I think the viewership increasing despite threats to tune out is really interesting. Would you say the increased engagement is tied the chaos, or coincidental? BecauseAt the end of the day, the facts are pretty clear...
Now, I hate every single bullet above, but the sooner everybody understands it's the reality, the sooner the mindset can change to ensuring that 2nd tier is in the best position possible. I don't fault them for trying to throw pasta at the wall, but the B1G and SEC aren't even in the restaurant to care.
- The B1G and SEC hold ALL the leverage.
- Other conferences are grasping at straws to create alternative paths forward.
- Those other conferences have NO leverage to get B1G or SEC to the table.
- Media companies - those that drive most of this - have absolutely every reason to prevent those alternative paths.
- Viewership is INCREASING despite all the turmoil and fan threats of tuning out.
- NIL is here to stay and donors are clear that they don't plan on changing directions or giving less.
- As contracts continue to come up for renewal, B1G and SEC will continue to create further tiers of pay that only continue to expand the already huge financial distribution margins.
- As players become employees, the financial income differences are only going to hit harder to the second tier.
- Non BB and FB programs are going to be hurt massively with employment because they don't contribute to the bottom line and will only further take from it.
The ACC, Big 12, Pac12 whatever, and some other possible conferences need to create their own steering group to ensure they are in lock-step at every turn. This is the time for an actual, meaningful, and legally binding alliance of the tier 2 conferences.
I'm really confused how they consider Utah the most valuable school in the B12 and BYU the least. I guess AAU affiliation? Otherwise they're two large schools from the same state with similar history.