Superconferences & Realignment

[ACamp1900]

Hell yes. Tiered divisions make it soooo interesting. Then you have legendary teams at one time who can never make it back up. So you sacrifice plenty, but the drama is second to none.

and reg. seasons matter... what a concept.

 

[Green Goblin]

FSU friend of mine says FSU and Clemson are all but in the Big 12 now.

Says they'll vote on it 5/30 if nothing goes wrong between now and then.

If that's true, that probably spells the end of Notre Dame's independence, I think. The ACC will again raid the Big East, probably taking UConn and someone else.

Big East will surely collapse after that. I'm sure Boise will say the hell with it and stay with the Mountain West conference. San Diego State, too.

B1G, Big 12, or ACC? Where do we go?

 

[rock_knutne]

FSU friend of mine says FSU and Clemson are all but in the Big 12 now.

Says they'll vote on it 5/30 if nothing goes wrong between now and then.

If that's true, that probably spells the end of Notre Dame's independence, I think. The ACC will again raid the Big East, probably taking UConn and someone else.

Big East will surely collapse after that. I'm sure Boise will say the hell with it and stay with the Mountain West conference. San Diego State, too.

B1G, Big 12, or ACC? Where do we go?

I don't think it will hurt ND's football independence at all. IMO, the Big East will still be a very good basketball conference and above average in all other non FB/BB sports.

I find it comical that Florida State and Clemson want to play in the Big 12.

 

[FLDomer]

I don't think it will hurt ND's football independence at all. IMO, the Big East will still be a very good basketball conference and above average in all other non FB/BB sports.

I find it comical that Florida State and Clemson want to play in the Big 12.

I dont blame em, do you see how much money they make in the ACC....thats comical

 

[rock_knutne]

I dont blame em, do you see how much money they make in the ACC....thats comical

I understand the increase in revenue but heading to the Big 12 just seems like a desperation move by FSU. Are they hurting that bad? Are they so inept that they can't negotiate or spearhead a better deal for the ACC?

 

[FLDomer]

I understand the increase in revenue but heading to the Big 12 just seems like a desperation move by FSU. Are they hurting that bad? Are they so inept that they can't negotiate or spearhead a better deal for the ACC?

FSU doesnt have the greatest facilities (compared to some of the top programs), they are just breaking ground on an indoor practice facility. From what some of the fan bases are saying the ACC plays favorites with UNC and Duke. Atlantic Carolina Conferance they call it.

 

[rock_knutne]

FSU doesnt have the greatest facilities (compared to some of the top programs), they are just breaking ground on an indoor practice facility. From what some of the fan bases are saying the ACC plays favorites with UNC and Duke. Atlantic Carolina Conferance they call it.

That's shocking for a program that was so successful not that long ago.

 

[Downinthebend]

Is that better than the Big Texas conference?

 

[FLDomer]

That's shocking for a program that was so successful not that long ago.

I thought the same thing.

 

[phork]

Michigan's facilities, especially basketball, were pretty shoddy as well. I think you'd be surprised at the state of things around the country.

 

[rock_knutne]

Michigan's facilities, especially basketball, were pretty shoddy as well. I think you'd be surprised at the state of things around the country.

Makes you wonder where that football revenue is going............

 

[Cackalacky]

Makes you wonder where that football revenue is going............

Coaches and athletic department personnel salaries. I would also think alot of it has to do with being able to pay for travel epenses for the big whigs during their meetings (I seriously doubt they are staying at the Redroof Inn), team planes, showing up at recruits doors in limos, etc....., team, band, equipment travel to and from games.....

In my opinion it is more operations than maintenance. I have worked on college facililty rehabs a lot in my line of work and mostly stadiums get a fresh coat of paint, and minor repairs. Rarely do you get major overhauls. South Carolina recently spent millions of dollars to install large signs for George Rogers, Sidney Rice, etc around the stadium, as well as install electric signage along the upper deck. They also upgraded their weight room but all of this was mainly from private donors.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I don't think it will hurt ND's football independence at all. IMO, the Big East will still be a very good basketball conference and above average in all other non FB/BB sports.

I find it comical that Florida State and Clemson want to play in the Big 12.

Georgetown
Marquette
St. John's
Seton Hall
Providence
DePaul
Villanova*

*Villanova seems likely to upgrade their football in the face of all of this tumult, although admittedly I have not followed their thinking very closely.


That is your Big East conference once all the football teams find other homes. That is not only too small of a conference to survive, but it really isn't very good, either. If Villanova goes FBS in football, I could see Georgetown and Marquette going to the A10, which has recently added geographic rivals VCU and Butler and is now unquestionably the best basketball-only conference in the country. Playing in a 16 team league that is already established against teams like Xavier, Dayton, Butler and VCU would seem a much better option than playing in a six team start-up conference with PC and Seton Hall.

If that is the case, Notre Dame should, and probably would, end up in the Big XII, at least for non-football sports. They could have the same deal with the Big XII as they now have with the Big East, playing 3 or 4 games a year against Big XII schools. That would appeal to me.

 

[rock_knutne]

Georgetown
Marquette
St. John's
Seton Hall
Providence
DePaul
Villanova*

*Villanova seems likely to upgrade their football in the face of all of this tumult, although admittedly I have not followed their thinking very closely.


That is your Big East conference once all the football teams find other homes. That is not only too small of a conference to survive, but it really isn't very good, either. If Villanova goes FBS in football, I could see Georgetown and Marquette going to the A10, which has recently added geographic rivals VCU and Butler and is now unquestionably the best basketball-only conference in the country. Playing in a 16 team league that is already established against teams like Xavier, Dayton, Butler and VCU would seem a much better option than playing in a six team start-up conference with PC and Seton Hall.

If that is the case, Notre Dame should, and probably would, end up in the Big XII, at least for non-football sports. They could have the same deal with the Big XII as they now have with the Big East, playing 3 or 4 games a year against Big XII schools. That would appeal to me.

You forgot Temple and Memphis, who are heading to the Big East, they aren't exactly chopped liver when it comes to BB. UConn has some academic issues so I doubt they move or will be accepted anywhere. IMO, still a very good basketball conference.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I just love that the Big XII is being aggressive again. This move would totally solidify the conference. Could argue that it would make them the second best football conference in the country.

 

[Rhode Irish]

You forgot Temple and Memphis, who are heading to the Big East, they aren't exactly chopped liver when it comes to BB. UConn has some academic issues so I doubt they move or will be accepted anywhere. IMO, still a very good basketball conference.

I didn't forget them. I was talking about basketball-only schools. Of course, my opinion is based on the idea that the BE football schools and basketball-only schools will eventually split. In east coast basketball circles that is viewed as inevitable.

 

[rock_knutne]

I didn't forget them. I was talking about basketball-only schools. Of course, my opinion is based on the idea that the BE football schools and basketball-only schools will eventually split. In east coast basketball circles that is viewed as inevitable.

Oh, I see now.

I think the Big East will still have football, they may loose their AQ status but they will have a football conference. JMHO......

 

[Cali_domer]

ACC now backs conference champ model.

Homepage | MrSEC

 

[Cali_domer]

IrishIllustrated.com - Is Notre Dame behind Big Ten's playoff push?

 

[Rhode Irish]

IrishIllustrated.com - Is Notre Dame behind Big Ten's playoff push?

Just judging from the one sentence I can read for free, it seems like a pretty misleading heading. Being "behind" something means that you're pulling the strings. Seems like the article is suggesting that the Big 10 is acting with Notre Dame in mind, which is obviously far different that ND being "behind" anything.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Champions Bowl changes college football's big picture.

If you're not in the Big Four, you're not big time. That means you, Miami and Florida State, who suddenly have a huge decision to make. Remain outside the Big Four with the ACC making $17 million per year in a league that can't compete for a national championship, or take your valuable brands and petition for entry into the Big 12.

Based on Friday's announcement – the two biggest football names in the ACC could soon be making $25 million a year in the Big 12.

And if that happens, the ACC becomes a whole lot less desirable to a Notre Dame that has to be thinking seriously about joining a conference. Put it this way: ND's isn't going to get better access when the four-team playoff debuts in 2014.

Why not just cut to the chase? Miami, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame to the Big 12. Even the other members of the Big Four (SEC, Big Ten and Pac-12) would have take notice that potential earning power.

“Now it's going to put more pressure on Notre Dame to look at the Big 12,” said one source involved in the playoff discussions.

ND to the Big 12 is looking more and more likely.

 

[Cali_domer]

It is coming.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

SEC, Big 12 use bowl game alliance to gain leverage in BCS 2.0

 

[irishfan]

Recent Stewart Mandel (SI) tweets:

Every time anything happens w/ any conference, I get "Will THIS force Notre Dame to join a conference?" emails. Answer hasn't changed.

If anything, ND will be better off in new BCS. Nothing stopping it from signing its own 5-year deal with, say, the Orange Bowl.

Interesting. 4 current "BCS" bowl sites. Rose is obviously Big 10/PAC-12. A new one with the SEC and Big-12. This leaves the Orange, Sugar, and Fiesta not knowing what their future is.

 

[arahop]

Notre Dame would benefit from joining the big 12, if FSU and Clemson/or Miami joined. It would instantly open up the Texas and Florida recruiting pipelines. As well as having Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas, FSU, Miami, Clemson, and A&M. That is far superior than anything the ACC could conjure up for Notre Dame. The ACC''s days are numbered. This is a no brainer to me if we have to join a conference.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

If anything, ND will be better off in new BCS. Nothing stopping it from signing its own 5-year deal with, say, the Orange Bowl.

I disagree with Mandel. Superconferences will ensure that the only realistic path to a playoff berth is through them. What good will a 5-year contract with the Orange Bowl do when (1) the bowl itself loses a ton of prestige in BCS 2.0; and (2) ND is structurally frozen out of the title hunt?

Fischer: Greed is good thanks to Big 12 - SEC agreement

The agreement means the Pac-12, Big Ten, SEC and Big 12 are a cut above the rest, while the Big East, ACC and others will bide their time. We don't know what it will eventually mean for Notre Dame but the Irish are probably aware that they're counting down the days until football independence is over. The big four conferences haven't done anything wrong, they've looked out for themselves and are better off for it. It's a business and they now understand better than ever how free market economics are going help build new practice facilities.

Mandel is the only analyst I've read who believes ND's hand will be stronger as an independent outside of a superconference.

 

[phork]

BOHICA.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

BOHICA.

Why the negativity? If we end up in the B12 with Miami, FSU, and VT, we'll be sitting pretty. Hell, they might even let us maintain the illusion of independence.

Edit: Realized who I was addressing. Ignore the question.

 

[NDhoosier]

The only thing we need to worry about is if the four teams in the playoff have to be conference champions. I dont see that happening, even if there are 4 super conferences... No need to get riled up about it yet...

Independence is what makes Notre Dame football special, dont see it changing anytime soon.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

The only thing we need to worry about is if the four teams in the playoff have to be conference champions. I dont see that happening, even if there are 4 super conferences... No need to get riled up about it yet...

That's exactly where this is going. Most of the ADs are rumored to currently favor that system, which isn't surprising. It's beautifully simple, and the rich get richer.

Even if they create a loophole so an outside school can sneak in with a high enough ranking, will ND be able to maintain a sufficiently strong schedule to have a realistic shot at the playoffs year after year? 95% of the football powers will be beating each other bloody on a weekly basis in the superconferences, so there will be very little incentive to schedule ND.

I've always maintained that the formation of such superconferences was the only thing that could end our independence. Now that they're happening, I don't see how remaining independent can work.