Nebraska to leave Big 12, join the Big Ten

Depending on how much you believe Fox Sports Ohio and Rivals.com...

Multiple reports now say Nebraska will leave the Big 12 and seek to join the Big Ten, with a formal announcement coming Thursday or Friday.

The Big 12 gave both Nebraska and Missouri, the two biggest targets in that conference, until Friday to decide if they're in or out. The Cornhuskers are apparently out.

The difficulty for these schools is that they've got to make up their mind to leave the Big 12 before any Big Ten invite formally comes. However, in reality land, there's no way in the world they'd possibly head out of a BCS conference without a golden ticket in hand.

Will the Big Ten give that assurance to Mizzou? We'll have to wait and see.

At this point though, you'd have to think three things:

1. The Big Ten still wants Notre Dame.
2. They won't want to become a 13-team league, so Mizzou would have to be paired with someone.
3. Who's the backup to ND?

Bella Notte: MSU-ND to be a night game

Michigan State will host Notre Dame under the lights at Spartan Stadium, ESPN has announced. The game will kick at 8 p.m. and be broadcast nationally on ABC.

Joe Rexrode points out that this makes three of the last four MSU-ND games night contests, which we here at TOSSS love.

Although, there are some lingering bad memories of night games against Notre Dame. Specifically a certain contest that shall not be named in driving rain where a certain ND QB managed to lead a comeback every time the rain let up, and where a certain MSU squad blew a late lead to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

I happened to be sitting one aisle removed from the ND fans for that game, and actually switched sections after the season because I didn't want to experience another game like that.

This year, with an eye on that game and last year's debacle, it's time to make a more positive memory under the lights.

Notre Dame AD says school may be interested in a conference

Notre Dame's storied independence might not be as rock-solid as previously thought, if comments today by ND AD Jack Swarbick are any indication.

"You can each come up with a scenario that would force our hand," Swarbick told a group of reporters in New York, including one from the Associated Press.

Such a scenario would result from a "seismic" realignment push like, say, getting Texas to join the Big Ten, along with, say, Missouri, Pitt and Syracuse. Tell ND that it would be team number 16 in that conference, with all the money that comes with it, and it's a game-changer.

Once the Big Ten is done, the Pac 10 is expected to expand up to 12. Colorado, BYU and Utah are among the schools always mentioned. And if the Big 12 does get its schools pillaged, they'll have to add a few teams as well - TCU, SMU, maybe grab Arkansas from the Big 12.

It would all be a massive shakeup, and Notre Dame doesn't necessarily want to get left out of that.

Oh, who am I kidding. This is all about TV revenue for the Irish, given that Notre Dame ignored its faculty who wanted to join the Big Ten back in 1999 in order to keep their NBC gig. The reason that's so significant is because ESPN's Adam Rittenberg estimated that the TV deal the Irish would get in the Big Ten could be twice as much money as they'd get by staying independent.

Money talks, and Notre Dame may walk... right into the Big Ten's arms.

A New Argument for Notre Dame to Join the Big Ten

After yet another season of mediocrity, a Chicago Sun Times columnist has taken an interesting tack to the question of whether or not Notre Dame ought to swallow their pride and join the Big Ten.

The argument in many ways makes sense, and it's what you've heard before. It's better for the non-football sports - especially men's and women's basketball. It's better for academics.

But as veteran writer Herb Gould points out, the best incentive for joining the Big Ten is that it would reduce the pressure on Notre Dame. "At Notre Dame, having no conference pretty much puts the Irish on a jittery tightrope from the opening kickoff every season. The Subway Alumni need to realize the days of Rockne and Leahy and Ara -- and even Holtz -- are over. Everybody's on TV. Everybody can recruit and play a national schedule."

Gould said the money issue with NBC could be worked out, and there's a really sensible way to do that. Give NBC the option on taking the #1 Big Ten game every week that Notre Dame is at home, and first choice of Big Ten games that don't involve the Irish when they're on the road. NBC would pay more and, in return, get the occasional Michigan-Ohio State, Penn State-MSU or Iowa-Wisconsin, big games that drive national ratings.

That said, Gould also calls for ND to fire Charlie Weis and hire Cincy's Brian Kelly (the guy MSU would have hired had it not been for one M. Dantonio). And that would make sense - so don't worry about that happening. Still, we can dream can't we?

Final Four Friday: Biggest Football Rivalry

It's Michigan week, universally regarded as the biggest weekend for Spartan football each and every year. Or is it?

Michigan State plays a total of four trophy games in football, so using those as a jumping off point, here is the final four of MSU football rivalries:

Indiana

Everyone loves a winner, right? Well, the Old Brass Spittoon is the only trophy game MSU has won more times than it has lost. In fact, MSU holds a 40-12-1 series edge over the Hoosiers, including wins in the last two. The three biggest things holding back this game? 1) Indiana is usually terrible. 2) Indiana, while close to East Lansing, is arguably 11th on the list of Big Ten must-visit venues, and a good away experience is critical for developing rivalries. 3) The game almost never matters in the context of big-time bowl games.

Michigan

But for a few exceptions, Michigan has owned this series, both historically and recently. Sure, we had a good run under Nick Saban, and Bobby Williams won in 2001 (thanks in large part to Jeff Smoker, T.J. Duckett and - if Michigan fans are to be believed - Spartan Bob). Since then, however, we've only won one - last year's contest in Ann Arbor.

That said, Spartan fans don't get up for any game like they do for Michigan. It's a singular story line that dominates entire seasons. Last year, despite the run to the Capital One Bowl, was all about whether MSU would get back at Michigan after Mike Hart's "Little Brother" comments. Bobby Williams got fired following a blowout loss. It's the only game on the schedule that carries that kind of weight.

Notre Dame

This one comes close, however. And, it has the added benefit of actually being an annually competitive series.

Notre Dame has always been a big game, but it seems like the rivalry has managed to grow in recent years. The planting of the Spartan flag at Notre Dame Stadium, Charlie Weis' "guarantee", the phantom punch that Weis whined about, all of it. And that's just the last few years. Add in the Game of the Century and you've got a great rivalry tradition that's as good now as it ever was.

Penn State

The Land Grant Trophy is the largest of all of MSU's contested trophies, a metaphorical sign of how big the two schools hope the rivalry becomes. There was some talk last year that this end-of-season game might supplant Michigan-Ohio State as the premier closing game, however MSU has never really held up its end of the bargain by being good enough on a consistent basis.

As is, this is a rivalry most marked by how polite it is. I mean, Penn State fans gave M. Peter McPherson a standing ovation at Beaver Stadium when he retired as MSU's president. Penn State doesn't hate MSU, if anything they barely care. Sure, there's that whole "who was the first land grant university" thing, but it's hard to get really energized about a timing question from 1855.

And the winner is... Michigan.

Notre Dame is a huge rivalry, but nothing comes close to Michigan. Nothing.

Your Team Sucked, Here's Your Money Back

Ever been to a game that was so terrible you wish you could just get your money back? I can think of a few: The 2003 loss to Louisiana Tech was brutal. That come-from-ahead loss against Notre Dame in 2006. Central Michigan a week ago.

Well, the Oregon-Boise State game a few weeks ago was just such a game for Tony Seminary, a 1996 Oregon grad who e-mailed Coach Chip Kelly and asked for his money back - not just for the tickets but for the entire cost of his trip to Boise - some $439 in all.

And guess what? Kelly cut him a check. Seminary didn't cash the check, but wow, what a display from the coach.

Perhaps I should invoice Bobby Williams...

Gameday Forecast: MSU @ Notre Dame

If you're traveling down to Spartan Stadium South for today's game, bring along a sweatshirt for tailgating, but leave it in the car and take some extra sunscreen and water for the game. The sun is already up over South Bend, with tailgating temperatures rising to the 60's quickly.

By game time, the temperature will be mid 70's with sunny skies. There will be a light wind, but nothing that Swenson needs to worry about.

It's a beautiful day for football!

What We're Playing For: The Megaphone

We're putting off Final Four Friday for a week to examine the thing MSU and Notre Dame are playing for Saturday: The Megaphone.

The Megaphone trophy is a college football institution, begun in 1949 and handed out annually to the game's winner. The trophy is jointly sponsored by the Detroit alumni club of MSU and Notre Dame. Half of it is blue, half is green, and it sits on a base so you can't actually talk through the thing.

Unlike the three other trophies MSU plays for, however, they're not actually going to be presenting the original Megaphone on the field.

Instead, the trophy MSU's 2008 team is holding aloft in the picture at left is the third such megaphone. Each score is printed on the trophy and they've run out of room twice, hence the three trophies. However, the schools do take possession of all three trophies between games.

Notre Dame is one of four trophy games Michigan State plays (the others are Indiana, Michigan and Penn State). Notre Dame has five trophy games (USC, Purdue, Boston College and Stanford are the others).

The Irish have dominated the series with Michigan State, 44-27-1 since the Megaphone was introduced. The Irish won it in each of their first eight tries, and 15 of the first 17 times. However, MSU has owned the series of late, winning nine of the last 12 games (including the last six away contests).

Here's hoping those winning ways continue.

Destination: South Bend

I wanted to write something about things to do in South Bend, but there's just one problem. Each of the three games I've been to there I've never strayed off campus. Don't get me wrong, the campus is gorgeous, but there's got to be more to South Bend, right?

So to give our readers a real feel for the place, I turned to my friend Ed Ronco, a former State News editor-in-chief who was until recently a reporter for the South Bend Tribune. I asked Ed to give me an idea of a few things people shouldn't miss in South Bend.

He kindly obliged and what follows is a local's guide to the best spots in South Bend. Enjoy!

Restaurants

IRISH/AMERICAN: Fiddler's Hearth, 127 N. Main St.: An Irish pub big on authentic atmosphere (everything on the wall has a reason for being there, for example; not just a decoration from "corporate") and very comfortable. Lots of beers on tap, food late, and all ages welcome at all hours. Live (generally acoustic) music every night. My favorite place in town.

ASIAN: Cambodia Thai, 229 S. Michigan St.: If you didn't know where it is already, you'd never find it, but it has the best Thai food in town. Small; could be hard to get a table, but robust and tasty -- the way Thai food would be if you picked it up from a street vendor. Siam Thai, 211 N. Michigan St., also has good food, but in a more delicate preparation and a fancier atmosphere. Thai food for a less adventurous palate, I think. Mandarin House, 2104 Edison Road, near campus (and five doors down from my old house): Traditional Chinese food in a white-tablecloth atmosphere. Reasonable prices. Walkable from campus.

PIZZA: Barnaby's Pizza, 713 E. Jefferson St.: Just across the river from downtown. GREAT pizza in a dark, cavernous Bavarian-style beerhaus. Family friendly. And seriously, the pizza is crazy good.

WHOLE FAMILY: The Emporium, 121 S. Niles Ave.: Standard fare, right on the St. Joseph River. Nice atmosphere, great view of downtown's "skyline," if you could call it that. Salads, burgers, steak, etc.

BEST KEPT SECRET: Chicago Taqueria, 2920 W. Western Ave.: Authentic, DELICIOUS Mexican food on the city's West Side. Breakfast all day, including huevos con chorizo, my favorite. The tacos al pastor are great as well.

FINE DINING: The Vine, 103 W. Colfax Ave.: AMAZING food and a lovely atmosphere. Reasonable prices for a fine dining establishment. LaSalle Grille, 115 W. Colfax Ave.: The most upscale restaurant in town. Go upstairs to its "Club LaSalle" bar for some classy music in a classy environment.

OTHER: Trio's Jazz Club, 129 N. Michigan St.: The jazz is great, the food is incredible, and the bar is a lot of fun, too. Great listening without the music being too loud to have a conversation. And if you can't get there for dinner, check out the Sunday brunch. One of South Bend's newest places, it's really taken off, and deserves to.

Bars and Hangout Spots

Simeri's Old Town Tap, 1505 W. Indiana Ave.: Simeri's Old Town Tap doesn't look like much from the outside, or from the inside, for that matter -- your run of the mill neighborhood bar. But take a few more steps out the side door just beyond the bar, and you end up in a huge courtyard/performance space. Simeri's bought the house next door, and installed a garage door in the side of it, then put up a stage outside the door. It's one-of-a-kind, and well-hidden from outsiders. 21+, but a varied crowd.

Corby's Irish Pub, 441 E. LaSalle Ave.: College bar. Depending on the time of day, it's either empty or jam-packed full. Thumping tunes, lots of dancing. More room to stand than sit. Pitchers o' beer. Pool tables and darts, too. You know the kind of place.

Club Noma, 119 N. Michigan St.: Put on the good shoes and iron the collar for this uberstylish "go clubbing" kind of place. Pricey.

Madison Oyster Bar, 129 N. Main St.: After Fiddler's Hearth closes at a relatively early 1 a.m., many people migrate here to keep the party going. This is more bar than restaurant, although you can get food late.

Things to Do

South Bend Civic Theatre, 403 N. Main St.: Catch a play here Friday nights, after an early game, or Sunday afternoon. With 15 shows a year, something's always playing. One of the country's best community theatres with numerous awards to its name, including a production named second place in the country this year. Beautiful old Scottish Rite temple converted to two performance spaces: a 200-seat traditional stage upstairs and a 90 seat black-box theatre downstairs. Some shows sell out quickly. Info at http://www.facebook.com/l/20f15;www.sbct.org.

Potawatomi Zoo. For directions/info, http://www.facebook.com/l/20f15;www.potawatomizoo.org.

A Touch of Class From Ann Arbor

There's an old and sacred rule in sports media: No cheering in the press box.

According to the New York Times, the violation of that rule wasn't just a freak occurrence, but it was actually encouraged in the press box at Michigan Stadium as their PA guy announced the final score from the MSU - Central game, at which point a huge roar went up from the assembled media.

The PA guy's quote: “Cheering is not allowed in the press box, but it is right now.”

The first draft of this post had me going off on those journalists' credibility, decrying the cheering lot of them as unprofessional hacks. That seemed a bit, um, direct, so let me instead remind all the Michigan reporters at that game that a large part of their beat this year is chasing the fallout from a single report that saw each of them got their journalistic backsides handed to them by the Detroit Free Press. Hope that's going well for ya.

As for the Notre Dame writers, well, I'm actually disappointed. I've never had a bad experience in covering 3 MSU games at Notre Dame Stadium. Everyone I met, from the staff to the writers, were professionals who truly seemed to take pride in what they did. They all understood what it meant to cover Notre Dame football, Touchdown Jesus, Wake up the Echoes, all of it. Epitome of class, every one of them.

That's why this was really out of character. Rubbing salt in an opponent's wounds just isn't the Notre Dame way.

I don't expect to hear of much cheering in the press box this weekend. Either A) the Notre Dame media will have learned their lesson, or B) their team will have lost. And given that MSU is on a six-game winning streak in South Bend, I like the odds of option B.

Update: Just saw Joe Rexrode's post on this subject, where he points out that not everyone in the press box is working media. That's true, but I'd make the following three points:

1. The no cheer rule is still always explicitly stated before (and usually during) the game.
2. The overwhelming majority of people in the press box are working press or athletic department staff. Usually about 90 percent or so.
   
3. "Waiving" that rule, even if you're trying to be funny, is tacky at best and classless at worst.

I should mention, by the way, that the next time folks head into the Spartan Stadium press box to cover a game it will be against the Wolverines.

MSU-Michigan Could Be a Night Game

Update: Joe Rexrode reports that this game has been finalized as a 3:30 p.m. kick. From an answer to a question in his LSJ chat today:

Joe Rexrode: Thank you for asking, BNS. to make this clear, the Michigan game is NOT a night game and will not be. It will be noon or 3:30. Night games for that weekend on the networks are already established.

Honestly, that's probably for the best. I love night games, but I stand by my analysis below that night games involving the University of Michigan are a bad idea given student safety concerns. Still, two night games this year is enough to be getting on with, surely.

--

Michigan State, for the first time in its history, could play a pair of home night games this season.

The Iowa game on October 24 has been confirmed as a 7 p.m. kick. That will allow for maximum TV exposure on either ESPN or ABC, one of which I'm pretty confident will pick up that game (likely ABC, if Iowa and MSU play as expected).

But in an interesting policy shift, MSU officials said there's a chance Michigan will be a night game too. The Lansing State Journal reported yesterday that it's a done deal, and that the game will kick at 8 p.m., though officials at MSU this morning told me that the start time has yet to be finalized and they "don't know where the LSJ got their information from."

Still, the fact that they're even discussing a night game against Michigan is a massive change of plans for a university that at one time considered banning night games altogether. Incidents of drunken debauchery and sexual assaults after previous night games led Ron Mason to all-but swear them off - backed to the hilt by the president's office.

In 2005, when I was on the East Lansing Riot Review Commission, we talked at length about "disturbances" and MSU football. The consensus was basically that it wasn't really an issue, though MSU and East Lansing police did say that their incident calls increased dramatically around night games.

The one thing that did worry us, again, not on the riot level but on a student safety level, was a night game against Michigan. People already pre-drink the Michigan game to a level not generally seen for other games, and being able to go until 8 p.m. would be a staggering amount of time for one to get one's buzz on.

I don't know if the LSJ's account is accurate - it wasn't written by Joe Rexrode, but it hasn't been corrected either - but if it is right, that will be one crazy night. I'm just hoping in a good way.

By the way, it's worth mentioning that MSU has an away night game scheduled as well. We'll be playing Minnesota at 8 p.m. on Halloween in their brand new TCF Bank Stadium.

Scalpers: ND is MSU's Biggest Game

Sticking with our recent look at football ticket pricing, I came across something recently that those of you planning a trip to Spartan Stadium South - a.k.a. Notre Dame Stadium - may want to consider. And start saving for.

An analysis of ticket resale prices for Michigan State football games shows that, by a wide margin, the year's most anticipated game is MSU's road trip to Notre Dame, at an average cost of $340 a piece.

Remarkably enough, it's the first time in years that the most expensive college football ticket involving a Michigan school doesn't involve the Wolverines. MSU-Notre Dame easily beat out Ohio State-Michigan and the Spartans' priciest home game, Michigan at Michigan State.

In fact, the game against the Irish is the tenth most expensive regular season game in college football, period. Number one, at $574 per ticket, is preseason number one Florida at LSU. The Ohio State-Michigan game, played this year in Ann Arbor, comes in at 19th.

As for the home games, Michigan is easily the most expensive, followed a long way off by Penn State. Iowa is third, followed by Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Northwestern. All those games are projected sellouts. The Montana State game, as we reported yesterday, is the only one not expected to sell out.

These rankings, of course, may change throughout the season as teams win or lose and demand rises or falls. However, given the gulf in price between the Notre Dame game and anything else, my guess is that the Irish will remain atop this board all season.

A Top-Five Mascot

The Washington Times has decided to rate the top mascot brands in college athletics, and wouldn't you know it but a familiar face found its way into the top five.

Yep, sitting there at number four is our very own Sparty. Here's the Times' rationale:

Though the school's nickname has been the Spartans since 1925, the brawny, foam rubber incarnation didn't appear until 1989. Sparty has been a dominant force since, winning best mascot at the Universal Cheer and Dance Association College Nationals three times. EA Sports recently conducted a poll to see which mascot would become the first nonathlete to grace the cover of its NCAA Football 09 edition, and Sparty won by more than 75,000 votes.

Sparty was bested by that annoying Notre Dame leprechaun, the Duke Blue Devil, and Otto the Orange from Syracuse. Florida State's Chief Osceola came fifth.

And to that I say: Are you kidding me, Washington Times, a freakin' orange? Over the guy Muscle and Fitness Magazine named "Buffest Mascot" in America? The only thing likely to come of a battle between Otto and Sparty is juice.

Outrage aside, I can forgive the Times for their misstep. See, they don't have much college football in the D.C. area. And the best D-1 program the Times covers is Maryland, whose idea of a fearsome mascot is a turtle.

Final Four Friday: Non-Conference Games

The big topic on ESPN.com this week is college football non-conference scheduling. Specifically, that certain schools (Penn State, Wisconsin) don't do squat in terms of actually trying to put tough teams on the schedule.

Michigan State wasn't listed among the wimpy schools, nor was it among the giant killers. So given that State has scheduled four non-conference games, we'll take a look at one fan's view of the most anticipated non-conference games.

Montana State - Quite frankly, I'm not excited about this game at all. It's patently offensive that we're even playing them. MSU, to this point, is one of just four FBS schools to have NEVER played an FCS school - and the Grizzlies will end that streak the first game of the season. So what if we win by five touchdowns? I don't care if we win 100-0. It's blood money we're giving them, and I absolutely hate it. No guaranteed money is worth killing our streak.

Central Michigan - On paper, this is a great matchup for MSU. Dan "Catch the" LeFevour returns to quarterback an explosive Chippewa offense, and a lack of Chips defense should make this a very high scoring game. You don't want to sit there in the early part of the season and watch a defensive struggle, do you? No, you don't. And this won't be one.

Notre Dame - Touchdown Jesus, Charlie Weis and Jimmy Claussen. In South Bend. Very few things could be better than this. I mean, this is what Spartan football is all about. The annual rivalry is a huge game for MSU, and is arguably one of the biggest games each year. Oddly enough, this is the start of the biggest three-game stretch for State this year - @ ND, @ Wisconsin, home to Michigan. Win those three, and it may be hello to a New Years Day bowl game yet again.

Western Michigan - This game was meant to be played at Ford Field, except the troublesome Michigan economy forced Western to abandon the "home" game in favor of a road trip to Spartan Stadium. I can't say much about the Spartans-Broncos game, except that it's the second Directional Michigan game this year, and it comes late in the season between visits to Minnesota and Purdue.

And the winner is... Notre Dame.

If I've got to see just one game, based on how good the game will be, it's probably Central. But I'd rather see Charlie "We'll never lose to State again" Weis have to eat his words one more time - and in front of his home fans - than almost anything else this football season. Bring on the Irish!

Alumni Club Spotlight: Maryland

Today we're introducing an occasional feature spotlighting MSU alumni clubs around the nation. They're the first friends a Spartan has in a new town, folks who share a timeless bond even though they may have just met.

So with that in mind, we wanted to focus on some of MSU's alumni groups during the dog days of summer, so those of you outside mid-Michigan can get an idea of who you'll be watching football with this fall.

First in the series is the MSU Alumni Club of Maryland, my local chapter.

Geographic reach: All of Maryland north of the Washington D.C. Beltway, but particularly in the Baltimore area.

Home base: Greene Turtle restaurant, Towson, Md. Towson is an affluent suburb of Baltimore, located about 20 minutes north of the city. Think Birmingham, Mich., compared to Detroit, and you're not far off.

Active membership: Big-time football games and the Final Four drew between 30 and 50 people this past school year. Members' ages range from recent grads to retired, with no one age group dominating. The club's Facebook group has 42 members.

Activities: Viewing parties for every football game and the biggest basketball games, including the NCAA Tournament. The annual Detroit Tigers visit to Camden Yards to face the Baltimore Orioles is always a big draw.

Traditions: During football viewing parties, one member leads the club in the fight song after every MSU touchdown. Usually fairly loudly.

Fun fact: The Maryland alumni club of the University of Notre Dame also meets at the Greene Turtle in Towson. MSU had about 40 people there during the MSU-Notre Dame game. The Irish had four.

If you'd like us to feature your alumni club in a spotlight, just let us know.

Photo courtesy of Chris Hanley, MSU Alumni Club of Maryland

Final Four Friday: 12th Team

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno told ESPN Thursday that he wants a 12th team to enter the Big Ten. He also wants to explore the idea of playing later in the season, possibly a championship game in December.

Paterno suggested three schools: Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Rutgers. I'm with him on one of those, Pitt, but to me, Syracuse and Rutgers are just not within the Big Ten footprint. So who, if the Big Ten does add one squad, should it be? The answer to that is today's Final Four Friday.

Cincinnati

Cincy isn't often mentioned in the Big Ten conversation, but they should be. First off, the school sits in a natural market for the conference. It's central, so most teams wouldn't have to travel as far to play them, which is a big concern for schools like Indiana and Illinois that don't make much money off football. Plus, the Big East is probably the easiest BCS conference to leave. I mean heck, if Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College could do it, Cincy could too.

Iowa State

The Cyclones are the natural rival of the Iowa Hawkeyes and, as an added bonus, aren't really a natural fit for the Big 12. They're just sort of out there randomly, well out of the way. This switch would be a bit trickier than Cincy, in that you'd basically have to convince the Big 12 to pick up another squad they'd be equally happy with (Texas Christian and SMU are options). On the down side, Iowa State is smack dab in the middle of ain't nowhere, and their TV stations are already in the Big Ten market, so you don't really get much added value.

Notre Dame

It's the 800-pound gorilla in any talk about Big Ten expansion, simply because Notre Dame brings so much to the table. They're the only school in college football to have its own network deal. There's a massive alumni base, with a ton of donors and a big endowment. The school has national appeal, and any number of games (Michigan, MSU, Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin) would be must-see TV every time. The only difficulty: The Irish have had a chance to join many times before and balked at every turn.

Pittsburgh

There's a lot to like about Pitt. Start with the fact that Penn State gets a natural rival to play every year. Add to it a great basketball program and you've got a pretty good athletic program that would instantly impact the conference. Not only that, but the academics are pretty darn solid as well.

And the winner is...

It's a tough choice this week. Even getting to a Final Four was tough, as schools like Missouri, Louisville, Rutgers, Syracuse and West Virginia all have great arguments for getting in.

As for the winnner, I'd usually go with Notre Dame, but I'm just so tired of dealing with all that, well, crap about ND joining. First they want in, then not. Then they might do it, but not for football. Or maybe they will as long as they can keep their TV deal. You know what? Enough. They don't want in, so that's that. Let's take someone who might.

Congrats to the Pitt Panthers, the (should-be) newest members of the Big Ten Conference!