The Big Ten announced its new bowl agreements that will govern the conference’s postseason locations from the 2010-2013 seasons with several prime time match-ups on the schedule.
Beginning next season, Big Ten teams will play six games between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, a Big Ten 26-hour marathon of bowl games. Overall, the conference has seven automatic tie-ins, a number head coach Pat Fitzgerald called “unbelievable.” This means seven Big Ten teams are guaranteed a bowl if they can make it to the minimum six wins.
The conference has extended its contract with the Capital One, Outback and Insight bowls, while adding new agreements with the Gator Bowl, the Texas Bowl and Dallas Football Classic. All those agreements, along with a continuing contract with the Rose Bowl, will expire in four years.
With these seven bowl games, the Big Ten will play one game in Arizona (the Insight Bowl), one in California (the Rose Bowl), two in Texas (the Texas Bowl and the Dallas Football Classic) and three in Florida (the Capital One, Outback and Gator bowls).
“With the number of Big Ten alumni in these states, this bowl lineup is a natural fit and should provide some compelling matchups on the field,” Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany said in a press release.
With these locations, the conference has made a clear push to play in recruiting hotspots. Of the Rivals.com top 100 recruits for the Class of 2010, 17 come from Florida, 16 from California, and 12 from Texas. Though those states already have plenty of in-state competition for recruits, the Big Ten appears to be at least trying to get its name out.
The ‘Cats have already received commitments for the Class of 2010 from one player from Texas and three Floridians. In 2009, the ‘Cats drew two Californians, one Texan, and one Floridian. Four Texans joined Northwestern from the Class of 2008. Since many young players in these states do not grow up watching Northwestern or Big Ten football, these bowl games provide exposure and create a more national fan base.
Fitzgerald said he was aware of the benefit of playing in these states where the ‘Cats have had recruiting success, especially in the Lone Star State.
“Two [bowl games] in Texas, an area that’s been good for us in recruiting, is a huge advantage,” Fitzgerald said.
