What started it?

[wdgold]

I must of missed the boat on this, but what actually got the ball rolling on all this conference expansion. I know it is all about the money, but what part of that equation came into play with the Big 12?

 

[NateDawgUM]

Didn't it basically start with Joe Paterno and Barry Alvarez clamoring for a 12th team and getting Delany on board with them?

The Big XII has been fragile and unbalanced for years.

 

[RodentRampage]

It started when the Big Ten decided to stop waiting for Notre Dame. The Big Ten had wanted a 12th team for years, and Notre Dame was the choice. Once we began to look elsewhere, the dominos began to fall. That combined with dissatisfaction in the Big 12.

I'm glad that we are the ones doing to raiding versus being the raided. There are people who like to bash the Big Ten, but the Big Ten now is pulling the strings for all of the conferences.

 

[JoeDirt]

Over the winter Jim Delaney announced that the Big Ten was interested in adding a team. The reason being the conference could split into two divisions and have a conference championship game at the end of the season. his time table was between 12-18 months. Obviously all hell has broke loose since then and here we are!

 

[station19]

Over the winter Jim Delaney announced that the Big Ten was interested in adding a team. The reason being the conference could split into two divisions and have a conference championship game at the end of the season. his time table was between 12-18 months. Obviously all hell has broke loose since then and here we are!

I think the financial success of the Big Ten Network has added to this.

 

[Bo Darville]

It started with our lopsided domination of the Music City Bowl.

 

[Iceland12]

I think the financial success of the Big Ten Network has added to this.

This was the ONLY reason for all the movement. Everything else is just noise.

 

[MrGopher]

It is a combination of two things. The big ten network succeeding and an underachieving Notre Dame.

Notre Dame has been way average of late and it's making them vulnerable. The BTN has made the conference way more powerful. We are just playing our advantage to swoop in and pick up Notre Dame while they are weak.

 

[Goldmember]

One thing is missing from this thread. What really started all of this was the SEC adding a Championship game.

The PacTen/ BigTen model of having conference champions meet in the Rose Bowl was trumped by a system that has evolved in such a way that it basically has the SEC Champion playing in the BCS title game.

 

[stevedave23]

This was the ONLY reason for all the movement. Everything else is just noise.

What he said.

 

[AhliBobwa]

I think the financial success of the Big Ten Network has added to this.

THIS.

And the Greed of a Big Ten conference unsatisfied with being the highest profile and most financially lucrative conference in CFB.

 

[GoForGold]

THIS.

And the Greed of a Big Ten conference unsatisfied with being the highest profile and most financially lucrative conference in CFB.

I say grab it while you can, in this high profile programs like Nebraska. There's no guarantee the Big Ten TV gravy train will last forever.