Big10 - Pac12 - ACC Merger

[CYCLNST8]

I feel like we've gone from hoping for the B1G invite and a PAC merger being the worst case scenario...... to now being where the best we might be able to hope for is to add Cincy and Memphis..... or BYU, UCF, USF, Houston, etc.

One thing I'd like to know is exactly what our athletic department would look like in a new Big 12 with just adding a few of the teams mentioned above? Would we have to cut quite a few sports, and what other cuts or affects would be felt with the decrease in revenue?

The first call has to go to BYU. Even if it’s football only. They have big boy facilities and a loyal fan base.

The next call should be to FedEx to see what kind of sponsorship would come along with Memphis.

UNLV is a name brand that deserves a look despite the current futility of their football program. They certainly have a nice stadium to play in now. A good coach could turn that school into a juggernaut. Perhaps the Big 12 could also benefit from sports betting.

Get the conference streaming network rolling. I’ll subscribe.

Whatever pay cut we’re forced to take after 2025, a new-look Big 12 would still be more valuable than the AAC or Mountain West.

 

[Die4Cy]

The math almost works out for the remaining big 12 to be carved up and placed into 16 team conferences. West Virginia and Notre Dame to the ACC. ISU and KU to the B1G. KSU, OSU, TTech, TCU to the PAC.

In this scenario we land in a good spot and everyone tells Baylor to **** off. I’d say that’s a win win.

"Ty Cobb wanted to play. But we couldn't stand the son of a ***** when he was alive, so we told him to stick it!" Shoeless Joe, Field of Dreams.

 

[Cyclone5050]

The math almost works out for the remaining big 12 to be carved up and placed into 16 team conferences. West Virginia and Notre Dame to the ACC. ISU and KU to the B1G. KSU, OSU, TTech, TCU to the PAC.

In this scenario we land in a good spot and everyone tells Baylor to **** off. I’d say that’s a win win.

That all has a good "feel" to it. Do you think KU and KSU have any ties that would bind them together as a package deal? I really would have thought that OK would never bolt the conference without considerations for OSU coming with them in a sort of kid brother scenario.

 

[CYCLNST8]

@alarson

What part do you disagree with? Of course finding a home in another power conference is preferred, but we have to prepare for the possibility that no one wants the remaining 8.

Although if I’m the PAC 12, a slice of Texas (Tech) pie would be my first move.

 

[cyfanatic]

That all has a good "feel" to it. Do you think KU and KSU have any ties that would bind them together as a package deal? I really would have thought that OK would never bolt the conference without considerations for OSU coming with them in a sort of kid brother scenario.

One thing I always thought was cool was that a small state like Iowa had representatives in two major conferences! It was fun to see so many schools come through the state to play our two major schools. If that scenario plays out it would now be the state of Kansas enjoying that situation. That said...I will never say I am jealous of the state of Kansas...and I will be THRILLED if that scenario plays out as we would have a very strong landing in that situation!

 

[8bitnes]

To me, this says that those conferences want to protect the existing order as much as possible against a piece by piece destruction by the SEC. Following that logic, they may coordinate to balance the conferences, rather than bid against each other. I think this move is good for keeping college football closer to what it was, and I think we'll be part of that new structure in some way.

Form an alliance and fold in the rest of the big 12. Realign those teams to form three 16-team conferences to go up against the SECs single conference of soon to be 16 teams. Outvote SEC on all decisions 3 to 1

 

[Gonzo]

"Ty Cobb wanted to play. But we couldn't stand the son of a ***** when he was alive, so we told him to stick it!" Shoeless Joe, Field of Dreams.

Which is kind of an ironic line since, in real life, Jackson and Cobb were actually close friends.

 

[BCClone]

Form an alliance and fold in the rest of the big 12. Realign those teams to form three 16-team conferences to go up against the SECs single conference of soon to be 16 teams. Outvote SEC on all decisions 3 to 1

Problem is all the G5’s and ND have a vote also. We would need to have conferences agree to schedule certain G5’s and pay them decent for home games and leverage that to get a couple of them to vote with us.

 

[jbhtexas]

To me, this says that those conferences want to protect the existing order as much as possible against a piece by piece destruction by the SEC. Following that logic, they may coordinate to balance the conferences, rather than bid against each other. I think this move is good for keeping college football closer to what it was, and I think we'll be part of that new structure in some way.

Right now, there is really no incentive for Pac-12 and Big Ten to do anything with the Remaining 8. And actually, I think the "incentive" might be to do nothing. If the Remaining 8 don't find good homes, lawsuits will fly against ESPN and quite possibly the SEC. This weakens those two, which is good for the Pac-12 and Big Ten. Or, the Pac-12 and Big Ten can extort all kinds of concessions out of ESPN in exchange for taking on the Remaining 8.

I'm sure lots of things are in play, but the Pac-12 and BIg Ten taking things slow and allowing future lawsuit potential against ESPN and the SEC to simmer seems like a sound move.

 

[BCClone]

Right now, there is really no incentive for Pac-12 and Big Ten to do anything with the Remaining 8. And actually, I think the "incentive" might be to do nothing. If the Remaining 8 don't find good homes, lawsuits will fly against ESPN and quite possibly the SEC. This weakens those two, which is good for the Pac-12 and Big Ten. Or, the Pac-12 and Big Ten can extort all kinds of concessions out of ESPN in exchange for taking on the Remaining 8.

I'm sure lots of things are in play, but the Pac-12 and BIg Ten taking things slow and allowing future lawsuit potential against ESPN and the SEC to simmer seems like a sound move.

Weakening the SEC is good for the Big10 and PAC. Weakening ESPN is not good for them.

 

[jbhtexas]

Weakening the SEC is good for the Big10 and PAC. Weakening ESPN is not good for them.

It is if it eliminates ESPN's ability to manipulate college FB to where the Big Ten and Pac-12 don't want it to go.

 

[StPaulCyclone]

Problem is all the G5’s and ND have a vote also. We would need to have conferences agree to schedule certain G5’s and pay them decent for home games and leverage that to get a couple of them to vote with us.

Then maybe our 8 votes will be needed.

 

[BCClone]

It is if it eliminates ESPN's ability to manipulate college FB to where the BIg Ten and Pac-12 don't want it to go.

Also kills FOX’s competition for media bidding. Their 70MM/year is now 45MM/year.

 

[DarkStar]

IMHO this alliance is about more than conference realignment. It's about what they want the future of college athletics to look like.

We have seen the blueprint that E$PN/SEC wants. A semi-pro NFL lite super conference where anything goes. I do not put it past them to try and grab the top brands from the remaining three power conferences. Then split off from the NCAA if it doesn't get destroyed during it's upcoming constitutional convention.

They need to come up with a plan that deals with conference realignment, Football playoffs, NIL, Media rights, and the big one noone is talking about, what happens to the NCAA. As bad as the NCAA is, it is better than E$PN and the SEC making all the rules.

My opinion is they need to focus on the value college athletics bring to each university.
1. Enhances social environment of the school.
2. Establishes and maintains the universities connection to its alumni and the community.
3. Name recognition and branding.

This is their last and best chance to take a deep breath, think things through and maybe change the direction this is headed.

 

[cymonw1980]

The first call has to go to BYU. Even if it’s football only. They have big boy facilities and a loyal fan base.

The next call should be to FedEx to see what kind of sponsorship would come along with Memphis.

UNLV is a name brand that deserves a look despite the current futility of their football program. They certainly have a nice stadium to play in now. A good coach could turn that school into a juggernaut. Perhaps the Big 12 could also benefit from sports betting.

Get the conference streaming network rolling. I’ll subscribe.

Whatever pay cut we’re forced to take after 2025, a new-look Big 12 would still be more valuable than the AAC or Mountain West.

i heard season ticket sales are way up this year at unlv

 

[jbhtexas]

Also kills FOX’s competition for media bidding. Their 70MM/year is now 45MM/year.

The payout is not going to fall nearly that far if there is money to made...someone else will come in and fill the void if there is truly money to be made by broadcasting CFB.

CFB desperately needs 1 or more additional media companies bidding for rights. This might be what it takes to get some more involved. Short term sacrifice (if there would even be one) for long-term gain.

 

[isucy86]

Problem is all the G5’s and ND have a vote also. We would need to have conferences agree to schedule certain G5’s and pay them decent for home games and leverage that to get a couple of them to vote with us.

That may be true today. But with the NCAA reinvent itself convention this fall, who knows. But current NCAA President Emmert hinted at more decentralized approach.

If greed rules, the P4/5 could consolidate power.

 

[DarkStar]

IMHO this alliance is about more than conference realignment. It's about what they want the future of college athletics to look like.

We have seen the blueprint that E$PN/SEC wants. A semi-pro NFL lite super conference where anything goes. I do not put it past them to try and grab the top brands from the remaining three power conferences. Then split off from the NCAA if it doesn't get destroyed during it's upcoming constitutional convention.

They need to come up with a plan that deals with conference realignment, Football playoffs, NIL, Media rights, and the big one noone is talking about, what happens to the NCAA. As bad as the NCAA is, it is better than E$PN and the SEC making all the rules.

My opinion is they need to focus on the value college athletics bring to each university.
1. Enhances social environment of the school.
2. Establishes and maintains the universities connection to its alumni and the community.
3. Name recognition and branding.

This is their last and best chance to take a deep breath, think things through and maybe change the direction this is headed.

First item of business. Move away from the rigged CFP/E$PN Invitational format.

Expand to 8 teams. Conference Champions only. B1G, SEC, ACC, PAC 12, BIG 8, and AAC get auto bids. Last two slots go to either one of the remaining G5 conference champions or the highest ranked independent. Make conference championship games mean something and keeps people interested in games played in all conferences.

First round is played two weeks after championship games at home stadiums of highest ranked 4 teams. Then follow the current structure of the CFP. Equal revenue sharing of CFP revenues among all conferences.

Keep current bowl structure so remaining Universities still have a chance to showcase their schools on a national stage.

 

[cyIclSoneU]

First item of business. Move away from the rigged CFP/E$PN Invitational format.

Expand to 8 teams. Conference Champions only. B1G, SEC, ACC, PAC 12, BIG 8, and AAC get auto bids. Last two slots go to either one of the remaining G5 conference champions or the highest ranked independent. Make conference championship games mean something and keeps people interested in games played in all conferences.

First round is played two weeks after championship games at home stadiums of highest ranked 4 teams. Then follow the current structure of the CFP. Equal revenue sharing of CFP revenues among all conferences.

Keep current bowl structure so remaining Universities still have a chance to showcase their schools on a national stage.

Honestly, the 12-teams, top 6 conference champs plus 6 at-larges proposal is pretty good for the Big 12. We would get a team into the CFP pretty much every year (it would be rare where all of the other P5 leagues plus at least two of Cincy/UCF/Boise State/some Coastal Carolina upstart were ranked higher than our champion) and we'd get two teams in every now and then.

I don't see a world where the AAC gets an autobid into the playoff and the new-look B12 is probably on the wrong side of that too - I like the "top X conference champs" autobid that they already came up with for this reason.

I think all of the leagues will come to recognize that the real problems with this proposal is that (1) it was going to be handed to ESPN on a platter and (2) there is no limit on the number of teams per conference. If you just follow the original proposal, plus you give FOX and CBS and NBC two CFP games each (and ESPN gets the other five, or something), and you limit it to no more than 3 or even 4 teams per conference, you are already at a much better place.

 

[DarkStar]

Honestly, the 12-teams, top 6 conference champs plus 6 at-larges proposal is pretty good for the Big 12. We would get a team into the CFP pretty much every year (it would be rare where all of the other P5 leagues plus at least two of Cincy/UCF/Boise State/some Coastal Carolina upstart were ranked higher than our champion) and we'd get two teams in every now and then.

I don't see a world where the AAC gets an autobid into the playoff and the new-look B12 is probably on the wrong side of that too - I like the "top X conference champs" autobid that they already came up with for this reason.

I think all of the leagues will come to recognize that the real problems with this proposal is that (1) it was going to be handed to ESPN on a platter and (2) there is no limit on the number of teams per conference. If you just follow the original proposal, plus you give FOX and CBS and NBC two CFP games each (and ESPN gets the other five, or something), and you limit it to no more than 3 or even 4 teams per conference, you are already at a much better place.

The current proposal for the expansion of the college football espn Invitational keeps everthing that is wrong with the current system and does nothingto address its problems. Media coverage would degrade to ESPN hyping only the sec and fox hyping the B1G. The first round bye games only make it easier for the predetermined top 4 to make it to the championship game. It also destroys the bowl game system.

This is about what these universities want the future of college athletics to look like. The current proposal only helps a handful of schools and would destroy what makes college athletics special.