David Hookstead
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The Big Ten is reportedly eying up multiple schools to expand the conference.
The B1G stunned the country when it snatched UCLA and USC from the PAC-12, and while Kevin Warren hasn’t indicated a timeline for further expansion, it sounds like the conference isn’t done growing just yet.
What could the next move be? According to Brett McMurphy, Notre Dame, Oregon, Washington, Stanford, Cal, Miami and Florida State are all in play.
As I discussed on Outkick360 Tuesday, if the Big Ten grabs Notre Dame and a couple more teams, we’re going to see an arms race nobody could have ever prepared for.
Welcome to the new era of college football. There’s no going back at this point.
If the Big Ten adds Notre Dame – which seems very likely – the conference will need to add another team in order to stay even with 18 teams.
Who will that team be? Honestly, I have no idea, and I think anyone who says they do is likely lying.
From a geographic standpoint, Florida State increases the B1G’s footprint the most. The conference would be on both coasts, the midwest and in the south.
That’s an absolutely massive and unprecedented footprint for a college athletics conference.
Outside of the schools listed, it’s a bit surprising UNC and UVA haven’t been mentioned as possible targets. Both are prestigious institutions, big state schools and would expand the East Coast control.
No matter what happens, we’re living through history in the world of college football. What a time to be alive!
Why the heck would they want Cal? That must be the deal they struck to shut up Newsom.
At last count … 32,874 fans-in-the-know – all with 7.532 “reliable inside sources” – are reporting 21,986 different scenarios. All three totals are expected to at least double in the next 24 hours.
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Nah, man. We want to go to the SEC. FSU/Ole Miss, FSU/Auburn, FSU/South Carolina, FSU/Tennessee, sounds a lot better than FSU/Nebraska, FSU/Mich St, FSU/Northwestern, FSU/UCLA.
I guess joining the B10 is better than being left out altogether but these away games aren’t ideal.
I agree. FSU, Clemson and Miami ALL THREE “fit” the SEC in every way. Not that “geographically” seems to matter much these days.
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The argument that the SEC “already has a Florida presence” is irrelevant. FSU, Clemson and “this latest version of” Miami are all strong national brands in College Football with national fan bases.
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What happens to UNC, UVA, VT gets more complicated. Personally, I’d prefer they stay in a “What’sLeft” version of The ACC … bring back Maryland, etc.
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SEC doesn’t need to expand outside it’s current footprint. The exception would be ND but they should be playing MIchigan & Ohio St every year (and USC which will be in the B10 soon). FSU & Clemson adds teams within the current footprint that would bolster the conference. I’ve said it before, I would be open to the SEC taking or leaving Miami, but I’d def prefer to keep them as an annual rivalry. From there the SEC could add a 1-2 more and call it a day. If they add more than 4 you’re going from a conference to a league.
I agree. FSU, Clemson and Miami ALL THREE “fit” the SEC in every way. Not that “geographically” seems to matter much these days.
.
The argument that the SEC “already has a Florida presence” is irrelevant. FSU, Clemson and “this latest version of” Miami are all strong national brands in College Football with national fan bases.
.
What happens to UNC, UVA, VT gets more complicated. Personally, I’d prefer they stay in a “What’sLeft” version of The ACC … bring back Maryland, etc.
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