Realignment thread

[kopp0e]

I have a good friend who is in the administration at Stanford (can't be too specific but he's quite high up and knows which way the wind is blowing in the President's office) who I spoke to last night for about an hour.

He said with Texas no longer part of the deal, the Stanford administration would have ZERO (he stressed that word strongly) interest in joining forces with anyone from the Big 12. I asked "what about Kansas?" and he said they hadn't heard any discussion about specific schools so he couldn't rule out a one off - he was talking more in general about plans that bring a big enough chunk of the Big 12 that they aren't geographic outliers, [color=“blue”]i.e. the kopp0e scenario[/color]. I asked if they'd had conversations with the Big Ten, and he said if they had it's been kept very quiet.

Just scanning back over post, but I never since 2011 had a model/ plan of any ‘XVI’ or ‘PX6’ merger w/o OU or UT (or USC)…

But otherwise very insightful info, schools of USC/ Arizona pair were more flexible I’d gather, but only with OU & UT involved…

And a same poster that others have pointed out as "soonerpride" (pro-B1G shill) is now talking up B1G-PAC merger as well...

[uberism]

And this is why Kansas will not make it into the Big Ten. And it's why the Big Ten is only looking at the top of the Pac schools.

I'm being pelted by Kansas hoops fans re: the Big Ten, so, here's some math. Bowlsby said the Big 12's TV deal ($250M/yr.) is 50% OU/Texas. So, the others = $125M. TV deals are 80% football. So, rest of Big 12 hoops = $25M. That's 1/2 what the B1G makes in TV *per school.*

https://twitter.com/slmandel/status/1422756384097984515?s=20

Kansas is getting to the territory that Missouri did try to whore themselves into the Big Ten. That will result in a NO. lol.

[uberism]

The KU boards are saying that it looks like the B1G have given them a lifeline.





https://247sports.com/college/kansas...7492/?page=350

What a bunch of idiots.

[MrQster]

And this is why Kansas will not make it into the Big Ten. And it's why the Big Ten is only looking at the top of the Pac schools.

I'm being pelted by Kansas hoops fans re: the Big Ten, so, here's some math. Bowlsby said the Big 12's TV deal ($250M/yr.) is 50% OU/Texas. So, the others = $125M. TV deals are 80% football. So, rest of Big 12 hoops = $25M. That's 1/2 what the B1G makes in TV *per school.*

https://twitter.com/slmandel/status/1422756384097984515?s=20

Kansas is getting to the territory that Missouri did try to whore themselves into the Big Ten. That will result in a NO. lol.

What do you have against KU? I hope they come out OK in the end.

[KansasCityHustle]

What do you have against KU? I hope they come out OK in the end.

I don't have anything against KU, but living in KC, I can tell you that they are very arrogant...and it's the worst kind. They are basketball arrogant and tell themselves football doesn't really matter at the end of the day. Seeing them squirm at football dictating their futures is pretty entertaining for me.

[camel at sea]

'Schadenfreude: Baylor’s free ride is coming to an end'

https://gocoogs.com/baylor-schadenfreude/

I expect Baylor vs. Houston to be a fun Big 12 rivalry at some point a couple of years from now.

[MrQster]

What a bunch of idiots.

They are talking about some crazy stuff over there.

[lash]

B1G should expand with 10 teams -- all the AAU Flagships west of the Mississippi + ISU....to make it a 24-team league.

1. -Washington
2. -Oregon
3. -Cal
4. -Stanford
5. -UCLA
6. -USC
7. -Arizona
8. -Colorado
9. -Kansas
10. Iowa State

Four different 6-team pods, neatly defined by geography.

Call it the B1G-PAC Union.

The $ would keep them even or above the mighty Southeastern Confederacy forever.


Let the remaining 4 PAC members join with the remaining B12 members (all Land Grant little bros + some private schools) and add a few to get that "super" conference to 16.


In this new era, with dominoes falling the way they have fallen, *that* option is really where everyone truly belongs. That would actually provide some nation-wide balance and sanity.

[Deadeye]

So hypothetically speaking, if ESPN was using the ACCN the same way they were using the LHN, then at some point within the next few years they would try to move some of their most coveted universities into the SEC, and also move some into the B1G. On a related note, how many universities does it take to dissolve a conference?

Here is my guess about who I think the SEC prefers: FSU, Clemson, UNC, and VT

And here is who I think the B1G prefers: UNC, UVA, GT, and Miami (with a Duke tag-a-long)

So the question for UNC is this, do the Heels go B1G keeping them united with UVA and Duke? Or do they go SEC to prevent NCST from going SEC, and risk losing UVA and/or Duke?

[MrQster]

B1G should expand with 10 teams -- all the AAU Flagships west of the Mississippi + ISU....to make it a 24-team league.

1. -Washington
2. -Oregon
3. -Cal
4. -Stanford
5. -UCLA
6. -USC
7. -Arizona
8. -Colorado
9. -Kansas
10. Iowa State

Four different 6-team pods, neatly defined by geography.

Call it the B1G-PAC Union.

The $ would keep them even or above the mighty Southeastern Confederacy forever.


Let the remaining 4 PAC members join with the remaining B12 members (all Land Grant little bros + some private schools) and add a few to get that "super" conference to 16.


In this new era, with dominoes falling the way they have fallen, *that* option is really where everyone truly belongs. That would actually provide some nation-wide balance and sanity.

That is a nice conference (B1G and PAC/Big12 merger), but the money divided 24 ways does not beat the money per team that the SEC will make with OU and Texas divided 16 ways.

[hiphopfroggy]

I expect Baylor vs. Houston to be a fun Big 12 rivalry at some point a couple of years from now.

As much as I love the SMU game, I'm not sure they or UH bring much to the Big12. I would love for SMU to join as I want to play them every year anyway but I just don't think it is helpful, so I don't see it happening. Big12 needs teams outside of Texas. I could see the ACC adding UH and SMU after they get raided, would be really easy for ESPN to shuffle some assets between their SEC, ACC and AAC entities.

[Win5002]

As much as I love the SMU game, I'm not sure they or UH bring much to the Big12. I would love for SMU to join as I want to play them every year anyway but I just don't think it is helpful, so I don't see it happening. Big12 needs teams outside of Texas. I could see the ACC adding UH and SMU after they get raided, would be really easy for ESPN to shuffle some assets between their SEC, ACC and AAC entities.

The Big 12 needs to increase viewers per game not necessarily new markets. UH will draw well against TT, TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma St. I also think having a Big 12 team in Houston will increase the viewers of those other games even when UH is not involved in Houston and the rest of Texas. It creates a synergy in the state and to a lesser extent with OSU in the region.

The only school I can even see close to ratings wise of Houston is BYU, and BYU doesn't give the recruiting exposure Houston does in a major recruiting area. BYU would be the 2nd team.

[kopp0e]

That is a nice conference (B1G and PAC/Big12 merger), but the money divided 24 ways does not beat the money per team that the SEC will make with OU and Texas divided 16 ways.

It may not wind up being full 24-ish teams as recall “BTM” man claims B1G & PAC teams will go Ivy League model..?

It may all depend how COVID ravishes the landscape, as well the upcoming ruling on unlimited resources/ pay too..?

[XLance]

So hypothetically speaking, if ESPN was using the ACCN the same way they were using the LHN, then at some point within the next few years they would try to move some of their most coveted universities into the SEC, and also move some into the B1G. On a related note, how many universities does it take to dissolve a conference?

Here is my guess about who I think the SEC prefers: FSU, Clemson, UNC, and VT

And here is who I think the B1G prefers: UNC, UVA, GT, and Miami (with a Duke tag-a-long)

So the question for UNC is this, do the Heels go B1G keeping them united with UVA and Duke? Or do they go SEC to prevent NCST from going SEC, and risk losing UVA and/or Duke?

Carolina recently reduced our stadium capacity from 63,000 to 51,000 (wide chairback seats replaced bleachers).
I think, if Carolina joined the SEC it would have the smallest stadium in the conference except for Vanderbilt. That means that for every home game Carolina's income would come up short somewhere between 3 and 7 million dollars (ticket prices, concessions etc.) vs. almost any other SEC team. Our income deficit remains the same. We gain more in media income in the SEC, but bring in less money at the gate vs other SEC schools.. If Carolina stayed in the ACC even with a media income discrepancy, at least the Heels would be competitive dollar wise with the other schools in our league. Moving to the B1G would would actually yield a profit because their average stadium capacity is smaller that the SEC.
Carolina could go either way. It is a Southern University, but also a major research institution (ranked as the 11th largest by dollars).

I believe Carolina could fit into either the SEC or the B1G but are probably much better off where we are (even with reduced media income) competing against our peers.

On a side note: because Clemson and FSU have larger stadium capacities that the majority of ACC schools, those two schools enjoy a $2 to $4 Million dollar advantage vs. their ACC conference mates per game, but would lose that advantage were they to join the SEC.

[ElectricSooner]

It may not wind up being full 24-ish teams as recall “BTM” man claims B1G & PAC teams will go Ivy League model..?

It may all depend how COVID ravishes the landscape, as well the upcoming ruling on unlimited resources/ pay too..?

oh don't start with that, we don't have time to cancel the season and get refunds on our tickets

[RocketCitySooner]

It may not wind up being full 24-ish teams as recall “BTM” man claims B1G & PAC teams will go Ivy League model..?

I do not understand the obsession with moving the ever larger conferences.
We might see four sixteen-ish sized conferences but I do not see the advantages of 24-ish sized leagues.

[Deadeye]

Carolina recently reduced our stadium capacity from 63,000 to 51,000 (wide chairback seats replaced bleachers).
I think, if Carolina joined the SEC it would have the smallest stadium in the conference except for Vanderbilt. That means that for every home game Carolina's income would come up short somewhere between 3 and 7 million dollars (ticket prices, concessions etc.) vs. almost any other SEC team. Our income deficit remains the same. We gain more in media income in the SEC, but bring in less money at the gate vs other SEC schools.. If Carolina stayed in the ACC even with a media income discrepancy, at least the Heels would be competitive dollar wise with the other schools in our league. Moving to the B1G would would actually yield a profit because their average stadium capacity is smaller that the SEC.
Carolina could go either way. It is a Southern University, but also a major research institution (ranked as the 11th largest by dollars).

I believe Carolina could fit into either the SEC or the B1G but are probably much better off where we are (even with reduced media income) competing against our peers.

On a side note: because Clemson and FSU have larger stadium capacities that the majority of ACC schools, those two schools enjoy a $2 to $4 Million dollar advantage vs. their ACC conference mates per game, but would lose that advantage were they to join the SEC.

Look, I totally understand wanting to keep the ACC in tact. But if FSU bolts, the conference simply won't make it. And the same could be said for Clemson, but they would be more inclined to stick it out with the NC and VA universities.

[John Swofford]

So hypothetically speaking, if ESPN was using the ACCN the same way they were using the LHN, then at some point within the next few years they would try to move some of their most coveted universities into the SEC, and also move some into the B1G. On a related note, how many universities does it take to dissolve a conference?

Here is my guess about who I think the SEC prefers: FSU, Clemson, UNC, and VT

And here is who I think the B1G prefers: UNC, UVA, GT, and Miami (with a Duke tag-a-long)

So the question for UNC is this, do the Heels go B1G keeping them united with UVA and Duke? Or do they go SEC to prevent NCST from going SEC, and risk losing UVA and/or Duke?

Hypothetically.....anything is possible, friend.

The ACCN is a money maker. The LHN is not. Additionally, I've yet to read anyone post why ESPN is going to just let assets walk away from their portfolio and into the FOX owned BTN.

Some of the loudest ACC doom and gloomers are those in XII country. I don't know if it's because the XII has historically been through multiple divorces and breakups or what......but the ACC is a tight group.

The ACC is The Waltons....the XII is The Kardashians.

[NM Jayhawk]

I do not understand the obsession with moving the ever larger conferences.
We might see four sixteen-ish sized conferences but I do not see the advantages of 24-ish sized leagues.

It's about breaking up the NCAA. Two 24 team divisions (i.e. 3x8) for the top 48 brands. Don't like 48, pick a different number up to 64 - I'm ok with that but it is about shaking loose the programs that don't have what it takes.

[FtwTxSooner]

I do not understand the obsession with moving the ever larger conferences.
We might see four sixteen-ish sized conferences but I do not see the advantages of 24-ish sized leagues.

If there is a big name that more than carries its own weight, why limit yourself to 16 when you can add them to your conference? That keeps them from going somewhere else and strengthens your revenue advantage over everyone else. Profitability is the deciding factor, along with limiting what your competition can do in expanding their own revenue.

Whether or not it may take a decade to play a home and home with every team in the conference is far down the list.

[JRsec*]

Carolina recently reduced our stadium capacity from 63,000 to 51,000 (wide chairback seats replaced bleachers).
I think, if Carolina joined the SEC it would have the smallest stadium in the conference except for Vanderbilt. That means that for every home game Carolina's income would come up short somewhere between 3 and 7 million dollars (ticket prices, concessions etc.) vs. almost any other SEC team. Our income deficit remains the same. We gain more in media income in the SEC, but bring in less money at the gate vs other SEC schools.. If Carolina stayed in the ACC even with a media income discrepancy, at least the Heels would be competitive dollar wise with the other schools in our league. Moving to the B1G would would actually yield a profit because their average stadium capacity is smaller that the SEC.
Carolina could go either way. It is a Southern University, but also a major research institution (ranked as the 11th largest by dollars).

I believe Carolina could fit into either the SEC or the B1G but are probably much better off where we are (even with reduced media income) competing against our peers.

On a side note: because Clemson and FSU have larger stadium capacities that the majority of ACC schools, those two schools enjoy a $2 to $4 Million dollar advantage vs. their ACC conference mates per game, but would lose that advantage were they to join the SEC.

X your reasoning is accurate if you are able to stay in the ACC and limit UNC's goals to just the ACC. Should that become untenable your reasoning must change. Culture, donors, academics, logistics, and recruiting become the issues. Seating can be added, subtracted, cheapened or made more luxurious and is really not the factor you think it is. The lure for Clemson and FSU is in keeping the stadia full and offering better competition in the age of HD, and mostly because they live in the daily reality of having to compete against SEC neighbors who are better funded and who are about to have more than double the funding. The ACC is no longer insulated from its neighbors and what you think is security is really a bunker which will offer little security against what is coming in college athletics.

[XOVERX]

My take-away from the little 8 bitch-fest yesterday in front of the Texas Senate (no, the Texas Legislature is not in session) is Bob Bowlsby’s testimony that there is no specific number of votes required to disband the B12.

This means power and money can use the court system to bludgeon the less powerful and wealthy if need be.

I’m swiftly migrating to the belief that if even one more little 8 bails for some other conference, the value of a settlement with Texas and Oklahoma goes way down.

UT/OU then can argue there is no B12 to pay damages to, so zero dollars is the correct outcome, your honor. Don’t like that, little 8? Then take this cramdown.

Of course, what other conference will take who from the little 8?

Still, Bowlsby’s confession regarding disbanding increases the heft of the UT/OU sword even if no one leaves the 8.

All the testimony in the Senate yesterday did not do jack to further the interests of the little 8. It was a pathetic whine-fest.

Turns out BU’s AD Matt Rhoades can only mutter “you know” every fifth word (on Sic’um radio) and Linda Livingston’s elegy of mistreatment by the evil Texas? Why was Linda so adamant about denying Houston entry a couple of years ago if she’s now so upset about state prestige and economic benefit, lol?

Thank god Texas and Oklahoma have burned the leaches off our teat!

[OU48A]

[RocketCitySooner]

If there is a big name that more than carries its own weight, why limit yourself to 16 when you can add them to your conference? That keeps them from going somewhere else and strengthens your revenue advantage over everyone else. Profitability is the deciding factor, along with limiting what your competition can do in expanding their own revenue.

Whether or not it may take a decade to play a home and home with every team in the conference is far down the list.

Now list the teams that more than carry their own weight that aren't already in a Power conference. Notre Dame? Sure. Who else?

[RocketCitySooner]

It's about breaking up the NCAA. Two 24 team divisions (i.e. 3x8) for the top 48 brands. Don't like 48, pick a different number up to 64 - I'm ok with that but it is about shaking loose the programs that don't have what it takes.

Fine, but I don't see that as happening any time soon.

[FtwTxSooner]

Now list the teams that more than carry their own weight that aren't already in a Power conference. Notre Dame? Sure. Who else?

That is the limiting factor right there. 20+ may not make sense due to available teams, rather than scheduling or management difficulties..

Overall, it was assumed we'd end up with around 4 power conferences of around 64 teams, each pulling in around the same amount of TV money. That clearly isn't going to happen. The number at the top will be far, far less.

[RocketCitySooner]

That is the limiting factor right there. 20+ may not make sense due to available teams, rather than scheduling or management difficulties..

Overall, it was assumed we'd end up with around 4 power conferences of around 64 teams, each pulling in around the same amount of TV money. That clearly isn't going to happen. The number at the top will be far, far less.

Agreed. That isn't going to happen so why is there so much speculation on unrealistic scenarios.
The problem with the game of Conference Realignment Risk is that it is played by those with little or no understanding of how/why revenues drive these decisions.
You're not going to get the 4x16 without some schools losing a lot of revenue and without an overarching governing body to distribute revenue in equal amounts. Do you really think that the SEC B1G is going to take a pay cut to fund some fan's idea of a really neato alignment of conferences?

[XLance]

X your reasoning is accurate if you are able to stay in the ACC and limit UNC's goals to just the ACC. Should that become untenable your reasoning must change. Culture, donors, academics, logistics, and recruiting become the issues. Seating can be added, subtracted, cheapened or made more luxurious and is really not the factor you think it is. The lure for Clemson and FSU is in keeping the stadia full and offering better competition in the age of HD, and mostly because they live in the daily reality of having to compete against SEC neighbors who are better funded and who are about to have more than double the funding. The ACC is no longer insulated from its neighbors and what you think is security is really a bunker which will offer little security against what is coming in college athletics.

I understand that JR and so do the folks I know in Chapel Hill. If push comes to shove we all know we will have to move (fortunately we are one of the lucky ones), but I am told that every avenue will be explored before that decision would be made.
The consensus is that we would opt for the B1G especially if it included UVa, Duke, and Georgia Tech.

[49cent]

Are we still in the BIG 12?


oh, wait… that joke can die soon.

[Deadeye]

The consensus is that we would opt for the B1G especially if it included UVa, Duke, and Georgia Tech.

Wow, even if that means NC State to the SEC? Interesting.

[NickZepp84]

Are we still in the BIG 12?


oh, wait… that joke can die soon.

I can't wait till the buy out is finally settled so we can just GTFO at this point. I got a feeling the Ir8 will try to keep it going for whatever reasons.

[JRsec*]

Wow, even if that means NC State to the SEC? Interesting.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire! The B1G is suffering an internal struggle for the soul of that conference. Ivy amateurism vs NIL and stipends Madison vs Columbus is an interesting rift to watch develop. The sports don't match, the culture doesn't match and academic associations can be had anyway. I think Chapel Hill donors make the call, not the administration, just like OU. And ESPN's desires will be palpable as well. But laced in X's words are the escape clause, Duke. If Duke or Virginia are accommodated in the SEC things could change.

[Win5002]

It's about breaking up the NCAA. Two 24 team divisions (i.e. 3x8) for the top 48 brands. Don't like 48, pick a different number up to 64 - I'm ok with that but it is about shaking loose the programs that don't have what it takes.

I'm not sure thats the case anymore. CFB is going to cut a big portion of their audience out for national games if they go to 40-48 teams. I tend to think they will keep it at 40-48 and try and pay the SEC & B1G
3-4X the tv revenue of the other leagues. That way they keep the number of teams in FBS at something like 72-80, maybe even a couple more. This could be 1-2 leagues besides the SEC/B1G. We will see if the fans from the leagues that get paid a fraction of the SEC/B1G keep watching national T1/T2 games and even CFP & bowl games games or not. I think the networks like the idea of allowing those two leagues to think they are a part of the club when they really are not.

If there was going to be 64 teams break off in the form of two leagues, I'm not sure OU & UT pick the SEC. Although, I think the B1G & PAC's response to covid last year really hurt those two schools aligning with teams from B1G/PAC.

[hiphopfroggy]

My take-away from the little 8 bitch-fest yesterday in front of the Texas Senate (no, the Texas Legislature is not in session) is Bob Bowlsby’s testimony that there is no specific number of votes required to disband the B12.

This means power and money can use the court system to bludgeon the less powerful and wealthy if need be.

I’m swiftly migrating to the belief that if even one more little 8 bails for some other conference, the value of a settlement with Texas and Oklahoma goes way down.

UT/OU then can argue there is no B12 to pay damages to, so zero dollars is the correct outcome, your honor. Don’t like that, little 8? Then take this cramdown.

Of course, what other conference will take who from the little 8?

Still, Bowlsby’s confession regarding disbanding increases the heft of the UT/OU sword even if no one leaves the 8.

All the testimony in the Senate yesterday did not do jack to further the interests of the little 8. It was a pathetic whine-fest.

Turns out BU’s AD Matt Rhoades can only mutter “you know” every fifth word (on Sic’um radio) and Linda Livingston’s elegy of mistreatment by the evil Texas? Why was Linda so adamant about denying Houston entry a couple of years ago if she’s now so upset about state prestige and economic benefit, lol?

Thank god Texas and Oklahoma have burned the leaches off our teat!

lol Whitmore and the UT prez where the ones made to look like fools Monday. UT prez a slithering spineless lying POS.

Remember it is UT's actions that caused the Texas senate to feel the need to call this session. TCU, TT, and Baylor did not request it. That was all on UT and it became clear during the questioning that UT is very uncomfortable with the way they behaved so deceitfully and dishonestly. That is entirely on UT.

How embarrassing for the state flagship to act to classless and desperate to suck on the SEC tit.

And again from a competitive standpoint UT leaving changes nothing in the Big12 as they were not a competitive team anyway. OU is the Big loss. UT could easily be replaced by Arizona St from a competitive standpoint and no one will even bat an eye or notice.

It's actually going to be funny watching UT get its ass kicked out the door with its tail between its legs.

[OU48A]

lol Whitmore and the UT prez where the ones made to look like fools Monday. UT prez a slithering spineless lying POS.

Remember it is UT's actions that caused the Texas senate to feel the need to call this session. TCU, TT, and Baylor did not request it. That was all on UT and it became clear during the questioning that UT is very uncomfortable with the way they behaved so deceitfully and dishonestly. That is entirely on UT.

How embarrassing for the state flagship to act to classless and desperate to suck on the SEC tit.

And again from a competitive standpoint UT leaving changes nothing in the Big12 as they were not a competitive team anyway. OU is the Big loss. UT could easily be replaced by Arizona St from a competitive standpoint and no one will even bat an eye or notice.

It's actually going to be funny watching UT get its ass kicked out the door with its tail between its legs.

Big money will make sure that UT is okay....Big UT money will make sure that those who did what they did on Monday will make those responsible pay a price...That's how big UT money works.
What they did has existed for many years in one form or another. It's bound to have made it a lot easier for OU and UT to look for other options than the Big 12.

[OUspark]

Big money will make sure that UT is okay....Big UT money will make sure that those who did what they did on Monday will make those responsible pay a price...That's how big UT money works.
What they did has existed for many years in one form or another. It's bound to have made it a lot easier for OU and UT to look for other options than the Big 12.

They are the Big Ideas folks

https://medium.com/texas-mccombs

This is a good conversation to start.

https://medium.com/texas-mccombs/professor-sheds-light-on-the-ethical-failings-of-the-human-brain-8586e347a887

[hiphopfroggy]

Big money will make sure that UT is okay....Big UT money will make sure that those who did what they did on Monday will make those responsible pay a price...That's how big UT money works.
What they did has existed for many years in one form or another. It's bound to have made it a lot easier for OU and UT to look for other options than the Big 12.

lol no one "didn't do nothing" to quote Whitmire. We are just 8 schools trying to find our way not sure what the problem is, there is no axe to grind from either side.

[OU48A]

lol no one "didn't do nothing" to quote Whitmire. We are just 8 schools trying to find our way not sure what the problem is, there is no axe to grind from either side.

not so...the little brothers of Texas are very unhappy and it showed.

[RocketCitySooner]

B1G should expand with 10 teams -- all the AAU Flagships west of the Mississippi + ISU....to make it a 24-team league.

1. -Washington
2. -Oregon
3. -Cal
4. -Stanford
5. -UCLA
6. -USC
7. -Arizona
8. -Colorado
9. -Kansas
10. Iowa State

Four different 6-team pods, neatly defined by geography.

Call it the B1G-PAC Union.

The $ would keep them even or above the mighty Southeastern Confederacy forever.


Let the remaining 4 PAC members join with the remaining B12 members (all Land Grant little bros + some private schools) and add a few to get that "super" conference to 16.


In this new era, with dominoes falling the way they have fallen, *that* option is really where everyone truly belongs. That would actually provide some nation-wide balance and sanity.

Adding a bunch of schools with little or no fan interest isn't going to raise B1G revenues above SEC levels. There is a reason those west coast teams do not receive B1G SEC revenues - too few people watch their games.

[RocketCitySooner]

And again from a competitive standpoint UT leaving changes nothing in the Big12 as they were not a competitive team anyway. OU is the Big loss. UT could easily be replaced by Arizona St from a competitive standpoint and no one will even bat an eye or notice.

OK, go ahead and replace UT with ASU.
The only ones who will notice are the millions of viewers who will watch UT football. There is no way that ASU can replace those viewers.
XII revenues will plummet. People will notice that.

[slice1900]

I understand that JR and so do the folks I know in Chapel Hill. If push comes to shove we all know we will have to move (fortunately we are one of the lucky ones), but I am told that every avenue will be explored before that decision would be made.
The consensus is that we would opt for the B1G especially if it included UVa, Duke, and Georgia Tech.

That was the rumor a few years back, what's old is new again I guess?

I still don't see how all these scenarios of breaking up the ACC will come to pass, the GOR overhang is way too big right now. The schools have granted their rights to the conference, if they leave the conference can claim all their TV revenue in their new home for the next 15 years. While I agree with those who think they might be able to get some relief in a court, they'd very likely have to actually LEAVE before a court would be willing to hear the case. That would be a mighty big roll of the dice betting on a favorable court ruling!

[OU48A]

OK, go ahead and replace UT with ASU.
The only ones who will notice are the millions of viewers who will watch UT football. There is no way that ASU can replace those viewers.
XII revenues will plummet. People will notice that.

Very good point.
XII revenues will plummet and so will the recruiting

[XLance]

Out of the frying pan and into the fire! The B1G is suffering an internal struggle for the soul of that conference. Ivy amateurism vs NIL and stipends Madison vs Columbus is an interesting rift to watch develop. The sports don't match, the culture doesn't match and academic associations can be had anyway. I think Chapel Hill donors make the call, not the administration, just like OU. And ESPN's desires will be palpable as well. But laced in X's words are the escape clause, Duke. If Duke or Virginia are accommodated in the SEC things could change.

AND, JR the word is AND.
Not Duke or UVa, it's Duke AND UVa..

[slice1900]

Adding a bunch of schools with little or no fan interest isn't going to raise B1G revenues above SEC levels. There is a reason those west coast teams do not receive B1G SEC revenues - too few people watch their games.

Yep too many people confuse size with revenue. Sure, adding 10 schools would increase Big Ten revenues by a huge amount, but you have to divide it 10 more ways. Perhaps two or at most four of those schools would get revenue above the Big Ten average and thus increase payouts - and perhaps only because of the expansion of BTN into new population centers, which matters less and less as more cords are cut. Every addition beyond that only dilutes things. I don't know why people think a 24 school conference would be worth a lot of money to the individual schools. Must have failed arithmetic in third grade.

[JRsec*]

AND, JR the word is AND.
Not Duke or UVa, it's Duke AND UVa..

I can recommend Mackinac Island and St. Ignace, especially the fudge, as a wonderful side trip when headed to Ann Arbor or East Lansing. Alas, other than farmland and cheese curds there's not much to Wisconsin. I never cared much for Minneapolis / St. Paul and Chicago isn't my cup of tea. And trips to Omaha, well if you aren't flying with Becky Quick at Buffet's behest, or going to the CWS, it's just plain dull.

Enjoy!

[hiphopfroggy]

I can recommend Mackinac Island and St. Ignace, especially the fudge, as a wonderful side trip when headed to Ann Arbor or East Lansing. Alas, other than farmland and cheese curds there's not much to Wisconsin. I never cared much for Minneapolis / St. Paul and Chicago isn't my cup of tea. And trips to Omaha, well if you aren't flying with Becky Quick at Buffet's behest, or going to the CWS, it's just plain dull.

Enjoy!

You acting like the southeast isn't the shittiest part of the country is pretty funny.

[hiphopfroggy]

OK, go ahead and replace UT with ASU.
The only ones who will notice are the millions of viewers who will watch UT football. There is no way that ASU can replace those viewers.
XII revenues will plummet. People will notice that.

Yes I believe everyone is up to speed regarding the fact that the leftover 8 in the Big12 will see a dramatic decrease in TV revenue, thanks Capt. Obvious.

Regarding competitiveness there is no replacing OU.

However UT leaving isn't going to hurt the actually on the field football product produced by the Big12 as there are plenty of middle of the road .500 teams out there.

So from a competitive standpoint you are really only losing OU, and still have the Basketball National Champions, that is not too shabby.

[Deadeye]

It's actually going to be funny watching UT get its ass kicked out the door with its tail between its legs.

Everyone in the SEC gets their butts kicked. Even Bama before Saban was having a miserable time.

[OU48A]

WE DO NOT NEED THIS
This could stop or slow everything

It remains unclear what, if any, role ESPN has played in the latest round of conference realignment at the highest level of college sports, but one politician thinks the public deserves a definitive answer.

U.S. senator Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, has drafted a letter to U.S. attorney general Merrick Garland asking for the Department of Justice to launch a formal investigation into ESPN.

Marshall drafted the letter on Wednesday, a few days after traditional Big 12 powers Oklahoma and Texas announced plans to join the SEC and left the Big 12’s remaining eight members unsure about their collective future.


“I write today to ask that the DOJ investigate ESPN’s role in the potential destruction of the Big 12 Conference,” Marshall wrote, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Wichita Eagle, “and if any anti-competitive or illegal behavior occurred relating to manipulating the conference change or ESPN’s contractual television rights.”

ESPN’s role in conference realignment has become a hot-button topic over the past two weeks.

Not long after news broke that Oklahoma and Texas were prepared to switch leagues, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby sent a “cease-and-desist” letter to ESPN and accused the TV network of conspiring with at least one other conference to break up the Big 12. He suggested that ESPN helped the Sooners and Longhorns find a new conference home and that ESPN worked with the American Athletic Conference in hopes of poaching several of the Big 12’s remaining teams, such as Kansas and K-State.

Marshall has ties to both schools. He is a graduate of the KU medical school and also obtained a biology degree from K-State with a minor in nuclear physics.

Bowlsby went so far as to say ESPN was engaging in a clear act of “deception” against the Big 12.

“I have absolute certainty they (ESPN) have been involved in manipulating other conferences to go after our members,” Bowlsby told the Associated Press. He also claimed he had irrefutable proof to back up his claims, but denied to provide it with media outlets.

The Big 12 has a media rights contract with ESPN and Fox that runs through 2025. ESPN is the sole TV partner for the SEC and also broadcasts AAC games.

[John Swofford]

Out of the frying pan and into the fire! The B1G is suffering an internal struggle for the soul of that conference. Ivy amateurism vs NIL and stipends Madison vs Columbus is an interesting rift to watch develop. The sports don't match, the culture doesn't match and academic associations can be had anyway. I think Chapel Hill donors make the call, not the administration, just like OU. And ESPN's desires will be palpable as well. But laced in X's words are the escape clause, Duke. If Duke or Virginia are accommodated in the SEC things could change.

Dook , UVa and UNC (and likely GT) would all stick together and most assuredly be pursued by the B1G.

While UNC is a bigger brand than NCSU, the Tar Heels and their cohorts would rather head North....which would suit me just fine.