After reading all of the developments from what proved to be very eventful BCS meetings that concluded yesterday, will these changes prompt another round of expansion.

1. Will the Big East football schools be proactive, breakaway and expand to 12 teams to increase market share? Does the Big East call on ECU, Memphis or others to fill those 4 spots.
2. Will a breakaway Big East have some form of alliance agreement with the basketball only schools to ensure a presence in markets that those schools reside. Mike T and company need to "think out of the box here" and turn what other conferences see as negative, because of the Big East, size into a positive.
3. Will these changes force a struggling Notre Dame to join a conference? If it does, do the Irish take a look at what the Big Ten has done to PSU and say thanks but no thanks we are joining the Big East. Or do the Irish jump to the Big Ten and Joe Pa and the boys come home to the East.

I don't believe the developments of the last few days can be overstated. These changes in the BCS will force additional conference changes. The question is will the Big East be proactive this time.
CJ

If anything, this gives Notre Dame more reason to stay independent. It goes as far as to make me wonder what the Big 10 will do now that they know there is no chance ND will give up its independence, because now they are getting a yearly payment from the BCS. Will the Big 10 consider giving up on ND and pick up a 12th team?
I think the conference it puts the most pressure on to expand is the Mountain West. While the Mountain West does have Utah's BCS ranking last year, it will also need more Top 25 teams, as well as an increase in market size. I think they will add another member, if not 3, very soon.
The Big East will consistently put 2 out of 8 teams in the top 25. Is that enough? I think the Big East will certainly look at that.

The Big Ten expanding to 12 teams could hurt BE, if Notre Dame stays independent. Pittsburgh would see like a natural add for the Big Ten. With Penn State, adding Pitt would rekindle a rivalry game in late November. Penn St, Pitt, Mich, MSU, OSU, and Indiana would make sense in an east Big Ten Division. West Virginia may also want a piece of the action.

Pitt is not the school to look at if the Big 10 expands and it is not Notre Dame. That school would be Missouri. But don't look for the Big 10 to expand if it is not Notre Dame.

OUBOBCATJOHN Wrote:The Big Ten expanding to 12 teams could hurt BE, if Notre Dame stays independent. Pittsburgh would see like a natural add for the Big Ten. With Penn State, adding Pitt would rekindle a rivalry game in late November. Penn St, Pitt, Mich, MSU, OSU, and Indiana would make sense in an east Big Ten Division. West Virginia may also want a piece of the action.

Why would the Big Ten add Pitt when they have Penn State? The Big Ten doesn't want Pitt, Syracuse or West Virginia. It's not a knock against those programs, but they just don't fit the Big Ten footprint.

Maize Wrote:Pitt is not the school to look at if the Big 10 expands and it is not Notre Dame. That school would be Missouri. But don't look for the Big 10 to expand if it is not Notre Dame.

If little Quinny Snyder hadn't put Missouri in a crap load of trouble we might have heard more rumors of Missouri to the Big Ten.

Ok, I will play, so which teams add the greatest market share?

They are:

Memphis
Nothern Illinois
UAB
Central Florida
Tulane
Temple

Quote:1. Will the Big East football schools be proactive, breakaway and expand to 12 teams to increase market share? Does the Big East call on ECU, Memphis or others to fill those 4 spots.

Doubtful. If I'm interpreting the new rules correctly, market size will only come into effect if the Big East were to have to make an appeal to remain in the BCS in 2008. The only way we would have to do so is if we fail to meet the on field requirements. If that's the case, the market we currently have should already meet any standards the BCS puts in front of us. You may see expansion to 9, but it will be for scheduling balance, not because of any last ditch efforts to remain BCS. As for 12, none of the candidates are top 25 programs, so it would just further dilute the Big East's top to bottom conference strength, and number of top 25 teams per capita -- Not something we'd want to do if we were trying to save the BCS bid.

Quote:3. Will these changes force a struggling Notre Dame to join a conference? If it does, do the Irish take a look at what the Big Ten has done to PSU and say thanks but no thanks we are joining the Big East. Or do the Irish jump to the Big Ten and Joe Pa and the boys come home to the East.

Notre Dame will never ever join the Big East in football. Ever.











Ever.