With the release of a Big Ten statement on expansion expected any minute now, at least one school rumored to be a possibility for a 12th in the conference has said it’s all ears.
According to the Kansas City Star, Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton confirmed that his school would be willing to listen if the conference wanted to talk Big Ten turkey.
“The University of Missouri has not been contacted by the Big Ten. Should there be an official inquiry or invitation, we would evaluate it based upon what would be in the best interest of MU athletically and academically.”
Missouri is one of a handful of schools whose names have been tossed around as possibilities if the Big Ten decides to expand from 11 to 12 teams.
In the statement this afternoon, the Big Ten is expected to announce that they will explore the viability of adding a 12th team over the course of the next 12 to 18 months.
Mizzou to Big 10.
TCU to Big 12.
Then put Boise in the PAC 10 for new Oregon-Boise rivalry! Lets play some football!
Mizzou to Big Ten
Houston to Big 12
That way Houston and Texas Tech can rack up basketball type scores…
Mizzou has always been a little too interested when this comes up. In the past I’ve always thought that they wanted the Big 10 a lot more than the Big 10 has ever wanted them.
Even if there were anything to this (and I doubt it – you’ve got to “Show Me”), Missouri has always been a state with a split personality. I’m sure St. Louis would like to be in the Big 10 but I’m not sure the Kansas City alumni would stand for it.
My assumption has always been that the Big 10 was holding that spot for Notre Dame. Perhaps they’ve finally given up.
If either TCU or Houston joined the Big 12, then one of the Oklahoman South teams would likely have to move into the North.
Hopefully it will be Notre Dame or some other big school that does not currently have wrestling. They will then have to add wrestling to be part of the Big Ten.
Big 12 won’t take another Texas school. More likely:
Missouri to Big Ten
Arkansas to Big 12
Georgia Tech to SEC
Syracuse to ACC
Missouri going to the Big Ten would lower the Big Ten’s academic standards. Rutgers or Syracuse are more natural picks due to academic excellence and access to the New York market.
BigTen fans keep bringing up Notre Dame–ND has made it more than clear that they have no intention of joining a conference for football. Their existing (and presumed future) TV contracts are far too lucrative to give up. In addition to that, the BT would require that school to join that conference in all major sports, which would require ND to leave the Big East in BB. I’m not sure what other conference affiliations they have, but someone like Mizzou is a lot more “Plug & Play”.
Other schools I’d like to see considered are Cincinnati, Louisville, and Boise St.
@safjock–GaTech will never go to the SEC. The out-of-conference rivalry between UGA and Tech pretty much dictates that. That’s one of the challenges with Mizzou to the BigTen–they’ve had a long-standing series in both FB and Men’s BB against Illinois, with UI owning the BB series and Mizzou the FB.
What’s wrong with Syracuse to the Big 10 ?
Makes sense geographicaly and they do have a great football tradition.
I think they would be a good fit and rivalries would emerge soon with Penn State for example.
IMO the best add on to the BigTen would be Pitt, this woudl give Penn State adn natural rivalry as opposed to that manufactured one agaisnt Michigan State.
BigTen East:
Penn State
Pitt
Ohio State
Purdue
Indiana
Illinois
BigTen West
Michigan
Michigan State
Northwestern
Iowa
Minnesota
Wisconsin
STLCardinal says Mizzou would lower the academic excellence of the Big-10???????????? He makes a case for Rutgers & Syracuse. My nephews attend Rutgers & they can barely spell their own name while their sister attended Mizzou & is now a practicing pathologist. Half the guys on ESPN went to the school of jounalism at Mizzou. Mizzou would help RAISE the BIG-10′s academic standards. You might want to rethink your case because you’re way off
Mizzou , Nebraska, and Iowa St to the Big Ten.
Texas can have the Big 12 and ku. Both have a serious history of deceipt and mingling in everyone elses business.
Missou could still play ku for the rivalry games, if ku would decide they wanted to play a schedule (fb and bb) tougher than they do now, which most likely wouldn’t happen.
Look at the major money those 3 would bring with TV revenue.
Academically, it would be a great fit for all 3 schools also.
Wouldn’t it make for a great conference in all sports!