Huskertone14
Three-Star Recruit
If the Big 10 expands to 16 teams and Nebraska joins, what are the other 4 teams you would like to see join along with Nebraska?
ND,Mizzou, Pitt, and Rutgers
:yeahKansas is infinitely more likely than Oklahoma. Given no Texas or ND I would like to see Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Rutgers and Pitt. Substitute ND for Pitt or Texas/AM for Pitt/Kansas if you can actually land either of them.
Home run would be NE, Missouri, Texas, A&M, ND
I'd swap Mizzou and Iowa along with Ohio St. and ND.:yeahKansas is infinitely more likely than Oklahoma. Given no Texas or ND I would like to see Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Rutgers and Pitt. Substitute ND for Pitt or Texas/AM for Pitt/Kansas if you can actually land either of them.
Home run would be NE, Missouri, Texas, A&M, ND
With that in mind, this is how I'd divide it up using the pod system.
Quadrant A
Missouri
Nebraska
Texas
Texas A&M
Quadrant B
Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Quadrant C
Indiana
Northwestern
Ohio St.
Penn St.
Quadrant D
Michigan
Michigan St.
Notre Dame
Purdue
My thinking was that the old Big 12 remnants would fit in a pod for continuity. Same with Quadrant B.I'd swap Mizzou and Iowa along with Ohio St. and ND.:yeahKansas is infinitely more likely than Oklahoma. Given no Texas or ND I would like to see Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Rutgers and Pitt. Substitute ND for Pitt or Texas/AM for Pitt/Kansas if you can actually land either of them.
Home run would be NE, Missouri, Texas, A&M, ND
With that in mind, this is how I'd divide it up using the pod system.
Quadrant A
Missouri
Nebraska
Texas
Texas A&M
Quadrant B
Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Quadrant C
Indiana
Northwestern
Ohio St.
Penn St.
Quadrant D
Michigan
Michigan St.
Notre Dame
Purdue
I don't think that four new teams would be in one Quadrant. If they have 5 new teams not more then 2 new teams in each Quadrant is most likely. Hell what happens if they take just 3 Texas ND NU:yeahKansas is infinitely more likely than Oklahoma. Given no Texas or ND I would like to see Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Rutgers and Pitt. Substitute ND for Pitt or Texas/AM for Pitt/Kansas if you can actually land either of them.
Home run would be NE, Missouri, Texas, A&M, ND
With that in mind, this is how I'd divide it up using the pod system.
Quadrant A
Missouri
Nebraska
Texas
Texas A&M
Quadrant B
Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Quadrant C
Indiana
Northwestern
Ohio St.
Penn St.
Quadrant D
Michigan
Michigan St.
Notre Dame
Purdue
I'm looking at it from two angles.I don't think that four new teams would be in one Quadrant. If they have 5 new teams not more then 2 new teams in each Quadrant is most likely. Hell what happens if they take just 3 Texas ND NU:yeahKansas is infinitely more likely than Oklahoma. Given no Texas or ND I would like to see Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Rutgers and Pitt. Substitute ND for Pitt or Texas/AM for Pitt/Kansas if you can actually land either of them.
Home run would be NE, Missouri, Texas, A&M, ND
With that in mind, this is how I'd divide it up using the pod system.
Quadrant A
Missouri
Nebraska
Texas
Texas A&M
Quadrant B
Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Quadrant C
Indiana
Northwestern
Ohio St.
Penn St.
Quadrant D
Michigan
Michigan St.
Notre Dame
Purdue
Oh c'mon Caven, that'd never work.I would guess that they would not have more than 2 new teams in a pod since they will want to integrate the new teams into the conference and allow them to create new rivalries with existing members. A pod with only new teams creates too much of an us vs. them mentality. I still think Nebraska ends up in the Iowa/Wisky/Minny pod given proximity to Iowa and Minny and current ties to Wisky with the coaches but I will admit that might just be my wishful thinking. I would also be shocked if they don't keep Ohio State and Michigan together with Michigan State.
I might try something like this:
A
Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Notre Dame
B
Iowa
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Nebraska
C
Illinois
Missouri
Indiana
Northwestern
D
Texas
A&M
Penn State
Purdue
You need to give both Texas and Notre Dame some power teams in their pod to entice them to come and there is enough power in the conference that you don't really have to worry about balance too much. Also since the pods are only for football (basketball playing more games would allow a simple east/west split with still playing every team a minimum of 2x in 4 years) you don't have to worry quite so much about geography. Texas and AM are going to be flying to their football games regardless (same with PSU) so having them in the same pod doesn't really affect their travel and gives them a nice big name for each other. Pods A and D (and B/C) are the opposing pods that never end up in the same division. You could also go with A/B as opposing pods and still be fine power wise.
Pod C looks the weakest given recent history but NW and Illinois are both capable of winning the B10 some years and Missouri shows flashes as well sometimes.