Remember the talk that the Big Ten would take 12-18 months to decide whether to expand?
An accelerated timetable has emerged, according to sources familiar with the process.
High-ranking Big Ten representatives will meet Sunday afternoon in Washington D.C. to discuss expansion. The timing and location of the session make sense considering the Association of American Universities is holding its semi-annual meetings in D.C. from Sunday-Tuesday, and all 11 Big Ten schools are AAU members.
Among those attending will be Northwestern President Morton Schapiro, according to a university spokesman, and University of Illinois interim chancellor Robert Easter.
If the league can emerge from the D.C. meetings with a mandate to expand, commissioner Jim Delany could take a substantial step next week at the annual BCS meetings, outside Phoenix.
As laid out in the Big Ten's Dec. 15 statement, Delany would "notify" the commissioner(s) of the affected conference(s) before "engaging in formal expansion discussions with other institutions."
In other words, Big East commissioner John Marinatto would get a heads-up if the Big Ten wishes to contact schools such as Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.
That would allow the Big Ten more than a month to negotiate with schools before conference presidents and chancellors meet in Chicago during the first weekend in June.
That timetable also makes sense from a financial standpoint. The fiscal years of universities end on the last day of June, "so if you go past July 1, then you have to wait an extra year," said one source.
Delany could not be reached for comment Saturday and has declined interview requests, saying he's in a "silent phase."
The thinking among those in touch with Big Ten officials is that the league is likely to add at least three schools -- to end up with a 14- or 16-team league.
"I don't think 16 is scaring anyone off, as long as you can find that many (five) that are a good enough fit," said one source who has been consulted during the conference's exploratory phase. "They're looking long-term, across the horizon. What gives them the best shot at keeping value at a high level?"
Notre Dame remains Option A, though observers are flummoxed about the school's intentions because of seemingly divergent statements made by Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick.
By joining the Big Ten, the Irish could increase their annual TV revenue from roughly $12 million to $22 million per year, get a national TV platform (the Big Ten Network) for its top-notch Olympic sports and decrease travel costs for its teams.
Tribune reporter Jodi S. Cohen contributed to this report.
A commemorative Tribune book full of stories and photos about the Blackhawks' amazing year available now at 
All Bears news delivered to your mailbox on Friday and Monday mornings. 
When sports news breaks, be the first to know. (To get alerts on a mobile device, text CHISPORTS to 31286.). 
Get our updates on 
money that is why it makes sense for any of the big east schools to join. The Big Ten has the biggest tv deals in the nation and for Pitt they would actually fill there home games but it does not make sense for texas cause the big 12 does not do a even cut of money it all depends on winning with the big 12 win more gives more cash. As a Michigan fan I would love to see it go down like so Texas,ND,Pitt,Kansas,UConn,Syracuse and Iowa ST. That would give us 18 and we would have the best of all sports over all. Just think ohio state texas every year mich st kansas basketball every year. Plus look at the rivalries texas and a@m could keep there out of non big ten pitt penn st. wvu pitt non big ten. No way it happens but one can hope.
"With a Fall 2009 enrollment of 27,703 students, it is the fastest-growing campus in the University of North Carolina system for six consecutive years"--wikipedia
With the quality of ACC football on the decline, north carolinians from Charlotte/Greensboro/Raleigh Durham would tune in to see ECU take on big east teams each weekend.
Not to mention this little fact regarding UCF vs. East Carolina...
In football, East Carolina owns UCF... 8-1 all-time! The only year UCF won a CUSA title... East Carolina beat them. East Carolina has two football titles (2009 and 2008).
East Carolina has a CUSA title in baseball (UCF = 0)
East Carolina has 25 NCAA baseball regional appearances... UCF has how many?
East Carolina's football stadium seats 50,000... UCF's???
East Carolina's womens basketball program has a conference title... UCF's???
East Carolina's womens soccer program has a conference title... UCF's???
This is getting old... and yet UCF is "the most BCS eligible school???" Based simply on campus size? East Carolina has enrollment of just about 30,000. That's not small school.
Hands down comparison between East Carolina and UCF? There isn't any. UCF is not on the same field as East Carolina. Not even close. UCF is more a BCS-wannabe than a most eligible.
Wake up!
UCF is the most BCS ready school based on facilities, attendance and Bowl travel are all on par or better than alot of current Big East members....
Well my friend, that logic makes East Carolina an even better target for BCS inclusion than UCF. East Carolina has overall better facilities, larger stadiums, better bowl record, more conference titles, more active and better traveling fan base, and much better attendance records.
You just made a very logical case for "excluding" UCF and "including" East Carolina.
Thanks!
Where does the author get his numbers? ND gets how many million? The Big Televen would give them what? How is the author coming up with these estimates? I have a guess (and I think Teddy should wash his hands after pulling those numbers out of there). There is no source, no rationale for the calculation, no link, nothing. He just makes them up and everyone just agrees? He doesnt even say that 'inside sources' say that these are the figures. He just states them, as if fact. What happened to JOURNALISM? Shouldn't an author be asked to cite sources? If no, then I'm pretty sure that ND gets $17M a year from NBC, and would only get $10M from the Televenetwork. So, it makes no sense to join. Plus, how does the Big Ten Network give ND a 'national' footprint? NBC is seen everywhere. The Big Ten Net isn't available in most states, let alone all of them.
I think expansion is inevitable. I also believe the B10 is really only after Texas and Notre Dame, and may play games to see if they could entice or force the hand of at least one of these schools (ND for fear of being shutout, Texas for fear of the B12 crumbling). I"ve written alot on this stuff. If interested, check out: http://thepolesposition.com
I like beans
Very interestng
interesting
Although I have long been a supporter of efforts to get Notre Dame into the Big Ten Conference, I know longer care. Let Notre Dame play in the Big East Conference.
Louisville....Louisville! AAU means alot but its not everything...Mich.St joined the Big 10 and did not become a member of the AAU for several years....So do not be shocked to see Louisville get in if they go 14 or 16. GO CARDS!
I'm am in favor of this expansion and excited to see who will be replaced. Personally I hope we go for Rutgers and Boston College. I think they would best fit our conference. I also would like to see Iowa play BC or Rutgers on a yearly basis. It would be good for the conference and fans. This way UCF could replace either the ACC opening of Big East Opening and the conferences would still survive with their BCS tag.
The event is an AAU meeting. That means ACADEMICS, not athletics. When you think expansion of the Big Ten, don't think about TV events that last three hours on Saturday afternoons. Think about super-colliders, and super-computing centers, with BILLIONS of dollars of research money involved. Think contacts with Intel, Google, Apple and NASA, and even Goldman Sachs... This is not just about a few paltry million dollars, so alums can watch cheerleaders jump up and down.
UCF? The Big Ten has specific academic requirements for the universities themselves which I doubt UCF meets. Louisville & Cincy are already excluded because of this. I'd love ND to join, but only for the thrill of watching them cellar-dwell year in & year out
A lot of people seem to think Pitt, Syracuse or Rutgers are automatically going to bow down and join the big ten if asked. But, why would they? What is the advantage of the big ten vs big east? Some have also posed the question about Penn State...what did they ever get from joining the big ten? Please explain. I just don't see the advantage of any other team joining the big ten, unless you are in a mid-major type conference.
This will be great for ECU. The Big East most logical choice. Here's why.
1 Largest football attendance stadium in CUSA
2 Largest fan base in CUSA
3 Has more TV appeal, higher ratings than anyone in CUSA
4 Back to back CUSA champions
5 Highest bowl tv ratings than anyone in CUSA
ECU out preforms every school in CUSA in football period. UCF is in a larger tv market but, UCF does not appeal to their owne TV market. That is why ECU gets more ESPN games than UCF.
I sort of hate the idea of expandig by that much, but I do like the idea that this is Notre Dame's last chance. If they dont join, they will soon become irrelevant! This would change college football as we know it.
You might want to reconsider that NO WAY. If the BT added only ND and nothing else happens, then ND may not need the BT. The problem comes that if the BT expands to 14 without ND, this will likely cause a dramatic realignment in the BCS conferences, potentially leaving only 4 major conferences (the P10, SEC, and ACC will likely pick off the big schools left in the BE and B12). This will make it even harder for ND to renegotiate for BCS inclusion. Its not so much about what will ND gain by joining the BT, but what they might lose out on if there is a significant realignment.
ND does not need the big 10. What has it done for PENN STATE????? nothing.
Forget Notre Dame; We do not want a religious based school in the Big Ten; especially the Catholics.
This is what may happen if the Big (11) 10 goes to 16 teams. It will kill the Big East, as a football conference. The other conferences will go to 16 as well.
http://blogs.ajc.com/barnhart-college-football/2010/04/05/what-happens-if-the-big-ten-goes-to-16-teams/
For Pitt, Syracuse, and Rutgers it would make more sense for them to build the football side of the Big East. BE basketball is already the best in the nation. The BE should attempt to bring back Boston College and add UCF. Then eliminate some of the basketball only schools (Depaul, G'Town, St John's).
If the Big 10 has 16 teams, what did Pitt really gain? They have ZERO chance of winning the conference and being a national champion. They will no longer be part of the NY and Northeast TV market. And they now split the pie 16 ways.
Seems a lot of people like Rutgers in expansion -- but if Rutgers is so great for a league why does the Big East have to worry about its existence? Do you really think it's going to make people in New Jersey, which is either all about NY teams or Philly teams depending on location, care about playing Indiana, Iowa, and Purdue in any sport at any time?
I would like to see Syracuse, Rutgers, Missouri, Notre Dame and Nebraska. I think geographically this would work. If BT goes to 16 teams, then the PAC 10 could go toadd: Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Colorado, Oklahoma and BYU or Utah.
I don't see the Big 10 taking UCF, even though they have alot of potential. Depending on how many teams are taken you will either see UCF to the ACC or Big East. I'm a tarheel and I personally hope the ACC chooses UCF because of Orlando, and the huge potential that lies down there. I say Pitt and Rutgers to Big 10, with many changes to follow!
Bill,
There is zero chance that the Big Ten would even consider UCF...
However, I think UCF would be an easy choice for the Big East or ACC. They are one of the most BCS ready schools out there. Facilities, attendance and Bowl travel are all on par or better than alot of current Big East members.
They would take off with the BCS tag in Florida recruiting. They definitely have the most upside of the usuals....(ie. Memphis, ECU etc..)
I am a Penn State alum but I have family in the Orlando area. We should check out UCF. Nice facilities, huge enrollment, gives us a presence and exposure in Florida (as well as a bi-annual trip to sunny Orlando!) and there are tons of Big 10 fans living in the area that would love to see their teams come down to play every other year.
ND is not coming as #12. No way. Not even if it goes to 14. At 16, maybe, but still reluctantly. Do you BT guys really want those divas in your conference anyway?
By the way, RUTGERS is the one and only Bithplace of College Football. It might not be so bad for the nation's first conference to play with the guys who started the whole thing: Rutgers 6, Princeton 4 on November 6, 1869 in New Brunswick New Jersey.
The Big East will need to reload with a combination of UCF, Memphis, Houston, TCU, ECU....
UCF is the realistic #1 choice.
3rd largest school in the country.
BCS Facilities already
Top 20 TV market
Good rival for USF
The Big East should be able to keep the BCS tag...can't see it being pulled with Congress breathing down the BCS necks.....
I predict the Big Ten will add 3 teams:
Mizzou (STL & KC tv markets)
Pitt
Nebraska or Notre Dame( one "wow" factor team)
Dear friends, please temporarily stop your footsteps
To our website Walk around A look at
Maybe you'll find happiness in your sight shopping heaven and earth
You'll find our price is more suitable for you.
Welcome to our website - - - http://www.soozone.com
Next we come to talk about a topic:
Why are now prices are very expensive
yes Many people now have to earn more money
to Pushing up prices
But they didn't find customers buy after won't come back
But friends %uFF0CDo you ever found
Our website is more cost-effective price than others
Want to know why?
The answer is:
We are not the point to earn money
We are long-term trade marketing
We are for the benefit of customers
Why our customers will be so much?
Are the prices we meet their needs.
Our price is more suitable for you?
If is the word.
Then what you waiting for?
Hurry movement of your mouse
Enjoy shopping pleasure,
Additionally, we also free shipping charge a small Insurance.
Thanks to the support!
http://www.soozone.com
sdfsdfsdfsdf
If Texas and Texas A&M are joining the Big 10, then so are Chelsea and Manchester United, and the India and Pakistan cricket teams.
Rutgers: buy low, sell high
Forget Notre Dame,
they're not into us,
we don't need any prima donnas
focus on quality universities that maintain high
academic and athletic standards.
Why not try for Hawaii, USC, Miami, Harvard, and Yale? WOW, what a national conference it would be... and some real easy victories for Illinois... and a nice vacations in Honolulu, Los Angeles, and Miami for everyone!
Texas and Texas A&M are not leaving the Big12. You are going to be stuck with the likes of Syracuse, Pitt and Rutgers. Missouri if you are lucky.
I would just like to know how poor athletic departments in Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Syracuse make the Big Ten stronger as a whole. By saying poor, not saying football but across the board (all sports and all departments such as marketing/finance/development).
The possibility of getting the New York market should not be the sole draw, as it is not proven that Rutgers and/or Syracuse football capture the New York market as of now. There's much doubt in that proposal.
Add to the fact that by adding Rutgers and Syracuse, it opens up the Big Ten to even more criticism by some, as neither are national powerhouses in football (and haven't been for years).
In my humble opinion, Notre Dame makes the most sense for the Big Ten and for Notre Dame.Like Mr. Greenstein said, issues such as travel and tv revenue. Plus acclimation of schools and area. I mean, the Big East!!!!!!!!!!!!! Puhleaze..... Start there and then see in a couple of years if more schools are the right answer.
Expansion shrinks each school's share of the money pot. They need to find schools that can grow the total pot. If they can get Notre Dame, Texas, and Texas A&M, they'll stop at 14. If Notre Dame says no, they'll need to go all the way to 16.