- Joined
- Mar 30, 2012
- Messages
- 8,988
- Reaction Score
- 26,857
I know the Big Ten is already planning on adding one additional conference game to the B1G's sleight of conference games in the near future. There is even banter about perhaps adding a tenth conference game to the schedule. That seems to be a popular idea, at least among fans. So, the probability of adding an extra top-tier team to any given season's schedule is just a little greater, even if the conference is expanded. Win/loss/bowl eligibility issues aside, I know I'd much rather pay good money to watch Rutgers, Maryland, UConn, Virginia or Kansas play my home team, than watch a couple of body bag games. Even if my team is not playing Michigan, Michigan St., Penn State, Nebraska, or Ohio St., the atmosphere of the middle-of-the-pack games are a lot of fun, because they're so competitive.
If an increase to 10 conference games per year occurred simultaneously with UConn's accession as a #15 football school, it eases scheduling issues if B1G teams have previously scheduled UConn OOC in the leadup to the agreement. The "OOC" game with UConn just becomes the 10th conference game.
This is why you can't take B1G teams scheduling UConn as evidence we're not joining, even if you assume the ADs know the B1G's plans. It is more likely to be a good sign. At worst, it indicates the B1G schools like having UConn on their schedules. That's not a bad thing.
