Superconferences & Realignment

[GATTACA!]

The travel alone would kill Washington in the SEC. Imagine flying your swim team from Seattle to Gainesville?

They can do all the Olympic sports over zoom.

 

[Bishop2b5]

Their only two options would be the big12 or SEC, I think, if the B1G doesn't budge. Washington would get eaten alive in the SEC.

I think the SEC is determined to remain as regional as possible and not just be a large tent for anyone anywhere to enter. I just don't see someone like Oregon or Washington ever being invited in.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Considering both Oregon and Washington are public research universities, I'm surprised the B1G didn't prioritie them over UCLA as well, unless they were really drawn to UCLA's basketball brand, but that would surprise me. Football is king, even in the Mid West.

Maybe they'll reconsider as these superconferences continue to expand. Personally, I agree with Irish#1, I hope they bloat and disband. We're staring down the barrel of an AFC/NFC in college football. Regional rivalries are going to disband, it's a shame.

They wanted Los Angeles.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I think the B1G and the SEC are quite happy letting things stand where they don't destroy the lesser conferences but do relegate them to subordinate status.

The question is whether the expanded playoff is enough of an illusion of the level playing field to keep fans of those teams invested in college football. It's safe to assume the gamblers will watch regardless.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think the SEC is determined to remain as regional as possible and not just be a large tent for anyone anywhere to enter. I just don't see someone like Oregon or Washington ever being invited in.

Agreed. Their next move would be to start plucking the ACC for FSU, Clemson, UNC, Miami.

I don't understand what the PAC 12 is doing. Letting Colorado walk just seems very foolish unless they have a plan lined up.

 

[Huntr]

Their next move would be to start plucking the ACC for FSU, Clemson, UNC, Miami.

That will cost a lot of money for the next few years. The ACC's contract and its GoR seem pretty stout.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

The ACC is traditionally such a strong basketball conference. Football realignment is going to muck that up entirely. Their only hope would be a potential merger with the Big East? Even then, if you're losing UNC to the SEC, that's a major blow.

 

[stlnd01]

Agreed. Their next move would be to start plucking the ACC for FSU, Clemson, UNC, Miami.

I don't understand what the PAC 12 is doing. Letting Colorado walk just seems very foolish unless they have a plan lined up.

It's hard to envision what that plan would even be. Replacing USC, UCLA and Colorado with San Diego State, Fresno and Whoever ain't it.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

What's Clemson's value if/when Swinney leaves? Have they been good for long enough to have something of a national fan base or do they just turn into Virginia Tech post Beamer?

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

It's hard to envision what that plan would even be. Replacing USC, UCLA and Colorado with San Diego State, Fresno and Whoever ain't it.

100%. They would have to take G5 teams like the PAC 12 did and as we've stated in the last few days, the facilities and academics are severe downgrades when you look at their options.

 

[stlnd01]

100%. They would have to take G5 teams like the PAC 12 did and as we've stated in the last few days, the facilities and academics are severe downgrades when you look at their options.

Yep. And had they struck first, they probably could have had BYU and their pick of the second-tier Texas schools, which would have opened up new markets for them in a way the Cal State G5s won't.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

That will cost a lot of money for the next few years. The ACC's contract and its GoR seem pretty stout.

I don't think the SEC is interested in adding any G5 flavor either.

 

[calvegas04]

Pac now needs to get sdsu, UNLV and maybe Fresno and Bosie? If they lose Oregon and Washington they are done.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Pac now needs to get sdsu, UNLV and maybe Fresno and Bosie? If they lose Oregon and Washington they are done.

Maybe it doesn't speak well of me as a person but I would die of schadenfreude if Stanford and Washington get invited to the B1G and Oregon is left twisting in the wind.

 

[calvegas04]

Pac can even go after CSU who pulls in decent raitings for being in the MW and share the Denver market still. Denver is more of a pro city anyways. All of Colorados ratings come from other teams fans so they aren't missing much there.

 

[Huntr]

Pac now needs to get sdsu, UNLV and maybe Fresno and Bosie? If they lose Oregon and Washington they are done.

A conference with the current PAC membership plus those schools makes even less per school than they do now, which is only like $20 mill annually.

If they don't pull off a partnership with the ACC, then the PAC is done and we're just waiting for them to quit squirming around while they expire.

 

[IrishLax]

The only thing saving the PAC right now is that they get a bid to the new CFP. Take that away and they’re deader than a door nail.

 

[stlnd01]

Maybe it doesn't speak well of me as a person but I would die of schadenfreude if Stanford and Washington get invited to the B1G and Oregon is left twisting in the wind.

By pretty much any measure aside from investment in football, Stanford would bring more to the Big 10 than Oregon would.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Strictly from an enrollment standpoint, the Mountain West top four is San Jose State, San Diego State, Colorado State and UNLV. That range is 37K to 30K.

Utah State, Boise State and New Mexico are all under 30K students.

If the Pac 12 manage to hold onto the 9 they have left, maybe you add five to get to 14?

 

[GATTACA!]

The only thing saving the PAC right now is that they get a bid to the new CFP. Take that away and they’re deader than a door nail.

Which is why auto bids have always been a dumb idea.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

By pretty much any measure aside from investment in football, Stanford would bring more to the Big 10 than Oregon would.

I'm sure they would prefer Stanford but I'm less sure about Washington.

It's the number two public university by research spending (almost 15 times Oregon's budget) but Oregon potentially brings some unique marketing benefits.

https://ncsesdata.nsf.gov/profiles/site?method=rankingbysource&ds=herd

Adding Stanford and Washington would give the B1G the 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 17, 22, 26, 28, 30, 37, 39, 40, 41, 45, 50th ranked schools in research spending. And I see 19 schools in that top 50 aren't in FBS football.

 

[Huntr]

Strictly from an enrollment standpoint, the Mountain West top four is San Jose State, San Diego State, Colorado State and UNLV. That range is 37K to 30K.

Utah State, Boise State and New Mexico are all under 30K students.

If the Pac 12 manage to hold onto the 9 they have left, maybe you add five to get to 14?

That's a lot of pieces to cut a small pie into.

 

[Irish#1]

Agreed. Their next move would be to start plucking the ACC for FSU, Clemson, UNC, Miami.

I don't understand what the PAC 12 is doing. Letting Colorado walk just seems very foolish unless they have a plan lined up.

I think CU bolted because they started to panic a little and didn't want to wait to see what the PAC12 could come up with. I also think the PAC12 contract is taking so long because they still want to get the type of money they could have gotten with USC & UCLA still on board and broadcasters don't want to pay that much. This could be a who blinks first scenario and I would think the PAC12 blinks first.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I think CU bolted because they started to panic a little and didn't want to wait to see what the PAC12 could come up with. I also think the PAC12 contract is taking so long because they still want to get the type of money they could have gotten with USC & UCLA still on board and broadcasters don't want to pay that much. This could be a who blinks first scenario and I would think the PAC12 blinks first.

Reportedly the PAC is trying to get an ACC-style grant of rights from its members. That might be the holdup and the reason for Colorado leaving. If the PAC isn't going to make them more money than the Big 12, why should they give up all flexibility to maintain that status quo?

 

[pumpdog20]

What we need to happen is for NBC and Under Armour to collude with each other to low ball ND initially, and force them to the B1G. Then those two companies can pay up, and I can have away games within 3-4 hours in Iowa City, Lincoln Madison, and Minneapolis.

 

[GATTACA!]

Reportedly the PAC is trying to get an ACC-style grant of rights from its members. That might be the holdup and the reason for Colorado leaving. If the PAC isn't going to make them more money than the Big 12, why should they give up all flexibility to maintain that status quo?

Like a couple whose relationship is on the rocks renewing their vows.

 

[GATTACA!]

What we need to happen is for NBC and Under Armour to collude with each other to low ball ND initially, and force them to the B1G. Then those two companies can pay up, and I can have away games within 3-4 hours in Iowa City, Lincoln Madison, and Minneapolis.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

That's a lot of pieces to cut a small pie into.

If you stick with 12 then SDSU, CSU and UNLV seem like the likely choices.

 

[stlnd01]

I'm sure they would prefer Stanford but I'm less sure about Washington.

It's the number two public university by research spending (almost 15 times Oregon's budget) but Oregon potentially brings some unique marketing benefits.

https://ncsesdata.nsf.gov/profiles/site?method=rankingbysource&ds=herd

Adding Stanford and Washington would give the B1G the 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 17, 22, 26, 28, 30, 37, 39, 40, 41, 45, 50th ranked schools in research spending. And I see 19 schools in that top 50 aren't in FBS football.

The only argument for Oregon to the Big 10 over Washington or Stanford is their ties to Nike and their willingness to spend Phil Knight's money to be nationally relevant at football (and despite that, they're not all that much more successful at football over the last 10-20 years than Washington or Stanford have been).
I would also note that Phil Knight is 85 years old.

 

[calvegas04]

B12 takes the two weakest PAC schools?... will more follow?