It’s been, what, a solid week or two since we’ve had a good-sized rumor log tossed onto the Big Ten expansion fire?
Courtesy of a Kansas City radio personality, we now have a doozy to toss into the mix.
According to Kevin Kietzman of Sports Radio 810 WHB, and citing multiple sources close to the negotiations, the Big Ten has extended initial offers to join the league to four schools -- Missouri, Nebraska, Rutgers and -- ta-da!!! -- Notre Dame.
Notre Dame? Oh no he di’int just go there.
As noted in Kietzman’s report, the Irish have -- with the exception of one brief blip earlier this offseason -- steadfastly maintained that they would like to keep their football independence. If the Domers were to rebuff the Big Ten’s advances once again, and the three other schools mentioned accept an offer to join the Big Ten, the conference would then have to decide if they wanted to stay at 14 or further expand by two to 16 schools.
Again, that’s per the report.
Kietzman also reports that Mizzou officials have been told by the Big Ten that the conference would like to put a wrap on the expansion process soon, with an official announcement coming no later than July.
The highest of the Big Ten’s higher-ups will meet in Chicago next month, at which point in time they could address the expansion issue as a whole and, presumably, take a vote on admitting additional institutions.
So, just as we thought we were in the midst of the driest of the dry spells in the collegiate football news cycle, we have this latest round of speculation to pull us back in. And away from yard work.
Thank you very much, Kevin Kietzman. Seriously.