re: Is Ohio State to blame at all?

The motivation behind expansion is to get the Big Ten Network on as many tvs in America as they can. Not even the Ivy League schools have a network to advertise their institutions. The Big Ten and its member institutions have a chance to solidify themselves as the premiere public institutions in the country. While college football brings in millions a year, academics have the potential for billions a year. Michigan brought in $5 billion last year. During the school year they rake in almost $20 million a day.

The funds from sports look like a lemonade stand compared to what the Big Ten has a chance to do in academics.