The rumors started a couple days ago, that Maryland and Rutgers were being targeted by the Big Ten…with both schools expected to accept if invited. Rutgers leaving the Big East would be a given. But with an expected $50 million exit fee from the ACC and 60 years membership history, Maryland would have more to think about. Well, the Maryland BOR are expected to meet 9am on Monday to discuss joining the Big Ten. The move would bring the Big Ten to 14 members, adding the top programs in New Jersey and Maryland, joining Penn St. as the conferences’ eastern presence. 
Louisville is rumored to be the top replacement option in the ACC should Maryland leave, but many would look at Uconn as a better option. In Uconn, the ACC would match the Big Ten additions of Rutgers in the northeast by locking up Boston College, UConn, Syracuse and Pittsburgh for the ACC television contract. Louisville is still appealing, but would have less market penetration into the New York City DMA than UConn would. For the Big East, a departure by Maryland would certainly mean a loss for the Big East. With a Rutgers departure along with Uconn or Louisville, the Big East would be in serious trouble with their new television contract. Potential candidates would likely come from the Mountain West, with the Big East trying to create a western division with Boise St., San Diego St., SMU and Houston. Targets such as Fresno St., UNLV, and New Mexico (Army, Air Force and BYU have rejected previous Big East overtures) would need to find non-football conference homes from a smaller pool of options such as the Big West. But with Boise St., Hawaii and San Diego St. in the Big West, the conference would likely show flexibility in adding 2 of those schools if need be. For the ACC, a loss of Maryland might make Florida St. to reconsider any interest from the Big 12. Whether they joined with Louisville, Georgia Tech, Clemson or another school, the Big 12 would need to show they could generate an increased television contract to pay off the $50 million exit fee. Such a situation, where the Big Ten expanded to 14 and if the Big 12 expanded to 12 with 1-2 ACC schools, still means the ACC would be in a comfortable spot as the #5 overall conference. But the loss of 3 members, only to be replaced by 3 Big East schools, would be a blow to the ACC. If Maryland were to leave for the Big Ten, the ACC just hopes that the bleeding stops there.
