MU is athletically balanced with rising basketball and football programs. In the past few years, Missouri has been ranked as high as #1 in football (BCS), and #8 in basketball. Missouri's football team played in the Big XII championship game 2 out of the past 3 years, and its basketball team won the Big XII championship in 2009. Missouri is among the Top 30 for all-time NCAA Tournament appearances at 22, right between Ohio State at 21 and Michigan State at 23.

MU is a major research university and is one of 62 elected members of the Association of American Universities. It also ranks among the top 100 universities nationally according to U.S. News & World Report. The University of Missouri was founded in 1839 and has one of the oldest and highest rated journalism schools in the country.

With its campus located directly between Kansas City and St Louis, Missouri has a large alumni and fan base in both major cities.

Missouri has a strong rivalry with Illinois in football and basketball. The teams face-off every year at venues in St Louis.

Missouri would benefit as much academically as it would athletically from joining the Big Ten conference. It's high academic standards compared with other conferences would help Missouri gain prominence and climb higher in the national rankings.

For those of you who think the historic "Border War" rivalry with Kansas would go away, Think again!... It could only strengthen the rivalry as Missouri and Kansas would be from opposing conferences, making it more intense and exciting than ever before!

For those of you who think Missouri shouldn't leave the Big XII because of historical reasons, think about this: The Big XII conference does NOT claim the Big Eight's history, which means Missouri's Big Eight roots were already severed back in 1996 when the Big XII formed as a new conference. Furthermore, and despite petitioning from Big Eight schools, the Big XII moved its head quarters out of Kansas City, Missouri, and into Irving, Texas. Mizzou fans are loyal to the conference because Mizzou fans are loyal in general, but make no mistake – the Big XII conference has done them no favors. Click here to read a very compelling argument as to why Missouri is better off in the Big Ten.

• Sign the petition to show you support MU moving to the Big Ten.
• Mizzou 2 BigTen is a blog with research, facts, and statistics comparing MU with the Big East candidates.
• ESPN Big Ten analyst states why Missouri is the ideal choice for Big Ten expansion.
• If Big Ten Called, Missouri Would Listen (Kansas City Star, Dec.14.2009)