The Big Ten Conference has officially sponsored hockey for only a decade, but this year, Big Ten teams made up half of the 8-team field playing in the regional finals, with Minnesota and Michigan advancing to the Frozen Four. Overall, it’s a sign of progress for a conference. But nobody likes an odd number. Big Ten hockey needs an 8th.
The Big Ten's expansion into new territories is primarily driven by football, the financial powerhouse of college athletics. However, the addition of new members presents challenges, including the requirement for Association of American Universities (AAU) membership and finding valuable additions that align with the conference's academic and athletic goals.
As the Nittany Lions showed, it’s possible to start a program from scratch. Here are some potential candidates for Big Ten hockey expansion, considering factors like hockey culture, athletic ambition, and geographical fit.
Potential Expansion Candidates
Several universities have been mentioned as potential candidates for Big Ten hockey expansion. Here's a look at some of the most discussed options:
- University of Illinois: You’d expect Illinois would top the list of schools where hockey would be a runaway success. Champaign is smack dab between 2 traditional NHL markets in Chicago and St. Louis. If Illinois can't figure out/won't fund a hockey program, why would any other B1G non-hockey school?
- Rutgers University: Rutgers is never going to be a football power. Perhaps not even a football factor. But Rutgers hockey? There are 29 players from New York and 13 players from New Jersey in the NHL. Jersey Mike’s Arena is 1 of the most raucous atmospheres in the Big Ten.
- Northwestern University: Northwestern fits the profile of a school that could make hockey work. Not an obvious target for the Big Ten but they already have a similar school in Northwestern. A small school known for academics in a pro sports town. Good in secondary sports.
- University of Iowa: Iowa City - well, neighboring Coralville - already has an ECHL team at Xstream Arena, which also serves as the home for the Hawkeyes volleyball program. Minnesota and Wisconsin are Iowa’s chief rivals across all sports, and both are well-established traditional hockey powers. A potential challenge for Iowa hockey in gaining a foothold? Hockey would be behind wrestling and both men’s and women’s basketball in the winter pecking order. But Penn State has popular programs in both wrestling and hockey, so such a feat is not impossible.
- Boston College (BC): BC should do everything they can to get into the Big Ten. BC could get Big Ten hockey to an even number as the 8th team which solves scheduling issues. Now of course this would require BC to actually have some athletic ambition. But it's every program fighting for themselves at this point. I don't even want BC in Big Ten hockey but it would be a sacrifice you have to make for football and hoops. Maybe if the Big Ten continues a pursuit of Notre Dame (can't stay independent much longer in this landscape), BC could be the "throw in" to keep the numbers even.
- University of Oregon: Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA have all earned major respect at the club level in the ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) for hockey. Out of the new four schools it would appear the Oregon Ducks could be first to soar against the likes of the Gophers and Wolverines in the near future. The Ducks club team has had a ton of success recently, playing to sold out crowds while winning back-to-back PAC 8 championships before being elevated to the D1 club level in the ACHA.
Other schools that have been mentioned include:
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- University of Nebraska
- Purdue University-Fort Wayne
- University of Maryland
Challenges and Considerations
Several factors could hinder the addition of new hockey programs to the Big Ten:
- Financial Commitment: The B1G clearly prioritizes Football and Basketball. The money is there for all B16 teams to have hockey.
- Conference Priorities: The B1G clearly prioritizes Football and Basketball.
- Potential Impact on Other Sports: Cautionary tale along these lines: Maryland dropped seven (yes, 7) sports, including m/w swimming and m/w track and field in order to afford B1G football and hoops. Remember, the football god's appetite for $$$$ is voracious and unending, and must always be fed. Even at the expense of other sports--including D1 hockey.
Cautionary tale along these lines: Maryland dropped seven (yes, 7) sports, including m/w swimming and m/w track and field in order to afford B1G football and hoops.
The addition of college hockey on the left coast would only add excitement across the country with fans already familiar with the four schools competing in the Pac-12 and beyond in football, basketball and baseball. Division 1 Men’s ice hockey would put the icing on the cake and create more exposure for these schools beyond their recent success at the club level in the ACHA.
With the expectation of UCLA and USC joining the Big10 in 2024, what are the chances they may add D1 hockey? Almost zero.
The Big Ten got sucked into a SEC arms race over baseball after football and basketball. Be careful what you wish for.
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Conference Realignment and Football's Dominance: Football is driving the P5 consolidation. And at some point, Fox and ESPN would rather negotiate with the B1G/SEC than with the NCAA on a post season. So a football split is likely coming. But I don't see basketball or the other non-revenue sports leaving the NCAA- men's ice hockey included.
AAU Membership: Adding new members will be more challenging than you might expect. The first challenge is the AAU requirement.
The Future of Big Ten Hockey
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Hockey is the one B1G sport that will be hurt should the mega conferences split from the rest of Division 1. Leaving everyone else out of Football and possibly Basketball to create their own national champions will likely leave the B1G Hockey teams stranded.
Hockey could stand on it's own without the B1G but B1G hockey cannot go it alone. They may not have a choice if they have to follow the B1G/SEC guidelines and the others may say goodbye to them if they do. In such a case I can see Minnesota leaving the B1G as they will likely lead up the bottom in Football with the coming competition.
Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of expansion, including increased revenue, broader fan base, and enhanced competitiveness, make it a worthwhile endeavor for the Big Ten Conference.
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| School | Potential Benefits | Challenges |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Strong hockey market, central location | Lack of current program, funding concerns |
| Rutgers | Strong local hockey talent, passionate fan base | Football focus, limited hockey tradition |
| Northwestern | Academically strong, located in a major city | Limited athletic ambition, competition with Chicago Blackhawks |
| Iowa | Established rivalries, existing arena | Winter sports competition, potential lack of funding |
| Boston College | Strong academics, good in secondary sports | BC just doesn't have the cachet |
| Oregon | Strong athletics, existing club team | Travel schedule |
Ultimately, the decision of which team to add will depend on a variety of factors, including the school's commitment to hockey, its financial resources, and its ability to compete at a high level. By carefully considering these factors, the Big Ten can ensure that its next expansion team will be a valuable addition to the conference.