Michigan State Football: 5 schools the Big Ten must consider adding

Michigan State football has faced some new Big Ten faces over the past few years and more could be added eventually. Who could they be?

For years, the Big Ten has considered strengthening its footprint in college athletics. The conference thought that adding Maryland and Rutgers would do just that, but it hasn’t.

Jim Delany believed that adding the Terrapins and Scarlet Knights would strengthen the Big Ten on the East Coast and add another region to the market. It was a good thought, but after a handful of years, neither team has been anything other than a bottom-dweller in the league for football. Basketball-wise, things have been solid for Maryland and are getting better for Rutgers.

Football is that money-maker, though, and when conferences consider expansion, they have to realize that strength on the gridiron is slightly more important than success on the basketball court.

With the Big Ten at 14 teams currently, it’s difficult to imagine another expansion, but it can never be ruled out. If the conference sees an opportunity to strengthen its image on a national stage by adding some big programs from other Power Five leagues, it’ll do so.

Michigan State was an expansion team at one point decades ago and the league has grown tremendously over recent years, even adding Nebraska in the past decade.

So who could be next?