Big Ten Football: Options for expansion to 16, 18, 20, or 24 teams

Texas A&M and Florida are two schools that the Big Ten would love to have

Florida and Texas A&M are two high-profile schools in which any conference would love to have. Both schools have not been considered top-tier SEC schools since the Aggies joined the conference in 2012. The Gator’s last SEC title was in 2008, and four other SEC schools have won conference titles since then.

In Florida’s defense, the Gators did win the SEC East in 2020 but lost to Alabama in the championship game. Texas A&M has not won a division title since joining the SEC but in their defense as well, they had a great season going 9-1 in 2020.

Overall, Alabama, LSU, and Georgia have been considered the top-tier football programs for the last four years. With the soon-to-be additions of Texas and Oklahoma and the possible rumors of the SEC considering Clemson and Florida State, you would think that the window to try to convince the Aggies and Gators is now, but there are no indications that either school wants to leave the SEC.

Texas A&M for example, can’t be thrilled that the Longhorns are joining the SEC. However, they voted to allow them to join regardless of what they think and feel.

The Aggies would have a lot to offer if they were to consider joining the Big Ten because they meet all of the criteria that the conference is looking for. The Big Ten would get an AAU school, a good nationally academic university, a top-eight tv/streaming market in the state of Texas which the Big Ten does not have a footprint in, and a school that expands their geographic footprint in the southwest. However, it looks like the Aggies are content in staying in the SEC regardless of when Texas ends up joining in the conference.

Florida joining the Big Ten would be a dream come true for the Big Ten as the Gators are an AAU member, top 30 nationally ranked university, a top 12 revenue generating school, and it would expand the Big Ten geographical landscape into the third-largest state in the United States. However, the Gators seem happy and satisfied playing in the SEC with playing their rivals Georgia every season, and Florida believes it can compete in the SEC East division and seem to have little desire to leave the SEC conference at this time.

Now we will take a look at serious contenders to possibly join the Big Ten conference if the Big Ten were to expand to as many as 24 teams.