Unconquered

That is why it is important for FSU to sit back and watch how this goes down.

We should leave regardless.

Yeah, K State is awesome and we never play our A game. You should just leave this team behind, as it is clear you secretly hate this team for not living up to some imaginary standard that no team is at.

In a move that could make dollars, but not necessarily (football) sense, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has his league in advanced talks to make a bold change, one that should cement his legacy in the history of college athletics, one way or the other.

The Big Ten, in a move that would stun the industry, could again expand its ranks, this time pushing to the East Coast by adding Rutgers and the University of Maryland. The move is not official, but both schools are in advanced talks with the conference, sources told Yahoo! Sports. An announcement could come early next week.
If the moves are completed, the league will have 14 members and leave college athletics, which appeared to be done with the chaotic conference realignment carrousel, once again scrambling, with teams from New England to the Rocky Mountains potentially impacted.

The talks come despite repeated Big Ten statements that it was content with its current 12-member configuration. For Delany, who at 64 is nearing retirement, it is his biggest gamble yet in running a conservative, often staid, band of mostly Midwestern land-grant behemoths. No matter how many members, the league will maintain its name.

Immediately, initially and perhaps for years to come, though, the conference's possible expansion will raise only questions.

Namely, why in the world would the Big Ten, which is already struggling on a national level in its historic flagship sport of football, take on two programs known for decades of struggles?

And why would a conference known to so value its commonality and closeness decide to add universities with little to no shared cultural identities. It's a long, long way in every imaginable way from College Park, Md. to Lincoln, Neb.

There is no perfect answer but Rutgers and Maryland do bring TV sets for the Big Ten Network to be placed on basic cable tiers, and thus generate millions in additional revenue. The states should also provide fresh recruiting ground for current members to fan out and potentially improve their rosters.

It certainly isn't to immediately bolster football credibility.

They are already involved in your market. The Big 12 is in a win win situation. If the ACC implodes we can pick from the northern half or the Southern half and get some good teams and expand market share, although I think we are driven by money and also trying to surpass the SEC in perceived prestige and SOS.

The SEC looks at itself as an expanding empire. They're already in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. They want to expand market share and have publicly expressed as much. They want to have a footprint in Virginia and North Carolina if they go to 16. Which is why they'll go after Virginia Tech and most likely NC State if they want to go to 16.

If that happens along with Maryland and Rutgers, I hope the Big 12 gets FSU, Miami, Clemson, and Georgia Tech. That would be a sweet conference.

You can go and grab Louisville if you want. As for how most FSU fans feel if this happens, "We gone!"

Well, if the SEC creates a network they can always charge more to customers in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina than other states if they were to add ACC schools in those states. So the money may be there (but I don't profess to know the actual details of these moves).

On top of that, if you're the SEC, do you want an already strong football conference setting up shop in the heart of your footprint? Do they want Texas and Oklahoma playing in the two best southern states for recruiting each year?

The SEC may be arrogant enough to think it won't matter and hold out for the potential adds of a Virginia and North Carolina school. Who knows?

And if the Big 12 goes to 14 with those 4, I'd hope they just go to 16. Invite Louisville, too. Good overall athletic department and great basketball. I know basketball isn't a driving factor but without them, Big 12 basketball will be very MEH. As for #16, I don't know. Pre-empt the SEC and invite Virginia Tech or NC State. If no then...Cincinnati? They're respectable at football, in a good recruiting and tv market area (not great, but good), historically good basketball and a rival to UL. Or Pittsburgh. Similar reasons as Cincinnati except they aren't thought of as a commuter school, are an AAU member and do a boatload of research.

They are not living in a vacuum. If Maryland leaves the leave-the-ACC drums will start beating again. If the ACC replaces Maryland with another basketball school like UConn - there aren't many schools available - that drum beat will be louder than it was over the summer. The ACC tv deal sucks. The ACC bowl deal sucks. ACC football sucks. ACC officiating sucks.

They aren't stupid. There was a reason to wait and see how the tv deal, Notre Dame and the playoffs worked themselves out. All of that is pretty much over with and there is a much clearer picture of what expected conference revenue will be.

Like I said, if Maryland leaves, have fun in the ACC because, "We gone!"

Very exciting time. Looks like Maryland will set the precedent on what the buyouts will be. I'm guessing somewhere around $30 Million. It will not be $50 million, I'll tell you that much.

FSU, Clemson, Miami, and VT would be ideal, but I don't see that happening. I think Miami stays and sinks with the ship. I see VT holding out for an SEC offer. I think FSU, Clemson, GT, and Louisville would be awesome additions.

WVU hasn't done well this year. The coaching is a big problem right now, especially on the defensive side. That said, I have had so much fun watching WVU play a Big 12 schedule this year. I think FSU fans would have just as much fun watching them play a Big 12 schedule.

FSU, Clemson, Ga Tech, and Louisville makes so much sense...think about all the natural rivalries with the SEC, in coordination with the new champions bowl. Also, if we're going to switch conferences, and SEC isn't an option, then bringing this particular group with us makes sense for staying visible in some very important states for us (recruiting wise).

If Maryland goes, we better go, too. If they're too good for this s-hole, then so are we.

The big 12 should come get FSU, VT, Clemson and GT. That's a great southeastern footprint for our fans plus we add in Texas. Add in WV plus 1 Texas school and that's a great division plus cross divisional games vs Texas or OU in many years.