Recent content by Rufus

Miami's "peers" are not in the south.

Setting a New Standard: Big Ten Football

How Indiana broke college football The Hoosiers’ football budget has increased each year since 2021, according to the Knight-Newhouse database, more than doubling from under $24 million in 2021 to over $61 million last year. That’s a rise from well below the Big Ten median to well above it in...

I also agree with Miami to the B1G. The SEC has no reason to add Miami. There are several schools ahead of Miami that would better benefit the SEC. Meanwhile, Miami provides more value to the B1G. (So does Florida State). North Carolina and Virginia provide the most value to the SEC. (Those...

My guess, and this apply to all B1G schools............ Locking down the resources needed for football first, because it pays the bills. The second wave of spending is going to be basketball. The B1G was always kinda there as one of the best basketball conferences in most years outside of...

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6947990/2026/01/07/mandel-mailbag-sec-nil-indiana-playoff/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=25063927&source=dailyemail How long can Indiana stay good? Before I was an Indiana alum my family was big Michigan State fans because my sister in-law is a Sparty...

Based on five-year TV viewership from 2021-2025 1: Florida State 15% 2: Clemson 13% 3: Miami 12% 4: Georgia Tech 8% 5: North Carolina 6% 6: Louisville 6% 7: Pittsburgh 5% 8: Stanford 4% (3 years in the PAC-12, 2 in the ACC) 9: Syracuse 4% 10: NC State 4% 11. Duke 4% 12: Virginia Tech 4% 13...

Tell that to Indiana. And for that matter, Northwestern, who is building an $850 million stadium.

https://frontofficesports.com/big-ten-cfp-expanded-12-team-era/ Beyond bragging rights, the on-field success has netted the Big Ten $82 million so far in performance-based revenue distribution payments. Second is the SEC with $64 million. Third on the bonus payout list is the ACC, with $22...

Any Big 12/ACC merger would have to come after the top ACC teams leave for the P2.

The Ohio Bobcats won their 7th Bowl Game in a row, the second longest streak in the nation, by defeating UNLV last night. The Bobcats have won 40 games in the last 4 years, more than any other MAC school over the same period. Toledo is second at 36.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/17/cfp-bracket-college-football-playoff-expansion-16-teams-big-ten-plan-tony-petitti/87774804007/

https://www.wilx.com/2025/12/05/greg-dawn-williams-donate-401-million-support-msu-athletics/

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6859564/2025/12/04/sec-big-ten-tv-ratings/

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/11/18/report-big-ten-proposes-24-team-cfp-format/?issueId=IS4BXBULCRFSJJLWJ3S6HMTLFY