Football scheduling gets pretty difficult because you would only have one crossover game a year. Basketball and other sports are also a bit annoying from what I have been told. Honestly I don't think it would be that difficult I just think they are trying to get their new media deal signed and not miss out on grabbing schools. With this "alliance" in place the big ten only gains money and gets more votes for the way the playoff should be run.
Perspective from the Big Ten and some much needed clarifications
- Thread starter FriendlySpartan
- Start date
What other options do they have right now?
Yeah I think you are right on this. The ACC media deal in particular is absolutely awful and ironclad. Pac12 is rudderless and knows the big ten was sniffing around so they are willing to play ball to avoid a stay of execution. The whole thing is an absolute mess
It’s pretty unlikely to me that both of these would be true: (1) the B1G makes significantly more money than the ACC or Pac-12 as it is, and (2) a B1G/ACC/Pac-12 Alliance would result in more money for the B1G.
Since (1) is true right now I’m highly skeptical of (2). If you say “It’s because Ohio State and Michigan will play USC and Clemson every year and keep the money” - don’t they already play major non-con games and keep the money? They’re playing Oregon and Washington this year as it is. They play Texas, Oklahoma, Notre Dame etc.
The alliance makes sense in every way except the B1G’s financials, which is why I’m skeptical it will happen in any meaningful way (other than the leagues agreeing to vote together on governance or playoff matters).
Also 20 schools is unwieldy but doable. You could do four pods of 5 that rotate annually, so that you have 4 rivals you play annually and you play 5 of the remaining 15 each year on a rotation - facing each school in the league once per 3 years. Seems easy for hoops, too - play everyone once, plus a home-and-home series with one team.
There is absolutely no way the PAC 12 should stand pat and do nothing here. I would have to question the sanity of their commissioner in that case.
Their TV deal is awful (33 MM per school compared to B1G's 54 MM) — lowest of all the P5.
How do you think Southern Cal, steeped in tradition, likes making over 20 MM less in TV revenue per than Northwestern?
If the PAC does nothing, its worth won't magically go up in any meaningful way for the next round of TV deals. They'll be left in the dust by the SEC & B1G, and really they already have been lapped a couple times here.
They need to get into the central time zone desperately.
Here's the thing: no P5 conference is going to telegraph any expansion plan right now. Of course they're going to say they're not interested in expanding.
There are also wild cards out there who could turn this whole thing on its head; namely the streaming services who might decide now is the time to jump in. If that happens, all bets are off.
The big ten already makes way more money then those schools. The alliance probably wont move the needle that much but if you were promising these high level games it could be more money. You are right it does happen pretty regularly but it doesn't happen every year.
What schools in the ACC would the big ten want. Virginia wouldn’t help, North Carolina wouldn’t help, Clemson if they stay up there would, BC won’t, Pitt won’t. I don’t see anybody but Clemson or FSU possibly not suck more money than they would bring.
I think all the leagues see the streaming giants rolling the ESPNs and FOXs of the world and want to avoid missing th big payday. There are more 12 team playoff votes on SECs side than on the other P5s side right now.
I find it difficult to fully buy that everyone is just going to do nothing at all for awhile. For many reasons. It just takes one school to flinch and all holy hell is going to break lose.
I know its stupid but university presidents have always wanted virginia and UNC. Personally I thought they should raid the Pac and every thing i heard before this alliance was about real talks with USC but this is a good way to stall for a few years and effectively keep the status quo. Which is awesome for big ten teams in that alliance.
I question what the big ten may get from FOX. They say 80-90 MM but ESPN could have shot their wad with the SEC and not be competing for the big ten much.
Skipped ahead about 10 pages on this thread-- I see I didn't miss anything. Sparty still being smarty.
Totally valid. I just know the numbers being reported to a few AD's. I have no idea what service will be paying those dollars.
I think we’re at a point in college football where there are only 15-20 teams that would increase the value of a conferences tv deal. And probably a third of those teams are in the SEC, including Texas and OU.
I’d still be surprised if the PAC doesn’t at minimum go to 14, more likely 16. They have to do something. Being happy with last isn’t going to cut it. They need to at least try to close the gap a little.
The Big 10 could add ISU and another Big 12 school and enhance the revenue for each Big 10 school. All they would need to do is give ISU a half share for the first several years. ISU has demonstrated its viewership would put them in line with the schools middle of the Big 10. Plus ISU provides other benefits in terms of travel costs and academics. Virginia would be even more boring than Maryland.
To me, this is all about the big 10 wanting acc schools / ND... can't have them now due to the grant of rights. But no need to expand now. They also want to keep ou/tx out of the sec for as long as possible...
So, my take on the big ten's moves
1) Delay ou/tx departures to keep them out of the sec for as long as possible (keep status quo); so, make sure acc, pac do not add any b12 teams, if none of the "Big 8" teams get p4 invites, they will keep the big 12 intact for as long as possible.
2) Play the long game... they are already confident in short / mid term revenue, no need for them to add.
3) Keep pac / acc from making a move becoming a bigger player by forming an "aliance"; also helps them keep sec from gaining control - keep acc/pac on your side by painting sec as the bad guys
4) Once the GoR for UVA/UNC open up, take them and ND, maybe GT or another school (clemson? depends how important aau is).... plus in 10 yrs the gap between acc and b10 will be so big... may be realistic to buy out the last 5 yrs (acc deal is BAD).
Net, acc better be playing the b10... or they get crushed once gor expires. B12 teams may have a shot to join the PAC if they can keep up, make themselves attractive while the b10 waits out the acc GOR.. If Pac is not raided, they will need to make a move to keep up with 20 team sec/b10 leagues.
