ND & Texas to the Big 10?

[Rhode Irish]

Please God dont let that happen. I'd much rather see Mizzou than Rutgirls. Pitt I guess I would be OK with, but I'd much rather keep them in the Big East, because I think a move to the Big 10 would only enhance their recruiting power within PA which is a state Id like to see the Irish hit hard.

I wonder if there is any chance OK St and Mizzou could become 15 and 16 if super conferences went down. That is much more agreeable to me than Pitt and Rutgers.

Pitt I think is most likely. The 16th will be interesting. Missouri is one candidate. Kansas could be a sneaky contender, considering they would lend major credibility to the conference from a basketball perspective and, considering the caliber of the rest of the teams in the conference, having Kansas in there could make some sense from a football perspective.

 

[23145tp]

IMO, in the near future, there will be the Big 10, Pac 10, ACC, SEC and poss the Big East and Mountain West and the Big 12 in some form or another. I'am really going to hate to see the Irish loose their independence and the possibility some of the great rivalries (Navy and USC........But like they say MONEY TALKS and you know what walks.........GO IRISH.......

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Pitt I think is most likely. The 16th will be interesting. Missouri is one candidate. Kansas could be a sneaky contender, considering they would lend major credibility to the conference from a basketball perspective and, considering the caliber of the rest of the teams in the conference, having Kansas in there could make some sense from a football perspective.

I agree that Pitt would pretty much be a lock for one spot. The othe rspot I think would go to Missouri, since they nearly joined the Big10 last cycle.

I see Oklahoma St. then going to the Pac12.
Texas Tech probably SEC
Which unfortunately leaves Iowa St, kansas, baylor, kansas st in the middle of no where

 

[Rhode Irish]

I agree that Pitt would pretty much be a lock for one spot. The othe rspot I think would go to Missouri, since they nearly joined the Big10 last cycle.

I see Oklahoma St. then going to the Pac12.
Texas Tech probably SEC
Which unfortunately leaves Iowa St, kansas, baylor, kansas st in the middle of no where

If that happens Kansas should just drop football and play in a basketball conference with the Big East's non-football schools. They can't make any money with football, anyway. They don't have any real tradition. Just junk the thing. I like the Kansas fit, but I would agree Mizzou is probably more likely.

 

[nin05]

I'm still waiting for some other news/internet reports on this before I even consider this somewhat legit. Until then, I have no opinion on it. If this was true, it would be all over the news within hours. The two biggest football institutions joining the Big 10... more importantly, ND willing to give up its independence... that's just WAY to big not to be covered.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

OK, but these are both presupposing a future rather than a present circumstance.

I don't see what ND would have to lose by waiting. The supposed, listed terms being negotiated with the Big 10 are really fairly minor things. And do we really believe any conference would turn the Irish down if push came to shove and ND had to pick one?

I just don't like the idea of preemptive strike by joining a conference now (of course it's not clear that is actually happening).

It's better to be the one w/ the power, calling the shots than to be the desperate outsider begging to be picked (not saying ND would need to beg). ND and TX have an extreme amount of leverage. This route allows them to call the shots and set the guidelines that benefit them. If ND waited until they were forced to join, then they lose the leverage and negotiating power to sway items in their favor. If this goes down, I'd much rather be on the power end. If this article is legit, then I like what's going on.

 

[fitz_bu47]

KU is going to be fine, they will end up in the B1G, Pac 16, or Big East. Same goes for MU, here in this area the teams I am hearing the least about, and who have the most to worry about, are K-State and Iowa St. From the south, I am also hearing Baylor and Texas Tech may get left out in the cold.

 

[ndfi78]

whats II? Irish illustrated? not like its bleacher report

Yes, II = Irish Illustrated. I'm assuming it came from the forums there though.

EDIT:
Forgot to say that even though I'm against joining a conf in general, it does seem to be heading that way and if so then do it now, while we have the power.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

It's better to be the one w/ the power, calling the shots than to be the desperate outsider begging to be picked (not saying ND would need to beg). ND and TX have an extreme amount of leverage. This route allows them to call the shots and set the guidelines that benefit them. If ND waited until they were forced to join, then they lose the leverage and negotiating power to sway items in their favor. If this goes down, I'd much rather be on the power end. If this article is legit, then I like what's going on.

I think you made a great point!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

OK, but these are both presupposing a future rather than a present circumstance.

I don't see what ND would have to lose by waiting. The supposed, listed terms being negotiated with the Big 10 are really fairly minor things. And do we really believe any conference would turn the Irish down if push came to shove and ND had to pick one?

We could obviously join any conference we wanted at any time, but the question is on what terms? If we hold out as long as possible, we lose a lot of leverage. Joining with Texas now and negotiating what I have to assume is a conditional agreement* puts us in a much stronger position than if we're the odd man out in a few years.

*If the post is accurate, we wouldn't join the B1G until 2014, and then only if realignment has left us no choice. It doesn't sound like we're being premature here.

I understand why super conferences would set up an ideal situation for a ncaa football tournament, which I think would just be great. I don't think the BCS is going to just roll over and die though.

Why do you guys believe the super conferences will kill the BCS?

The BCS exists because it allows the football powers to monopolize most of the money generated by the post-season. Once superconferences emerge, it will be much easier, fairer, and more profitable for the conferences to institute a playoff amonst themselves.

The congressional investigation and recent scandals haven't helped the BCS's case. The post-realignment CFB playoff may still call itself the BCS and incorporate the traditional venues, but the current system will for all intents and purposes be gone.

 

[DCirishfan]

If true, I wouldnt be completely against this move. The landscape of college football is changing in that at one point or another ND's hand is going to be forced into joining a conference. Under this proposal if Texas comes along it would really strengthen the conference overall. Notre Dame, Nebraska, Texas, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa..I think it ultimately dissove the Big XII and Oklahoma would end up in the SEC. Its possible that a school like Mizzou could end up Big 10 if that were to happen.

Although I dont like the idea of joining a conference, and like the idea of "Super conferences" even less, I think overall that would be a conference of some big time teams that are also aligned more with Notre Dames academic interests as well versus the Big East or SEC. It would stregthen the conference basketball and baseball wise big time, and I wonder if it wouldnt be beneficial sports other than football. Big East hoops is where it's at right now, but if Notre dame and Texas joined the Big 10 in basketball it would be quite a boost.













Not to mention it might further open our inroads to recruiting in Texas, and would have little effect on them recruiting our areas since they dont leave the state anyhow.

I also love the idea of keeping the 8 game conference schedule so we can maintain rivalries with Navy, USC, and still have room to add other schools of our choosing throughout the season.

So far this is the lesser of all the evils I have seen proposed.

Not happening. ND stays independent.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Here's a good article from Stewart Mandel of SI.

I don't agree with all of his conclusions, but he discusses many of these issues in depth.

 

[Rocket89]

I keep going back to what our schedule would be like. IF this happens, we would be facing BRUTAL schedules in 9 out of 10 seasons. There might be one season per decade where we get a little bit of a break due to the luck of the draw and a couple powers being down.

This is what has always bothered me about ND joining a conference. It appears as though Texas is willing to basically walk away from their rivalry with OU, and vice versa. Maybe that won't actually happen, but it might.

Meanwhile, we'd be entering a tough as balls Big Ten with the addition of Texas, and say, Missouri and Iowa State. Our schedule would look like this:

Boston College
Navy
Nebraska
Michigan
Northwestern
Texas
Purdue
Temple
Michigan State
Wisconsin
Indiana
USC

It'd be like essentially taking out one or two of our breathers every year like we have now, and replacing them with one or two more upper-echelon teams. Yikes.

 

[IrishLax]

I could see the Big 14 holding at 14 and not adding any more teams if they got ND and Texas.

If they wanted two more, I'd guess Missouri for the KC/St. Louis markets and maybe Pitt... but they'd be just as likely to go for some Big East/ACC schools (even if they don't fit geographically) to break into the east coast markets.

Personally, I hate the idea of joining a conference where we have been consistently screwed by refs in the past and I love the Big East from my time there. But oh well.

 

[RDU Irish]

We could go 0-4 out of conference and even 6-2 in conference to still win the division, win the conference title game to make the playoffs, then run the table to become the first six loss National Champion ever! Probably not the last with the dumb arse Super Conference feeder system to the playoffs.

Unless they squeeze down to four super conferences, I don't see how they can cap a playoff at four teams? 6 or 8 seems most likely and I would say 6 with a bye week for #1 and #2.

To me, non-conference games become almost meaningless in a Super Conference scenario.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

If the super conferences form, then the days of there being an undefeated team are pretty much over. Everyone's schedule would be brutal. A playoff of some kind is an absolute must. ND would lose it's tie-ins. What other choice is there?

 

[irishtrinity]

i don't mind it at all i just want that NBC contract till i die....

 

[ohara831]

Really prefer Independence. But if it appears that the Super Conferences are pretty certain to happen, then I think ND should be proactive in getting in position to dictate our terms. If everything happens and we sit around, then we may end up losing some traditional rivalries not because of our chosing but rather because the Super Conference scheduling dictates it. Be proactive, be out front, and be in charge.

 

[nlroma1o]

This is intense. I mean... we gotta do what we gotta do.... Either way its going to be a rollercoaster ride.

 

[ohara831]

And if we have to join a conference, this would be the one I prefer.

 

[rtrn2glory]

i don't doubt our source, but if this is true i think that this all but seals our deal into joining a conference...smart move by the two universities to tag team the big ten...it'll be interesting to see how they respond to the demands.

 

[Buster Bluth]

So a 12-game schedule, 8 of which are Big Ten games. You can assume that Notre Dame would be placed in the same division as Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue, or perhaps maybe one of those games would be the annual game in the other division.

Division I
- Notre Dame
- Texas
- Indiana
- Purdue
- Michigan
- Northwestern
- Nebraska


Division II
- Ohio State
- Penn State
- Iowa
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- Illinois
- Michigan State


1 - ______
2 - ______
3 - Navy
4 - Nebraka
5 - B1G crossover game
6 - BYE
7 - Texas
8 - Northwestern
9 - Michigan State
10 - Indiana
11 - Michigan
12 - Purdue
13 - Southern Cal

...a possible scenario. It's not too bad.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

tag team

That's what she said.

 

[ohara831]

Analysis: TV might force Notre Dame into shotgun wedding | Buckeye Xtra Sports

Another article on the possibility. Sorry if I am duplicting. Did not see it in here yet.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

After reading through this I can't say I'd be too distraught if it happened.

It seems like with super-conferences our hands would be tied but we'd have leverage in negotiating terms.

Looking at potential schedules with Texas, Nebraska, the Michigans etc is exciting! It's like the schedules I put together in NCAA12.

I agree that the days of an undefeated team would be over. Which is fine. A level playing ground for everyone and a play-off system in the end (that's a whole new thread).

I am a major proponent for a play-off system. It would keep the fans, players and media more engaged the whole season. Hell, this USF loss wouldn't even hurt so bad if I felt we still had a shot at the title.

 

[johnsben]

I don't know if this was mentioned prior, but another reason Super Conferences will force ND's hand is that 4 superconferences will hold more power than the current big 6. I think in addition to scheduling difficulties, ND would lose "BCS status" when the BCS restructures its contracts. Right now ND has a pretty sweet deal with the BCS as far a qualifying and income. The superconferences would look to eliminate or severely diminish that in the next round of BCS/Playoff deals.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I keep going back to what our schedule would be like. IF this happens, we would be facing BRUTAL schedules in 9 out of 10 seasons. There might be one season per decade where we get a little bit of a break due to the luck of the draw and a couple powers being down.

This is what has always bothered me about ND joining a conference. It appears as though Texas is willing to basically walk away from their rivalry with OU, and vice versa. Maybe that won't actually happen, but it might.

Meanwhile, we'd be entering a tough as balls Big Ten with the addition of Texas, and say, Missouri and Iowa State. Our schedule would look like this:

Boston College
Navy
Nebraska
Michigan
Northwestern
Texas
Purdue
Temple
Michigan State
Wisconsin
Indiana
USC

It'd be like essentially taking out one or two of our breathers every year like we have now, and replacing them with one or two more upper-echelon teams. Yikes.

In a superconference world you wouldn't have to go 12-0 to get to the national championship like ND would likely need to do now. If you win your league you have a shot. To me that is fair and minimizes the drawback of having a monster schedule.

 

[mick2]

i heard arute and leach talking about this on their radio show but have not seen this reported anywhere online. espn,si,cbssports, or yahoo sports.

that article above isn't about this Texas+ND scenario either.

I'll have to say the more i think about it the more i am liking it. but I smell a hint of bs in this report. we'll see soon enough i guess.

 

[DuffHouse12]

i don't think super conferences are as inevitable as people are making them out to be. As stated in the article from the OP, ESPN is propaganda-ing this whole thing. They know that college football fan bases are responsive to tradition and anytime the risk of tradition being compromised comes along, ratings skyrocket.

that's why all the rumors are based around the SEC and Texas in some way shape or form. the SEC Fans hate the idea of expansion while Texas fans are sensitive to anything that might compromise their traditional rivalries.

further, the likelihood of a playoff, in my eyes, DECREASES with a 4 super-conference landscape. the BCS will not go away unless it has to. with less undefeated possibilities, there will be less of a need for the BCS to go away.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

In a superconference world you wouldn't have to go 12-0 to get to the national championship like ND would likely need to do now. If you win your league you have a shot. To me that is fair and minimizes the drawback of having a monster schedule.

This is exactly why I favor the move.

USC
Navy
Stanford (must always play a game in California)
BC or Pitt rotating
Texas
7 other B1G games.
You can lose every one of those OOC games and still play for the national championship.
This way we still have something to play for after losing early season games.

Win the division

Win the Conference Championship Game (is like a divisional playoff game)

Win the cross over game with either the ACC, SEC, or PAC (16) (is like AFC/NFC championship)

National Championship Game (Super Bowl)



I could even see the Super Conferences adding a Wild Card round.
Top two teams in each division play for right to go to Conference Championship game!!!!