Big Ten Denies Rumors Of Expansion Invitations

By Justin Worsley

It is no secret that the Big Ten conference is looking to expand their conference. The most recent news, however, seems to be only gossip.

News circulated earlier this week that Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney had extended invitations to four schools; Nebraska, Notre Dame, Missouri and Rutgers. If Notre Dame had accepted, the conference would look into adding another program.

Delaney, however, has denied these allegations and has e-mailed all 11 schools in the conference informing them that this information is false. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith confirmed this e-mail on Tuesday.

Two of the four teams that were allegedly invited add a financially profitable incentive for the Big Ten conference. Rutgers, based in New Jersey, is the only major college football program in the New York market area. Notre Dame, which is currently an independent program, has developed several rivals in the Big Ten conference, including Michigan and Michigan State. The school currently has an exclusive contract with NBC as well as the ability to schedule any team they feel.

When news broke in December that the Big Ten was looking to add another program, rumors arose that Missouri was interested. Missouri currently competes in the Big XII conference along with Nebraska. Both teams have represented the Big XII North Division in the conference title game since 2006.

If these rumors are true, the move could shift the landscape of college football. Only one conference, the Mid-American Conference, has more than 12 teams. Rutgers is one of only eight teams that competes in the Big East conference. One conference that could immediately look to expand is the Southeastern Conference (SEC,) who has crowned the last four NCAA national Champions.

Another conference looking to expand is the Pac-10 conference. The conference hopes to field 12 teams next season.

If the Big Ten conference adds a 12th team, it can host a conference title game in the fall, which would increase its chances to land a lucrative contract deal. Only five conferences host a title game, including the SEC.