If Maryland goes to the Big Ten, Rutgers of the Big East is expected to follow suit. The addition of Maryland and Rutgers would give the Big Ten 14 members as the league gears toward negotiations on a new media rights deal when its first-tier rights expire in 2017. A source told ESPN that the Big Ten has been itchy about further expansion since Notre Dame made its official move to the ACC two months ago in all sports other than football. The source said the Big Ten can justify Maryland and then possibly Rutgers since they are all contiguous states to the Big Ten footprint http://espn.go.com/chicago/ncf/stor...hts-talks-join-big-ten-conference-sources-say
The UMd board unanimously approved the move to the Big Ten, a regent told ESPN. An afternoon announcement is expected. Sources also said that Rutgers is expected to follow the Terrapins and will announce its own move from the Big East to the Big Ten, possibly as early as Tuesday. A Scarlet Knights move would give the Big Ten 14 members. Rutgers' Board of Governors is holding a regularly scheduled meeting Monday in New Brunswick, N.J. Read more: http://meacfanszone.proboards.com/index.cgi?
Source: ACC favors UConn, Louisville to replace Maryland The ACC is leaning heavily toward adding a 14th team to replace Maryland and has two favorites for the spot -- UConn and Louisville -- according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The ACC is also in talks with South Florida and Cincinnati, according to the source, and could add "pretty quickly." Factors on the decision include geography and television market viability, on-field performance and academic success. All eyes are on the ACC as it protects its own after the Big Ten poached Maryland, a founding member. The league was blindsided by the move but wasn't totally shocked given Maryland's struggling financial department and the school's administrative turnover without an allegiance to the conference's tradition. This isn't great timing for the Big East, which is immersed in television negotiations with ESPN, NBC Sports Network and others. Among the four, Louisville's probably a better football/basketball program pound-for-pound, but UConn is the better TV market. http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...h-florida-cincinnati-for-maryland-replacement
Rutgers Joins the Big Ten, Leaving Big East Behind Rutgers is joining the Big Ten, leaving the Big East behind and cashing in on the school's investment in a football program that only 10 years ago seemed incapable of competing at the highest level. The school announced its decision Tuesday at a campus news conference attended by Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany, Rutgers President Robert Barchi and athletic director Tim Perenetti. "The Big Ten is really where Rutgers belongs," Barchi said. http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/rutgers-joins-big-ten-leaving-big-east-17768431
Report: Maryland, Rutgers In Leaders, Illinois To Legends Penn State will be making less trips to Champaign, according to ESPN's conference expansion guru Brett McMurphy, as Illinois will be moving to the Legends Division when Maryland and Rutgers make their way into the Big Ten come 2014 (Rutgers is supposed to have a 27-month exit period which would keep them from moving until 2015, but sources say they hope to move a year earlier (https://twitter.com/TomLuicci/status/270575676971683840). http://www.blackshoediaries.com/201...-big-ten-realignment-legends-leaders-illinois
