***OFFICIAL BIG 12 EXPANSION THREAD 2.0***

[swarthmoreCY]

UNC isn't going anywhere unless NC State has a nice home, and then only if the ACC is exploding at that exact moment. The North Carolina Board of Governors (equivalent to Iowa's board of reagents) makes the final decision on any conference move, and they won't do anything that put's NC State in danger.

If they do, then the wrath of the NC State-friendly NC House and Senate will go scorched earth on this conference realignment stuff.

NC St is not going to be left out. If there are any NC St considerations that are slowing down UNC, it is that they do not want NC St in the SEC, yet they also do not want them in the BIG 10.

Also, the thought of a BoG/BoR packaging schools to the bitter-end has never been tested. That too is a game of chicken. Right now they obviously have to appear like there is no way the state schools will split, both for leverage and also to appease the public. Would they really allow both schools to become second rate just to stick together? Doubtful. Plus, it would take more than a few NC St friendly politicians to stop realignment when so many other politician's constituencies would be all for it.

[HFCS]

lol, NC State is in no danger of not being in a conference.

You could argue they're in a slight danger of being in a decimated ACC. The question is are their 4 non NC State ACC teams the Big Ten and SEC could both poach and at that point does NC State chose watered down ACC as better overall fit than the Big 12, or possibly if the ACC gets raided the Big 12 stops at its top two choices (FSU/Clem). I'd say slightly weakened ACC is most likely (at least two more teams are gonna leave), SEC second most likely, Big 12 third most likely, decimated ACC with NC State still in it least likely.

[swarthmoreCY]

You could argue they're in a slight danger of being in a decimated ACC. The question is are their 4 non NC State ACC teams the Big Ten and SEC could both poach and at that point does NC State chose watered down ACC as better overall fit than the Big 12, or possibly if the ACC gets raided the Big 12 stops at its top two choices (FSU/Clem). I'd say slightly weakened ACC is most likely (at least two more teams are gonna leave), SEC second most likely, Big 12 third most likely, decimated ACC with NC State still in it least likely.

There is no chance NC St is left out. If UNC is not in the ACC, neither will NC St.
Imo at some point UNC is in the BIG, NC St in the SEC.

The ACC has messed up a good situation more so than the Big 12.

[ripvdub]

The other WVU blogger said that he hears a lot of what the dude hears, but most of it is being leaked to.throw people off.

TheDudeofWV's post yesterday (FSU and Big Ten in talks) tells me that realignment is cooling down for the time being and the ACC may survive (for now), but WVU brass who have constantly supported expansion want to try and increase fan outcry. I'm not saying the ACC is solidified. It still could blow up down the road.

A lot of this probably hindges on the Maryland buyout.

[DistrictCyclone]

Let's just invite SMU and Houston and call it good. So tired of this.

[HFCS]

There is no chance NC St is left out. If UNC is not in the ACC, neither will NC St.
Imo at some point UNC is in the BIG, NC St in the SEC.

The ACC has messed up a good situation more so than the Big 12.

I wouldn't say "no chance" but it would take a spiral of unlikely scenarios. NC State left out of the 4 team Big Ten, SEC expansion to 16 each...10-15%. The ACC is still a pretty similar 10 team league after that. Then you need the Big 12 to take 2-6 teams to truly devastate it, those 2 teams could be 'not nc state' but 4 or 6 would have to be.

If 16 is truly the number it's like a draft with 10 spots available. NC State could be left out of 4 but if it's only 4 the ACC is still fine and it was the Big East that was completely eliminated, doubtful they're not in the first six and no chance they're not in the first 7-10 taken by the other 3 leagues.

[swarthmoreCY]

I wouldn't say "no chance" but it would take a spiral of unlikely scenarios. NC State left out of the 4 team Big Ten, SEC expansion to 16 each...10-15%. The ACC is still a pretty similar 10 team league after that. Then you need the Big 12 to take 2-6 teams to truly devastate it, those 2 teams could be 'not nc state' but 4 or 6 would have to be.

If 16 is truly the number it's like a draft with 10 spots available. NC State could be left out of 4 but if it's only 4 the ACC is still fine and it was the Big East that was completely eliminated, doubtful they're not in the first six and no chance they're not in the first 7-10 taken by the other 3 leagues.

0% chance NC St is not one of the 6 schools selected to get the BIG and SEC up to 16, as that would depend on ND joining the BIG (not happening).
If by some chance they did get left out, they are in the Big 12, as the ACC would not be a "pretty similar" 10 team league.

NC St will not be left out.

[CYphyllis]

Let's just invite SMU and Houston and call it good. So tired of this.

Might as well snag Drake and Grinnell if the B12 is going that route.

The "**** it, do whatever" strategy usually isn't put into effect when it comes to managing multi billion dollar conglomerations.

[DistrictCyclone]

Might as well snag Drake and Grinnell if the B12 is going that route.

The "**** it, do whatever" strategy usually isn't put into effect when it comes to managing multi billion dollar conglomerations.

They're good football schools with decent academics.

[CYphyllis]

They're good football schools with decent academics.

Houston went 5-7 in Conference USA and is considered a low rent commuter school. One flash in the pan season against weak competition doesn't make you a good football school.

SMU, also a part of Conference USA, went an astonishing 6-6. Hasn't been worth a damn since the death penalty.

They rate somewhere between #6 and #10 in popularity in their own state, a state in which the B12 already has 4 teams. If the B12 is looking at schools like Louisville, Cincy, etc and saying no thanks (which is a good decision on the B12's part), why in the hell would they add those two?

[DistrictCyclone]

Houston went 5-7 in Conference USA and is considered a low rent commuter school. One flash in the pan season against weak competition doesn't make you a good football school.

SMU, also a part of Conference USA, went an astonishing 6-6. Hasn't been worth a damn since the death penalty.

They rate somewhere between #6 and #10 in popularity in their own state, a state in which the B12 already has 4 teams. If the B12 is looking at schools like Louisville, Cincy, etc and saying no thanks (which is a good decision on the B12's part), why in the hell would they add those two?

TCU wasn't always a powerhouse either. I think these schools are a good "fit" for the Big 12. Plus, they expand our footprint and would help recruiting.

[colbycheese]

I wouldn't say "no chance" but it would take a spiral of unlikely scenarios. NC State left out of the 4 team Big Ten, SEC expansion to 16 each...10-15%. The ACC is still a pretty similar 10 team league after that. Then you need the Big 12 to take 2-6 teams to truly devastate it, those 2 teams could be 'not nc state' but 4 or 6 would have to be.

If 16 is truly the number it's like a draft with 10 spots available. NC State could be left out of 4 but if it's only 4 the ACC is still fine and it was the Big East that was completely eliminated, doubtful they're not in the first six and no chance they're not in the first 7-10 taken by the other 3 leagues.

No, I don't think you understand the political dynamics in North Carolina, or the pull our alumni (yes "our" since I too am an NCSU alumnus) have. Under no circumstance would UNC leave with out a big 4 conference landing spot for NC State... if the ACC goes under. If there is no spot for "State", then UNC will be forced to stay put.



I think if UNC and NC State were split between two conferences, it would be UNC to the Big 10, and NC State to the SEC... but that would only happen if invites were extended to both at the same time. I could see State to the Big 12 too since it would be a good fit, academic-wise.

NC State is a good get. It's not a "traditional power", but they've been to 25 bowl games, have an awesome stadium that holds 57,600 people that is almost always filled, and have a pretty rabid fan base, along with 35K students. They also have one of the top five most profitably basketball programs in the country. Most importantly, North Carolina has 9 million people in it with some major metro areas. On top of that, they're a land grant school that's a member of the AAU. They'll get picked up by someone... if the ACC explodes.

One last point, the ACC headquarters is in Greensboro, NC. The ACC tournament (BBall) is held there, along with the baseball tournaments, and just about any other sport's championship. The breakup of the ACC would hurt the Greensboro economy. That would have to be a consideration of the Board of Governors when they make a decision on whether or not UNC/State leave the conference - especially if they were the first dominoes.

[CYphyllis]

TCU wasn't always a powerhouse either. I think these schools are a good "fit" for the Big 12. Plus, they expand our footprint and would help recruiting.

TCU performed at a high level for a decade before they got the invite.

Adding two schools that are actually already in the B12 footprint does the opposite of expanding said footprint.

Adding two more B12 options in the state of Texas would in fact hurt the recruiting for most B12 schools that look to grab B12 caliber players out of Texas.

I get the feeling you are just screwing with me at this point.

[DistrictCyclone]

TCU performed at a high level for a decade before they got the invite.

Adding two schools that are actually already in the B12 footprint does the opposite of expanding said footprint.

Adding two more B12 options in the state of Texas would in fact hurt the recruiting for most B12 schools that look to grab B12 caliber players out of Texas.

I get the feeling you are just screwing with me at this point.

Ding ding ding!

[IHavNoCyCash]

Ding ding ding!

good trolling....well done DC. You are on a roll.