Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[FriendlySpartan]

@FriendlySpartan Just want to point out I am not in the line of thought that what I said will happen, just that if we've gone this far, then the blue bloods don't make any sense if they don't take it all the way. Kind of hypocritical by them.

I am with you though in that I don't think teams will be voted out of a conference. A new one would probably be created to avoid litigation. And I tend to think it will settle on the P2 and there will be a third conference that is still in the mix that includes the forgotten schools from the PAC, Big 12 and ACC. These leaders aren't completely stupid in alienating the entire country aside from the biggest brands.

Totally fair, and all anyone is doing is speculating here so i appreciate the back and forth.

 

[Gonzo]

That's exactly what they'll do. They'll only highlight the big matchups, they'll push Minnesota/Illinois to the BTN's third overflow channel and act like it isn't even happening. On the BTN wrap up show they'll show 3 highlights in 20 seconds and move on.

They won't dump them from the conference they just will act like they don't exist and the big games are the only things that are happening.

How is that different from how pretty much every P5 conference does it now?

 

[jctisu]

Of course anything is possible but the conferences have a ton of value in their name and history, thats why the big ten has 16 teams and still calls itself the big ten. OSU could certainly do something like that but Michigan never would. If CFB ever created a super league their viewership and revenue would plummet because if it was only a league of 16 teams no one would care outside of those 16 states. As plenty of people have said they wont watch cfb if there team isn't a part of it or at least isnt in close relationship to it.

I used to think this way, but I don't believe anything is impossible. And I certainly don't believe history, nostalgia, tradition is off the table anymore. Hope I am wrong, but nobody can sit here after the last 12 years and say anything is certain. Sorry to state the obvious wishy washy answer, but it truly is "Who the hell knows?"

 

[jctisu]

Totally fair, and all anyone is doing is speculating here so i appreciate the back and forth.

Likewise. Don't ever leave the board, as I enjoy hearing from other fans that aren't EMAW lovers and obviously our lovely Hawk friends (although there are few on here I like).

 

[WhoISthis]

 

[FriendlySpartan]

I used to think this way, but I don't believe anything is impossible. And I certainly don't believe history, nostalgia, tradition is off the table anymore. Hope I am wrong, but nobody can sit here after the last 12 years and say anything is certain. Sorry to state the obvious wishy washy answer, but it truly is "Who the hell knows?"

Hahaha might be wishy washy but is the most accurate. Also I am coming from a big ten perspective so obv my view is skewed. Michigan wont even participate in NIL and its cratering their team this year so I feel confident saying they would never force a move but who knows with OSU. Its also a very different prospective because across the big ten sphere no one really cares about expansion or that the cali teams are joining. Its kinda just business as usual which is a bit disappointing but its the reality.

 

[Statefan10]

For everyone saying conferences won’t dump teams, I think you’re being shortsighted. I hope they don’t and I hope where we’re headed is a field around 60 teams.

It will most likely be a long time from now but if that method works, I could definitely see half of those teams break off to form their own NFL lite. It wouldn’t mean schools like ISU or Iowa would be gone because they’d all be in another lower league, but it’d be naive to think that the people making decisions will give a **** about conferences or teams like Rutgers when projections show how much money they’d make without em.

 

[Gonzo]

That is what I have been saying all along, the money is great, but EIU already had 50 million more to spend each year than ISU, is another 25 or more really going to be that much of a game changer?
How many more times can they remodel their fields, more money will go into the secondary sports, but even there, few care, and what does it get them. Hey, EIU built a new baseball field, how does that effect ISU when we do not have a team? It doesn't.

Unless these schools can find a way to either start giving out more scholarships, going from say 85 to 100, or start spending that money on NIL, which then makes the players employees, I do not think it's going to be that big of a difference maker, for the Big 12 schools as long as we continue to make 45 to 55 million from TV.

We did?

I'd assume we're going to see a pretty obscene hike in coaching salaries when the new money starts rolling in, that's where there could be a big difference.

 

[jctisu]

Hahaha might be wishy washy but is the most accurate. Also I am coming from a big ten perspective so obv my view is skewed. Michigan wont even participate in NIL and its cratering their team this year so I feel confident saying they would never force a move but who knows with OSU. Its also a very different prospective because across the big ten sphere no one really cares about expansion or that the cali teams are joining. Its kinda just business as usual which is a bit disappointing but its the reality.

Very true point and what makes this fascinating. You are a Big Ten guy, so it is an entirely different perspective because your team is in the conference everyone wants to be in. And the BIG has definitely been the most together over the decades, so we don't fully understand what that's like because we've been in this moving conference thing for some time going back to when the Big 12 was formed and even before that a bit.

I think as long as nobody (cough Ohio State) rattles the cage it will be as is pretty much. However, IF Ohio State does start looking around at some other options, or someone like that, then you will see the true colors of how together a conference really is. Hopefully it doesn't happen because it's not fun when you aren't a blue blood to continue to go through this. Only good thing is nobody is leaving the BIG for another conference. The only option would be to saddle up with all the other blue bloods to form a new league, so at least it would likely only be a one-time emergency.

 

[Statefan10]

Very true point and what makes this fascinating. You are a Big Ten guy, so it is an entirely different perspective because you team is in the conference everyone wants to be in. And the BIG has definitely been the most together over the decades, so we don't fully understand what that's like because we've been in this moving conference thing for some time going back to when the Big 12 was formed and even before that a bit.

I think as long as nobody (cough Ohio State) rattles the cage it will be as is pretty much. However, IF Ohio State does start looking around at some other options, or someone like that, then you will see the true colors of how together a conference really is. Hopefully it doesn't happen because it's not fun when you aren't a blue blood to continue to go through this. Only good thing is nobody is leaving the BIG for another conference. The only option would be to saddle up with all the other blue bloods to form a new league, so at least it would likely only be a one-time emergency.

Wasn’t Ohio State thinking about applying for Independent two years ago?

 

[trajanJ]

That is what I have been saying all along, the money is great, but EIU already had 50 million more to spend each year than ISU, is another 25 or more really going to be that much of a game changer?
How many more times can they remodel their fields, more money will go into the secondary sports, but even there, few care, and what does it get them. Hey, EIU built a new baseball field, how does that effect ISU when we do not have a team? It doesn't.

Unless these schools can find a way to either start giving out more scholarships, going from say 85 to 100, or start spending that money on NIL, which then makes the players employees, I do not think it's going to be that big of a difference maker, for the Big 12 schools as long as we continue to make 45 to 55 million from TV.

They will organize the NIL and the boosters can help with that. It's 50 million that the boosters can funnel into the NIL instead of facilities. If those conferences end up making 50 million more a year, the difference will start showing up on the field. It might take a few years but there will be 2 conferences and everyone else when it comes to football.

 

[Gunnerclone]

@ChrisMWilliams @JStanz51 get this guy on a pod.

 

[jctisu]

We did?

I'd assume we're going to see a pretty obscene hike in coaching salaries when the new money starts rolling in, that's where there could be a big difference.

This is true, but it will just mean more cycling through of coaches because a salary like that will demand even more than they already are being demanded to do as the coach and staff. Just more buyouts. Teams like ISU are already at a massive disadvantage with losing their coaches due to salaries, so not much different other than maybe a few more coordinators take the dive into head coaching spots.

 

[Gonzo]

Very true point and what makes this fascinating. You are a Big Ten guy, so it is an entirely different perspective because you team is in the conference everyone wants to be in. And the BIG has definitely been the most together over the decades, so we don't fully understand what that's like because we've been in this moving conference thing for some time going back to when the Big 12 was formed and even before that a bit.

Wasn’t Ohio State thinking about applying for Independent two years ago?

I think it was during the COVID season, Gene Smith thought about it as a way to free tOSU up and play a full season. I don't think he was on board with Warren's decisions. Not sure how seriously he considered it or what's involved with deciding you're leaving a conference for independence, ND stepped in and out of the ACC for the COVID year pretty seamlessly.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Very true point and what makes this fascinating. You are a Big Ten guy, so it is an entirely different perspective because you team is in the conference everyone wants to be in. And the BIG has definitely been the most together over the decades, so we don't fully understand what that's like because we've been in this moving conference thing for some time going back to when the Big 12 was formed and even before that a bit.

Wasn’t Ohio State thinking about applying for Independent two years ago?

They were joking about it for the season because the big ten cancelled the season and they thought they had a title contending team. There was nothing actually serious about it. Then again OSU is much closer to an SEC team then it is a big ten team so who knows.

 

[BCClone]

They were joking about it for the season because the big ten cancelled the season and they thought they had a title contending team. There was nothing actually serious about it. Then again OSU is much closer to an SEC team then it is a big ten team so who knows.

If you think Gene Smith was joking, you don’t know him very well. We know him quite well.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

This is true, but it will just mean more cycling through of coaches because a salary like that will demand even more than they already are being demanded to do as the coach and staff. Just more buyouts. Teams like ISU are already at a massive disadvantage with losing their coaches due to salaries, so not much different other than maybe a few more coordinators take the dive into head coaching spots.

Coaches and coordinators will see very large pay bumps. Also even at a lot of the well off schools some of the non revenue sports are always in danger of being cut or underfunded and this money in theory could help those programs and facilities as well.

 

[BCClone]

That is what I have been saying all along, the money is great, but EIU already had 50 million more to spend each year than ISU, is another 25 or more really going to be that much of a game changer?
How many more times can they remodel their fields, more money will go into the secondary sports, but even there, few care, and what does it get them. Hey, EIU built a new baseball field, how does that effect ISU when we do not have a team? It doesn't.

Unless these schools can find a way to either start giving out more scholarships, going from say 85 to 100, or start spending that money on NIL, which then makes the players employees, I do not think it's going to be that big of a difference maker, for the Big 12 schools as long as we continue to make 45 to 55 million from TV.

Well, they just cut some sports and had a quarter of a billion in loans so maybe that is where they start.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

If you think Gene Smith was joking, you don’t know him very well. We know him quite well.

Then take him at his word

“That was the only time that I talked to the boss about ‘maybe we just go independent,'” Smith said, via Cleveland.com. “Emotions were driving me more than my rational thinking.” Smith says the thought was fleeting. It lasted mere “seconds” after his wife, Sheila, talked him down.

 

[BCClone]

Then take him at his word

“That was the only time that I talked to the boss about ‘maybe we just go independent,'” Smith said, via Cleveland.com. “Emotions were driving me more than my rational thinking.” Smith says the thought was fleeting. It lasted mere “seconds” after his wife, Sheila, talked him down.

He is our former AD, he will say whatever he needs to.