Comparisons

The football world is already greasing the skids to ensure the B12 only receives one bid to the football playoffs.

"The B12 is a weak league" is the leading story, echoed especially loudly by our GoBla neighbors who support the Team Out East (TOE). A little perspective:

Using the Massey Ratings site, we can see rankings for entire conferences as a whole.

SEC 8.36

Big 10 8.10

Big 12 7.95

ACC 7.84

So the B10 is closer to the B12 than the SEC, and the B12 is closer to the ACC than the B10.

But here are the power rankings for the B10 West/Leaders in the past:

2023- 7.58

2022- 7.76

2021- 7.96

2020- 7.89

2019- 7.71

2018- 7.73

2017- 7.85

2016- 7.09

2015- 7.35

2014- 7.07

2013- 6.97

2012- 7.12

2011- 6.94

To summarize: in 13 seasons of the B10 West, 1 year that group had the same rating as the current B12. All the others were worse, often by a bunch.

End of math lesson.

Expansion Wishes

Since rumors of expansion has risen again, here is who I would invite if I was King:

BYU- large, loyal, national, underrated fan base. Mega eyeballs. Scheduling around Sundays is not a deal-breaker.

Cincinnati- Big media town, travel partner/rival for West Virginia.

Central Florida- Every school gets to travel to (and recruit) Florida!

Tulane- Every school gets to travel to NOLA! Downside- Tulane might not want to associate with Tech academically.

I know, that would be 14. But the Big10111214, the ACC and the SEC all make 14 work. It can't be that hard.

Besides- when the next big shakeout comes down there won't be enough chairs for the Big Time Football Lotto Payout Table for every school that wants in. This group includes Iowa State. But squatters have rights, and it will be much harder for a league to toss out a member than to pull in a new one. Better to start on the inside.

Academics

Random data from US News College Rankings:

Only 9 of the Top 25 schools play BCS football. The top ranked BCS school is Stanford, followed by Duke and Northwestern.

The highest ranked school that has won a national title recently is Notre Dane, #20. USC is #26, Michigan #27.

Iowa State is #88. KU is #100, NU #101, MU #104. Nebraska was invited to the Big Ten because of its "Academic Fit".

Boston University has a larger student body than Iowa State. Rice is Top 25, but is smaller than Drake.

Peter

Big 101112?

Away goes Nebraska. The other dominoes should fall soon.

Peter

Cutthroat

A scenario for Big 1011 expansion nobody is talking about: dumping Northwestern and Iowa.

Really- if one is trying to build a Super Conference for maximum eyeballs, Iowa has neither the population base or national interest to be a big TV draw. If you are going to have a football school from a small population state, trade Iowa for Nebraska. Huskers vs. Ohio State/Michigan/Penn State every year? Ratings bonanza!

NW doesn't have the alumni base or local interest, despite being in Chicago. That's what you get for having academic standards.

Iowa fan is smug looking at Iowa State's long-term prospects, but if you take the dispassionate view, all they have is being a legacy.

(I know, it would never happen. Just saying.)

Peter

Expansion

So the Big 1011 has cranked up expansion speculation again. Some thoughts.

A. It ain't Iowa State. No way, no how. Big picture, we bring nothing to the table. That's how it is. Deal with it.

B. I don't think the checks would be big enough to draw Texas or Mizzou or Nebraska or any other Big 12 team in. The checks would be big, but not big enough. Besides, aside from Texas, no other school increases the net eyeballs, which is all that matters. And Texas runs the B12, anyway, so why leave?

C. Not Notre Dame. See above, add NBC to the mix.

D. Just end this "School X doesn't match up academically" myth. Aside from Northwestern and Michigan, the Big 1011 is just a bunch of Public State Universities. Nothing to be ashamed of, but a long way from The Ivies. Look up the incoming ACT scores of Freshmen. No big thing.

E. It will be either Rutgers or UConn. Both play decent football now, but neither did in 2003, the last time we went around with this.

Peter

Friends

I don't think ISU fans will have much trouble cheering for a former ISU coach, with a team dressed in familiar colors, against Michigan state in the NCAA tourney.

Peter

Pull The Trigger

Clearly, KF needs to be fired. Trust the Wisdom Of The Crowd!

At least Kirk saved us from another Big TenEleven school boring us on National Championship Night. with yet another blowout.

Clearly, his program is in decline.

Peterclone

Turnarounds

Who would have thought that Minnesota would be a faster turnaround than ISU?

The Gophers are already bowl-eligible, with several winnable games to play.

I take back the snark I directed north.

Peterclone