Fact or Fiction: USC & UCLA to the Big Ten, Who's Next, What Happens to the Pac-12
Fact or Fiction - Big Ten Realignment
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In today’s Fact or Fiction, I look at three big recent topics in college football and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text]
Fact or Fiction:
USC and UCLA will both succeed in the Big Ten
Farrell’s take: FICTION
Think about all realignment in recent years. A team may have success here and there but there aren’t great success stories. Miami, Virginia Tech, Boston College all had ups and downs in the ACC, mostly downs and Pitt has been solid while Syracuse has been bad for the most part. In the Big Ten Nebraska has been dismal, Rutgers and Maryland sometimes embarrassing, and in the SEC Missouri started hot but has faded and Texas A&M has been their usual selves. In the Pac-12, Utah has been good while Colorado has not, and in the Big 12 it’s just up and down with TCU having some good seasons and West Virginia falling off. As I said, it’s hit or miss and mostly miss. So while it looks good for USC and this could be the jolt of life UCLA needs, remember how dominant Miami was supposed to be when the Big East disbanded. Nothing is ever certain and one of these programs will fall further than they have.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text]
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Fact or Fiction:
Washington and Oregon are next
Farrell’s take: FACT
These are the two other valuable programs in the PAC 12 when it comes to fan base, geography and recent success. Washington has fallen off a bit but they made the playoff at least and Oregon has been excellent for a long time. While Cal and Stanford are attractive to the Big Ten because of their academics, the Ducks and Huskies give the Big Ten bigger reach out west with USC and UCLA representing California. These two will follow if allowed.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text]
Fact or Fiction:
The Big Ten will stop at four from the PAC 12
Farrell’s take: FICTION
Why stop? The contiguous state thing is real as odd as it sounds. It may sounds stupid but adding Colorado, Utah and Arizona and Arizona State allows for a true West and East split of sorts, more markets and a potential solution to the insane travel that could come if just the states of California, Oregon and Washington are targeted. Someone is going to snap up Utah, possibly a Big 12 push as BYU is entering as well, and the SEC will look to reach out west so Arizona and Arizona State could be targeted. The Big Ten might as well keep pushing west.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
