The ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchups were announced today and the Maryland Terrapins will travel to Penn State on December 1. Penn State did not have a good 2009-2010 campaign so unless things change drastically for them, the Terps will get nothing with a win over them. On the other hand a loss would really be bad for the Terps post-season chances. But it's May, so it's way too early to talk about that.
There was some men's basketball talk in recent days. Or rather, the Big Ten Conference potential expansion. On the potentials list of some analysts was Maryland. I'll state that this is a terrible idea for Maryland basketball. The ACC expansion a few years ago set up the ultimate football conference that fizzled. In the same process, all ACC basketball teams lost the "Home and Home" games. They are relegated to playing some teams just once a season.
The Terps moving to the Big 10 might increase football, but would give a considerable blow to basketball. There would be no Duke or North Carolina or even NC State on the schedule. That is unless the out-of-conference scheduling works out that way for the coaches. But there's no guarantee of that, and it would be stupid to play each other every year when not in the same conference. Worse yet, presuming Maryland is the only ACC team headed to the Big Ten, Penn State would be the closest rival. Virginia and Virginia Tech are only a few hours away by road.
What may be on the Terps side is timing. If the Big Ten is trying to make the change soon, they can try to convince AD Debbie Yow quickly. I'm not sure of the powers required to change conferences, but I'll bet that if the University President is not powered to do so, he or she would at least be consulted. Maryland's current President, Dr CD Mote, is retiring within the month. Certainly he will not authorize such a change and I would venture a guess that the incoming president, when chosen and in office, would hesitate to make a change so early in their administration. Ultimately time will tell, and it's all about money. Maybe this time, we can make it about tradition.
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