More Big Ten Expansion? Utah rumored to be candidate for further league expansion
More Big Ten Expansion? Utah rumored to be candidate for further league expansion Breaking down the latest Big Ten expansion rumor -- which is focused around the Utah Utes
Could the Big Ten be looking to expand yet again? There is an interesting rumor out there right now surrounding one school linking up with the league.
There is a rumor swirling around the web right now that the Big Ten is interested in adding Utah as a new member to the league. The rumor started with a message board post and has since been picked up by at least a pair of notable podcasts related to the Big Ten, including Locked on Big Ten.
Craig Shemon -- host of Locked on Big Ten -- talked about the thought of Utah joining the Big Ten during an episode on Wednesday where he broke down the rumor. Shemon said the rumor could have some merit to it since Utah does meet a number of the Big Ten checklist items. But he also noted how Utah just joined the Big 12 last year and there would be a number of financial hurdles for the Utes to clear to even consider leaving for the Big Ten.
Shemon added that it seems very unlikely that anything could materialize between the Big Ten and Utah for at least a few years, but down the road it would make sense for the Big Ten to add the Utes when the league is ready to expand again. The full break down from Shemon can be found in the video below:
My Take on Big Ten-Utah Expansion Rumors
This feels like something that probably doesn't even warrant a post since it started on a message board. But let's not forget that some of the biggest moves and stories have started with message board posts. So let's not just instantly dismiss the idea of Utah eventually joining the Big Ten. The key word there being eventually...
Like Shemon said in his recent podcast episode, this doesn't seem like a move that is anywhere near close to being done. But I wouldn't be surprised if Utah was on a shortlist of schools that the Big Ten is targeting in future expansion. It would make sense for the Big Ten to look out west again in its next expansion to help spread its footprint more equally and make travel easier for the other newcomers (USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington).
So for now, I wouldn't spend too much time looking into this one. But in three or four years, I wouldn't be surprised it we see Utah joining the Big Ten along with a few other western schools.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
28 minutes ago
- USA Today
MSU hockey to face Ferris State in Great Lakes Invitational this year
MSU hockey to face Ferris State in Great Lakes Invitational this year The Great Lakes Invitational returns for its 59th installment on December 28-29, 2025 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids! We'll take on Ferris State at 7:00 p.m. on Dec. 28 in a field that also features Michigan Tech and Miami. Tickets go on sale in September at… — Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) June 9, 2025 The 59th annual Great Lakes Invitational was confirmed on Monday, with the Spartans' matchup for the event announced as well. The official schedule and details for this year's Great Lakes Invitational has been announced, with the Spartans set to face in-state rival Ferris State in the semifinals. Michigan Tech will play Miami (OH) in the other semifinals matchup, with the Spartans playing one of those two teams in either the championship or third-place game. The tournament will be held on December 28 and 29 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. Michigan Tech and Miami (OH) will meet in the first semifinal on December 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET, with the Spartans and Bulldogs playing in the second game that'll begin at approximately 7 p.m. ET. The winners of the semifinal matchups will play in the championship game at 7 p.m. ET on December 29, while the two losers will play prior to that in the consolation game at 3:30 p.m. ET. Michigan State captured its first Great Lakes Invitational championship since 2009 this past season, beating eventual national champion Western Michigan in the finals. The Spartans will again be a contender to win this event, with Michigan State expected to be a preseason top five team again this upcoming season. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners earn commitment from 2026 blue chip offensive lineman
Oklahoma Sooners earn commitment from 2026 blue chip offensive lineman The Oklahoma Sooners added their ninth pledge in the 2026 recruiting class on Monday, picking up a commitment from four-star offensive lineman Noah Best. Best is the No. 15 interior offensive lineman in the class according to Rivals and is also a four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite and On3 Industry ranking. Best marks the second offensive line commitment in the class, joining Will Conroy, another interior offensive line prospect in 2026. Best chose the Sooners over offers from Missouri and Kansas State and had a total of 24 Power Four offers across the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12. It's a big win for Bill Bedenbaugh and the Oklahoma Sooners, who add another physical interior offensive lineman of the future. Best is a force at the point of attack and imposes his will on defenders. He moves really well in space, displaying the athleticism to pull across the formation and climb to the second level in the run game. As a pass protector, Best displays really good footwork. He doesn't allow defenders to beat him around the edge. He's a strong player. Once he gets his hands on the rusher, they don't go anywhere. Although he projects as a guard at the collegiate level, his experience and the talent he has shown at offensive tackle will provide Best the position flexibility to make an impact at multiple spots along the offensive line. More: Oklahoma Sooners 2026 recruiting commitment tracker Noah Best's Recruiting Profile Watch Noah Best's Highlights on Hudl. Rating Stars Overall Position State ESPN 3 -- 35 66 Rivals 4 -- 15 36 247Sports 3 -- 29 53 247 Composite 4 403 34 54 On3 Recruiting 3 -- 31 62 On3 Industry 4 388 30 51 Vitals Hometown Midlothian, Texas Projected Position Interior Offensive Line Height 6-foot-4 Weight 295 pounds Recruitment Offered on June 6, 2024 Attended Oklahoma's junior day on Jan. 25. Official Visit June 6-8 Notable Offers Per 247Sports Oklahoma Arizona State Arkansas Auburn Baylor Georgia Tech Houston Kansas LSU Michigan Missouri Nebraska North Texas Oklahoma State Ole Miss SMU TCU Texas Texas A&M Texas Tech UCLA UTEP Wisconsin Kansas State California Memphis Stanford Social Media Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ohio State AD Ross Bjork reacts to NCAA House Settlement, outlines basic framework
In case you missed it, a judge approved the NCAA House Settlement late last week, not only setting aside distribution payouts for former athletes, but also paving the way for direct payment to student-athletes. Name, Image and Likeness will still be in play, but now anything over $600 will need to be approved by an NCAA Clearinghouse, meaning some of the larger deals will be harder to broker and more in the open, or else, face penalties of some sort. This impacts all schools, big and large, but significantly restructures and reorganizes efforts in recruiting, NIL, and roster management at the biggest of schools and football factories like Ohio State. So then, wouldn't it be interesting to see what those in the suits on the banks of the Olentangy have to say about the development that was a long time coming? Sure it would. And, on that note, Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork did provide a statement to the media in preparation for a further press conference later this week that puts a straw man template in place for the position he'll take to lead the OSU program through the changes coming. 'The signing of the House settlement Friday by Judge Claudia Wilken will reshape collegiate athletics. Ohio State and schools around the country will now be permitted to directly compensate student-athletes through revenue sharing, which is actually institutional NIL rights," Bjork said in a statement. "The Department of Athletics will fully fund the revenue sharing program, which will total $20.5 million and includes funding for additional scholarships for both women's and men's sports. We remain committed to maintaining the student-athlete model, offering 36 intercollegiate sports and providing scholarships to all 36.' There will be more to come at the presser later this week, but we can take a couple of things from his statement. First, the revenue sharing program will be fully funded by the Department of Athletics. Maybe this was a foregone conclusion, but it does raise questions on several logistics like the proverbial how, when, and where this will all happen. Secondly, the amount of funding looks like it has been outlined. Maybe things will change a little north or south of this number (again, we'll find out more Thursday), but the total looks to be $20.5 million. Also, and very important, many had to wonder if this new model would mean the loss of scholarships and other athletic programs of some of the non-revenue sports. It looks like there will be an effort to keep all 36 sports with both men and women, all funded through the model. Maybe that's too optimistic, maybe not -- we'll have to again take a wait and see approach and wait to hear, see, and feel more. This is a nugget of interesting news, and this is, of course, only the tip of the iceberg of what we'll find out in the coming days, weeks, and months. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X. This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State AD Ross Bjork reacts to House Settlement approval
