The months of rumors surrounding the Big Ten conference lately have turned the Midwest into the Hollywood of college football. There have been all sorts of rumors, most of them no more than “Brangelina” status.
On any given day, a rumor runs rampant of Texas joining the Big Ten, which would certainly grant the conference galactic college football superiority over the SEC. On another day Missouri and Nebraska are apparently guaranteed to jump the Big 12 ship to the Big Ten. Occasionally, a “report” of Rutgers and Pittsburgh establishing the Mid-Atlantic region for the Big Ten leaks out into the mass media.
It all makes me want to venture back into reading the comments pages regarding the LeBron free agent frenzy…
But what you won’t see as a dish on the table of the Big Ten brass anytime soon is a scenario in which Notre Dame is the only team joining the Big Ten, thus making the Big Ten the Big…Doce? Uno Dos? The Great Flat Land Conference?
In any case, Ohio State Athletic Director (and Notre Dame alumnus) Gene Smith told me as much recently when I asked him about the plausibility of the Big Ten just adding the Fighting Irish to the Big Ten. However, he also admitted he’s relatively clueless as to how the expansion process will play out.
“I don’t think we’d (just add Notre Dame). We’re looking at something different,” Smith said. “I just don’t know. At the end of the day, we’re not looking to do just that.”
Smith went on to point out a numbers notion that many might not know, as well as stating an argument that many would agree with in regard to Notre Dame shunning the Big Ten.
If just Notre Dame joined, “it would be beneficial (to OSU) financially,” Smith said. “It would be beneficial with a championship-type setup for a game. Financially we’re pretty strong too, so we’ll contribute to them a little bit more than they will contribute to us because of (the Big Ten Network). And that’s what most people don’t understand.”
But Smith said it’s not about money for Notre Dame, “it’s about something else.”
What Smith means by “something else” is probably along the lines of Notre Dame’s love for its football independence. They reportedly snatch $15 million from NBC for the rights to broadcast football’s home games.
But joining the Big Ten could hold greener pastures for Notre Dame. According to reports, the Big Ten handed out $22 million to each member last year. Joining the Big Ten would net increased exposure for all of the Fighting Irish’s athletic programs.
Yet, Smith says the conference wouldn’t just add Notre Dame. And I actually believe him.
But that doesn’t mean the conference won’t eventually net the Golden Domers. The Big Ten could swell to 14 teams, netting Notre Dame along with Missouri and Pittsburgh, or Nebraska and Rutgers, or Texas and Kansas.
In any event, Big Ten conference commissioner Jim Delany has the ball in his court. How he plays his cards, especially with the Ace of Spades (Notre Dame) will be very interesting to see in the coming months and perhaps the coming years.