Thoughts On Big Ten Expansion

Like it or not, the Big Ten is expanding.

The conference, which falls out of the national spotlight with its season wrapping up two weeks before the bowl selections, will be growing in the near future; now, whether that means to 12 or 14 teams is anyone's guess, but it is coming.
Because of the Big Ten Network, which gives up to $22 million a year per school for revenue, the conference basically has its choice of anyone outside of the SEC and Pac-10. Sorry, Big 12 and Big East fans, but it's the truth.
So the big question is, where does the conference go? Word is, the powers that be would like to see the league pick one team from what would amount to the western side of the conference and two from the east.
You'll hear Texas and Nebraska tossed around as the west picks, but here's why they wont' happen: as much as the conference expanding prompts tons of pipe dreams, the schools that do move aren't going to be major players. There is no way the Big 12 lets go of one of its more storied programs and there's also the fact that Longhorns want their own network, they don't want to have to share the pie with the rest of the Big Ten. The most logical, and most underwhelming picks for the west piece are Iowa State and Missouri. The Cyclones would be the easy get and would be able to foster their natural rivalry with Iowa within a conference, which would be a win for both sides.
As for the east, forget Rutgers. It's not happening. Think about the travel from Iowa to New Jersey. It's not feasible. What is feasible is either Cincinnati, Pitt or West Virginia. Any of those schools would jump at the chance to get out of the Big East and set up key matchups with Ohio State (for UC/WVU) and Penn State (Pitt).
The fact is that whoever the Big Ten gets and however many teams it adds, the selection(s) aren't going to be earth-shattering, but they will ultimately keep the league in the national spotlight as it enters the championship game slate and will generate more ad dollars and more money in the pockets of the Big Ten Network and its universities, which is what this is really all about.