Rutgers To The Big Ten?

 

Over at NJ.com, they are talking Big Ten pigskin.  Why?  Well, they've sniffed out rumors that if the Big Ten expands to twelve teams, that Rutgers would most likely get the invite.

Huh?

"I remember that Rutgers was in the discussion after we added Penn State," said Stanley Ikenberry, the former University of Illinois president who was instrumental in the expansion talks back then, "and frankly, I presume they would still be in a very small pool of candidates."

It makes some sense, especially if the Big Ten decides on another member to hold a conference title game.  Unless you are Notre Dame, you don't turn down this invite.  Even then, I'm sure there's an open ticket to the Irish to move into the conference anytime it wants.  Rutgers would have its bags packed and ready to go as soon as the phone rang.

It would also bring in some east coast cred and the mid-Atlantic/New York Metro media coverage to a league that.....yaknow....is launching its own network.  Rumor also is that Penn State would be deemed the "natural rival" of Rutgers.

Of course, why else Rutgers?  Until recently, the program stunk and could drive down their BCS numbers.  Will this upswing for the Scarlet Knights continue?  If so, they could cash in on a nice reward.

But Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Louisville, West Virginia and Syracuse would most likely be looked at before Rutgers.  Cincinnati, if it gets its houses in order, could be viable as well.  All those schools make more sense than Rutgers.  The first three are in "Big Ten country", have excellent programs across the board and excellent facilities worthy of the conference.