic National University: Yes (#74)
Top 20 tv/streaming market: No (#56)
Criteria Score Card: 1/4
Virginia Tech is similar to Oklahoma State but with better academics and is located in a more populated state. The Hokies like the Cowboys are competitive in football and they do have a decent basketball program as well. Being in the south and expanding the Big Ten footprint is a plus but an AAU school like Virginia would be a more likely option for the Big Ten. The Hokies may be a more viable option for the SEC if it was to expand to 24 teams.