[rintense]

No way ND joins the Big Ten. They already have their Big East affiliation, and their traditional football rivalries would no longer exist if they join the Big Ten. Their TV contracts also provide them with enough revenue to remain independent.

The rumors I'm hearing in Big Ten country are:

1. Rutgers

2. Pitt

3. Iowa State

4. Nebraska

5. Missouri

6. Cincinnati

[buccaneer81]

and their traditional football rivalries

ND could still schedule USC and Navy as non-conference games. They just fear losing Temple and other powderpuff match-ups.

[xzins]

It won’t be cincinnati. They don’t have the facilities to qualify for B10 membership. I agree that ND won’t join the B10. It doesn’t really offer them anything. Besides, the Big East is already BCS, and it would offer ND a relatively easy path to a national championship PLUS it would use up only 8 games on their schedule, leaving them with some of their traditional opponents.

I’m thinking the top candidates with state flagship-level university credentials + acceptable facilities and excellent basketball are: West Virginia, Pitt, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Kansas State, and Missouri. I like the Iowa State idea. I’ve wondered about Louisville who has just opened a dynamite basketball arena.

[Rufii]

No way ND joins the Big Ten

Perhaps Notre Dame should join the Big Sky, not the Big Ten.