Big 12 Expansion Tracker

ACC Expansion Targets
Boston College
Overview:	Boston College (BC) is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts with a total enrollment of 13,200.
Interest Level:	High: BC was never a fit for ACC and its athletic programs have suffered.
Strengths:	BC delivers the 7th largest TV market in the United States.
Weaknesses:	Mediocre football and basketball programs.
Trending:	Neutral – Despite the large TV market BC is only attractive as a travel partner Notre Dame.
Other Suitors:	BC's affiliation with the Jesuits may mean Notre Dame will insist on bringing them along wherever they end up.
Clemson
Overview:	Clemson is an American public, coeducational, land-grant and sea-grant research university with a total of 15,346 undergraduate and 3,743 graduate students.
Interest Level:	High: Clemson's athletic budget and its commitment to championship football make it a bad fit for the ACC.
Strengths:	BCS championship level football program and fanatic following and a huge TV market.
Weaknesses:	Close relationship with FSU may harm chances of Big 12 membership if FSU loses interest.
Trending:	> 80% - Clemson has an unofficial offer from the Big 12 and has formed a committee to look at the issues surrounding Big 12 membership. They need the increased revenue Big 12 membership offers to compete with South Carolina and surrounding SEC members.
Other Suitors:	Clemson has little hope of SEC membership as long as South Carolina blocks their application.
Florida State University
Overview:	The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university and the flag-ship university of Florida.
Interest Level:	Very, very High: FSU's poor financial shape means it needs an influx of much needed cash into the athletic programs.
Strengths:	Historically strong football program with great following and a huge TV market.
Weaknesses:	Rumored financial problems within the athletic department.
Trending:	> 95%: FSU has an unofficial offer from the Big 12 and has formed a committee to look at the issues surrounding Big 12 membership. Like Clemson they need the increased revenue Big 12 membership offers to compete with in-state rival Florida and surrounding SEC members. Additionally FSU's athletic department is leaking money.
Other Suitors:	FSU has little hope of SEC membership as long as Florida blocks their application.
Georgia Tech
Overview:	The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university and a part of the University System of Georgia.
Interest Level:	High: Georgia Tech desires to upgrade their football program and get out of the shadow of Georgia.
Strengths:	Georgia Tech boasts the 8th largest TV market in the United States and has a rising football program.
Weaknesses:	GT's football program is currently not at the level of either Clemson or FSU year in and year out.
Trending:	50%: Georgia Tech is an academic elitst wannabe in love with Tabacco Road and the Ivory Tower. However if FSU leaves its almost a certainty that others will leave too and the fear of mass defections in the ACC have driven Tech to open talks with the Big 12. GT would be an attractive member because ND would like the academic boast GT would give the Big 12. Despite what you may hear and read, GT is talking to the Big 12 and that's a complete change from their position just a month ago.
Other Suitors:	GT's academic prowess makes it a target of the Big 10, but the Big 10 has recently cooled on Tech due to travel. Georgia is blocking any chance GT has for SEC membership.
Maryland
Overview:	The University of Maryland is a top-ranked public research university.
Interest Level:	High: Maryland was in talks with the Big East before WVU, Pitt, Syracuse and TCU left that conference.
Strengths:	Maryland gives the Big 12 entry into the 9th largest TV market in the United States.
Weaknesses:	Financial disarray and a football program that took a major step back in 2011. Ugly uniforms.
Trending:	< 50%. Clemson, FSU and Georgia Tech are higher on the Big 12's wish list. Maryland has spoken with the Big 12.
Other Suitors:	Possibly Big 10.

Big East Expansion Targets
Cincinnati
Overview:	The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university and has an annual enrollment of over 40,000 students, making it one of the largest universities in the U.S.
Interest Level:	High: They are in the Big East and want off the sinking ship.
Strengths:	Solid football and basketball programs.
Weaknesses:	Small stadium and very little history.
Trending:	0% - The Bearcats don't have much appeal to the Big 12's TV partners and are therefore an extremly long shot for expansion.
Other Suitors:	None
Louisville
Overview:	The University of Louisville was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Interest Level:	High: They are in the Big East and want off the sinking ship.
Strengths:	Charlie Strong has the football program heading in the right direction and the basketball program is solid.
Weaknesses:	Success on the football field has historically been tied to the coach. If Strong leaves expect Louisville to take steps back.
Trending:	25% - The Cardinals, despite having great programs, don't have much appeal to the Big 12's TV partners and are therefore an extremly long shot for expansion.
Other Suitors:	ACC - The Cardinals are currently in active talks with the ACC to replace potentially departing members.
Rutgers
Overview:	Rutgers is the state university of New Jersey.
Interest Level:	High: They are in the Big East and want off the sinking ship.
Strengths:	None other than being in the largest TV market in the United States.
Weaknesses:	Poor to mediocre football program and weak basketball program.
Trending:	0%
Other Suitors:	ACC - The RU is currently in active talks with the ACC to replace potentially departing members.

Independent Expansion Targets
BYU
Overview:	Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.[6][7] Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students are members of the LDS Church, and one-third of its American students come from within the state of Utah.
Interest Level:	High
Strengths:	Known football brand. Large national TV following.
Weaknesses:	Small home TV market. Religious constraints on Sunday travel make scheduling difficult. TV rights belong to ESPN.
Trending:	Down: BYU refuses to play on Sunday which isn't an issue in
Other Suitors:	Big East
Notre Dame
Overview:	The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university.
Interest Level:	Medium
Strengths:	Well-known football program and decent basketball program. Huge national fan base.
Weaknesses:	NBC owns the rights to ND home games. ND football has been mediocre at best recently.
Trending:	Up: ND fears the disappearance of the AQ which puts them into the BCS if they finish in the top 15. Scheduling agreements like those between the Pac 12 and Big 10 will make scheduling more difficult in the future. Very real possibility of Big East basketball schools breaking away from Big East football schools would leave them without a home for their Olympic sports. Neither the ACC or Big 10 are willing to allow ND to retain the rights to their home football games. The Big 12 is willing to do so. A BCS formula which requires a conf. championship to qualify for the playoffs forces ND into a conference.
Other Suitors:	Big 10, Pac 12, ACC
Crazy Go Nuts University
Overview:	Ranked the #1 party school in the United States for the 21st year in a row by Forbes Magazine.
Interest Level:	High
Strengths:	Greatest 6-man football program in the history of the sport. Lead by legendary Coach Skunk McPhillips.
Weaknesses:	Small, exclusive enrollment. High academic and party standards. Death of star QB Homestar Runner blamed on pre-game bong party.
Trending:	Down.
Other Suitors:	Ivy League, Big East.

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