Power rankings: Who are now the top five targets for the Big Ten in conference expansion?

Early in August, the Big Ten made another big move in conference expansion, adding Oregon and Washington. The Big 12 followed suit, with their own flurry of moves.

But what’s next now for the Big Ten? Will they expand again? And who are the top targets?

The Big Ten is currently at 18 teams. They likely want to add two more teams within the next year if only to continue stockpiling programs. Where this leads the Big Ten is anyone’s guess.

After all, who would have thought that Rutgers and Maryland would become Big Ten members in 2014.

Keep in mind a couple of things when it comes to conference expansion and the Big Ten:

• The conference only admits AAU members. This whittles down the list considerably, doesn’t it?

• Football is driving the bus with basketball second.

• Almost as important (if not as important) in all of this? Television markets being added to the conference.

This is really an arms race between the remaining Power Four conference to best position themselves for the next round of television negotiations.

Scroll down and check out the updated Power Rankings for Big Ten conference expansion:

5. Syracuse

This one is a headscratcher inclusion if only because Syracuse left the AAU in 2011. But were Syracuse to become a member again, then this could be interesting for the Big Ten.

Syracuse doesn’t independently deliver the biggest of television markets (No. 81 in the nation), but they would also add Buffalo (No. 51) and Albany (No. 87) into the equation. And while football has struggled for 15 years (but has stabilized a bit), basketball is what drives this athletic department.

The Orange would be intriguing to the Big Ten if men’s basketball gets back on track. There is a huge and passionate fan base here to be tapped into. Is Syracuse a lock for the Big Ten? No. But they could help lock down New York City further for the conference while adding three mid-size television markets and a possible juggernaut in men’s basketball.

4. Kansas

The Big 12 is on more level footing these days thanks to some shrewd expansion at the expense of the Pac-12.

But the Big Ten’s payday dwarfs that of the Big -12, meaning that the conference can and should be a target for expansion.

Kansas, with their renewed commitment to football (the cynic might say a ‘new’ commitment to football since nothing has actually been ‘renewed’) is attractive for the Big Ten. Kansas City is a not insignificant market (No. 31 nationally) and the Jayhawks are a powerhouse in men’s basketball.

AAU member? Yup, that too.

3. Colorado

OK, hang with us a moment here. Yes, Colorado just joined the Big 12, meaning that a move to the Big Ten isn’t likely for a little while.

But if the Big Ten expanded to 24 teams, this one makes some sense.

The Denver market (No. 18 nationally) is growing and Colorado has certainly invested in football with tthe hire of head coach Deion Sanders.

There is AAU membership here to go along with a top 20 media market. In 10 years, Colorado might be a pretty interesting target for the Big Ten, especially if football grows into a national powerhouse.

2. North Carolina and Virginia

Cheating a bit to lump in two ACC programs, but North Carolina and Virginia feel like one and the same in many ways.

Both are AAU members and have strong media markets they bring to conference expansion talk. Both are also deeply embedded in the culture of the ACC and might not easily move.

But given the discrepancy between the Big Ten’s media deal and the ACC, nothing is off the table these days, right?

North Carolina might have an edge here given the uptick in their football program (thank you, Mack Brown) and the fact that they are a national brand for basketball.

If the Big Ten expands again in the next year or two, they likely take two ACC programs. So that leaves North Carolina and Virginia battling with…

No. 1 Miami

The Hurricanes, recent AAU members, remain atop these power rankings for a third straight installment.

Miami brings a strong media market (No. 16 in the nation) and a national following in football (‘The U’ is truly a brand in and of itself). The fact that men’s and women’s basketball are strong (both made the NCAA Tournament) is another selling point.

In terms of population, south Florida is exploding, and Miami would be a natural fit in the Big Ten as a research institution and on the playing fields (and courts). Adding Miami would also give the Big Ten a toehold in Florida for football recruiting purposes.

If the Big Ten could add Miami and then one of North Carolina and Virginia, it would likely cap the conference (for now). That would be a home run situation for the conference.

One more thing on conference expansion

Notre Dame isn’t on this list for the simple reason that why should they move to a new conference? The NBC television deal is quite strong and with the expanded College Football Playoff, there is no incentive for the Big Ten to expand.

Florida State? Sure, the Big Ten would love that football program added to its resume. But the Seminoles aren’t AAU members.

Same with Clemson, which might be an even more enticing addition in conference expansion were they AAU members.

A dark horse in all of this? Recent AAU members South Florida. Not a juggernaut on the football field by any stretch. But their television market would be hard to ignore.

Story originally appeared on Rutgers Wire