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The ongoing talks of getting a 12th team in the Big Ten for football season continues.I've heard ideas of dipping into the Big East, the Mountain West, and Notre Dame has been the target for years, but I think the solution is much simpler than that.Getting that 12th team for football will give the conference a little more legitimacy, as they would then be able to schedule a conference championship.I don't think the Big Ten is looking for a championship-caliber team, just someone who can provide stiff competition and possibly be a consistent face in the bowl games.For the past several years, most of the Big Ten teams have been overmatched in bowl games, especially in the BCS.Would a 12th team mean closer bowl gamesNo, but it would allow the conference to play a regular season game in the month of December, because only two teams did that this year (Wisconsin and Illinois, both nonconference). The Big Ten goes into hiding at Thanksgiving, so people (voters) just seem to forget about them come bowl season.When the bowl games pop up in January, it will be the first action that some teams have seen in a month and a half. That's just too long to go without playing, which is a big reason why the scores are one-sided in January.The Big East won't go for it, the Mountain West is too far west and Notre Dame is going absolutely nowhere.So, to expand the Big Ten (solely for football), one should look no further than the.... This is the only conference that makes sense in my mind, and for several reasons.The MAC has an uneven number of teams (13), split into a division of six and seven.Yes, the Mountain West, Sun Belt and WAC all have an uneven nine, but the MAC is a closer proximity, as well the only one of the four that break into divisions.The Big Ten has 11 teams spread throughout eight states, while the MAC has their 13 teams spread out over just six states.Of those six states for the MAC, the Big Ten shares five (MI, IL, IN, OH, PA), with the MAC having six teams in Ohio alone, and three in Michigan.All 13 teams would work as Big Ten schools, but some better than others because of that proximity..

Past seven years2009: 3-9; 2-62008: 5-7; 3-52007: 4-8; 3-52006: 5-7; 3-52005: 7-6; 5-32004: 6-5; 6-22003: 7-5; 5-3 bowl eligibleThe University of Akron is located about 110 miles northeast of Columbus (Ohio State), and has frequent match ups with the Buckeyes.The Zips, much like the other smaller schools around the big schools, get the lower end of the recruits, but a move to the Big Ten would allow Akron to 'steal' some guys from Ohio State.The Zips did play Penn State and Indiana this year (both were Akron losses), but Akron is getting familiar with the Big Ten.Akron has been finishing pretty much in the middle of the pack year after year, but perhaps the Big Ten wants a little more domination.. Past seven years2009: 2-10; 2-62008: 12-2; 8-02007: 7-6; 5-22006: 5-7; 5-32005: 4-7; 4-42004: 2-9; 2-62003: 4-8; 3-5Ball State is in Muncie, Ind., 80 miles east of West Lafayette (Purdue) and 95 miles northeast of Bloomington (Indiana).Only bowl eligible twice in recent years, with 2008 being their one-hit wonder season.Ball State did not play a Big Ten school this year, but lost to Auburn 54-30.I just don't think that the Cardinals have enough gusto to compete in the Big Ten, or even be mediocre.. Past seven years2009: 7-5; 6-22008: 6-6; 4-42007: 8-5; 6-22006: 4-8; 3-52005: 6-5; 5-32004: 9-3; 6-22003: 11-3; 7-1Bowling Green State is in Bowling Green, Ohio, about 100 miles north of Columbus.Bowl eligible six of the last seven years, the Falcons seem to be playing pretty consistently, and could provide solid competition for Big Ten opponents.The Falcons got both Missouri and Boise State this year (losses), but proved they can schedule quality non-conference opponents.Bowling Green would look darn good in the Big Ten, where it would be a middle of the pack team, with chances to shine.. Past seven years2009: 5-7; 3-52008: 8-6; 5-32007: 5-7; 5-32006: 2-10; 1-72005: 1-10; 1-72004: 2-9; 2-62003: 1-11; 1-7Buffalo has finished near the bottom of the MAC several times, and I don't think that will translate well in the Big Ten.The Big Ten already has Penn State on 'the island' out in Pennsylvania, and making the trip all the way out to New York for a Midwest conference seems a little unnecessary.This is a team that can definitely be crossed off the list of making the switch..