Big 10 expansion. What does it mean for Mizzou?

So the Big 10 found a way to put themselves in the spotlight for the next 12-18 months by announcing they were going to add a 12th member to the conference.  This is a big deal in college athletically and financially, and could very possibly start a chain reaction as other conferences try to claim a bigger share of the television pie due to an increased number of potential viewers.   This has a chance to provide more drama than Jon and Kate's divorce. 
The conventional thought is that this comes down to a 4 team race among Missouri, Rutgers, Syracuse and Pitt.  Based on an athletics based decision only, I think Syracuse and Pitt would both be eliminated immediately since I don't believe either wants to leave the Big East.  It's pretty clearly the best basketball league in the country right now and it's an easier run to a BCS bowl, but the Big 10 does offer an attractive slate of lower bowl affiliations that would be an improvement whether you came from the Big East or the Big XII for that matter.  Rutgers however has had very little basketball success other than a trip to the final 4 in the 1975/76 season.  (hey still one more trip than my Tigers have had)  Missouri would be leaving a conference they've been a member of since the Missouri Valley opened it's doors in 1907 with Missouri, Iowa, Washington (Missouri) and kansas.  That's giving up a heck of a lot of history right there.

However, when you compare the amount of television revenue and the distribution, you see that it would be quite a windfall for Missouri were it to receive an offer and then accept it.  The Big 10 distributed around 246 million dollars, around 22 million per team in an equitable split among all conference members.   While Missouri had a good year, finishing in the upper half of the conference at something less than 13 million, it wasn't as rosy for teams like Iowa State, Baylor, Colorado or K State.  Half of the television money collected for a game is the property of the featured teams.  So if you get less appearances, you get less money.  Kind of like having the Super Bowl champ get the first pick in next years draft.  So we immediately see a 9 million dollar raise for Missouri should a move occur. 
Another factor for whoever is offered are travel costs, particularly when it concerns the non revenue generating sports such as wrestling, gymnastics, soccer etc.  Trips to Iowa and Minnesota are going to be expensive from New York and New Jersey.  For Missouri there is no doubt that the travel to Ohio State, Purdue and Penn State are probably further than anything we have now, but the inclusion of Texas, particularly College Station, Waco and Lubbock are hardly day trips.  I don't see this as a deal breaker for anyone involved.

As to possible favorites, there have been rumors in both directions concerning all four of the Universities that are now considered favorites.  I've read that Penn State wants another team from the East to cut down on their travel expenses.  I've also read that they would like to renew their rivalry with Pitt.  Then a few days later that while they'd like another team from the east, no way they want it to be Pitt.  Which is true?  I have no idea. 
The claim with both Syracuse and Rutgers is that they can bring the New York City market if they are included.  However, there is no evidence that either would make much of a blip on the screen.  The fact is, New York has the Yankees, Giants, Rangers and Knicks in that order with the Mets and Jets catching anyone that's left.  Missouri offers the St Louis and Kansas City markets.  However, the Big 10 already has a good presence in the Lou, so the main target would be the KC area, which still would be shared with ku as well as K State.
So, we can see some pluses and minuses for all 4 contenders from both their standpoints as well as the Big 10's.  The Big East has less history but the current success as a basketball conference, while Missouri was one of the two original members left of the conference.  We'd have to remember we'd be losing rivalry's not only with the beaks, but long time conference members such as Nebraska, Iowa State and Oklahoma.  We also have built much of our football success on the staffs ability to recruit the state of Texas.  Would we have as much success if we played in the Big 10 Conference? 

The jury is mixed about whether this makes sense for Missouri athletically.  I personally imagine that Coach Pinkel would prefer staying in the current conference, and in turn, so would Mike Alden.  I think that it would be less important for Coach Anderson.  However, this decision, while it means much to athletics, may well be decided on the academic side.  We haven't talked about the elephant that's sitting here in the room.  That would be the CIC and that's what I'll talk about next time.  Stay warm folks.