Quote:
Originally Posted by I. J. Reilly
I guess I don’t understand the ND logic, why would they choose membership in a 16 team Big-10 instead of a 12 team Big-10? To me their only choice is between being the 12th team or staying independent. What am I missing?
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Because all things being equal Notre Dame wants the status quo. The only motivating factor to get them to move to the Big Ten is that there is enough movement that they realize the Big East is in trouble, the conferences are going toward 16-team mega conferences and they are going to be left on the outside looking in. They don't want to be the the only team moving, they will only move if other teams force their hand.
I really don't understand all this will they/won't they with Nebraska. If offered, Nebraska is going to the Big Ten. I think the only scenario in which Nebraska turns down an offer is if the Big 12/South agreed to some concessions, and they already said no. Tom Osbourne has been griping about the Big 12 championship game going to Texas too much, and when they awarded the next three title games to Dallas last week, that was an F-U to Nebraska.
I really don't doubt that Notre Dame, Nebraska, Missouri and Rutgers have invites in place and it's just a matter of dotting the Is and crossing the Ts, especially in Notre Dame's case. If the Big Ten needs Syracuse or Pitt to make it easier to get Notre Dame, that slot is available. If Notre Dame says no, you go to 14 and leave two slots open for Notre Dame to change its mind.