Superconferences & Realignment

[PraetorianND]

Let's say the ACC blows up, but we're required to join a conference. Big 12 seems the most logical, but what if we joined the SEC? I think it's obviously that geography is no longer an issue here. I think it could happen. A SEC channel could now get the Chicago, Boston, and NY markets.

I wouldn't like it, but interested what others might think.

I think that the reason conferences are blowing up is because they spread out too much geographically to be honest. When there is temptation to join another conference for whatever reason (money, bowl tie in, ESPN, etc) because of proximity to other conferences it becomes easier to jump ship. Look at the Pac12, SEC, and B1G. Those conferences are the most geographically isolated (of the major conferences) and they are the strongest (most stable). I don't think that is by chance.

It seems to me that the "cultural fit" should be as important as the "geographic fit." I think the B1G for example may see one of it's new members leave in the future if a better opportunity comes up. However, I doubt the schools in the B1G that are in the midwest will ever leave, same thing with the SEC, and Pac12. I could actually see Missouri going to the Big12 or B1G one day or Colorado going back to the Big12.

I think that once there is a good playoff (8 or more teams), you'll see fewer schools switching conferences. I hope this happens because trying to keep up with which teams are in which conferences these days is crazy. Also, I was really sad to see the Big East implode because it was an awesome BBall conference. I really hope the same thing does not happen to the ACC. ESPN needs to work it's devil magic to get a larger playoff going to protect it's conferences and hopefully stop all of this realignment.

 

[Rhode Irish]

So....the Big East is officially a dumpster fire, huh? Not that it wasn't before, but the end is nigh.

 

[greyhammer90]

So....the Big East is officially a dumpster fire, huh? Not that it wasn't before, but the end is nigh.

lol I have a friend who is a Villanova graduate. He just keeps repeating "No way out.... No way out."

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Atlantic-21 will be cool.

 

[Irish YJ]

What's decent of the Big East, should join the Big 12, split into two divisions, and call it a day. Superconferences are coming. I hate it, but let's just be done with already.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

What's decent of the Big East, should join the Big 12, split into two divisions, and call it a day. Superconferences are coming. I hate it, but let's just be done with already.

Well, thats the problem, though, there is nothing decent left of the Big East. The Big 12 surely wants no part of USF, Cincy or UConn.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Big East basketball-only schools to split from rest of conference: source - NYPOST.com

Yes! It's over.

 

[chicago51]

If you are UConn, or Cincinnatti what do you do?

What about Boise State as well? They go to MW then TCU, BYU, Utah all leave. They go to the Big East and everboby there is leaving or already gone.

 

[edgesofsanity]

If you are UConn, or Cincinnatti what do you do?

You hope the Big 10 is looking to go to 16 teams, or look to the ACC. I think Cincinnati will have a tougher time, given Ohio State probably slapping them down.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Can you imagine being a UConn fan right now?

 

[Irish YJ]

Well, thats the problem, though, there is nothing decent left of the Big East. The Big 12 surely wants no part of USF, Cincy or UConn.

Cinci and UConn both have good BBall, and Cinci has been somewhat successful in FBall. USF on the other hand....

I thought long ago that Cinci and Louisville would at some point jump to the Big10 but obviously I was wrong.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Those (UC and L'Ville) are not B1G type of schools.

The great irony here is that UConn and UC, two basketball-first schools, dumped a ton of money into traditionally weak football programs to try to position themselves for the future, and at the end it just cost them a place to play basketball.

 

[irishfan]

What's decent of the Big East, should join the Big 12, split into two divisions, and call it a day. Superconferences are coming. I hate it, but let's just be done with already.

Ha I said this like four years ago with the Big East and Mountain West. They could have just had two different divisions and a lot of these teams would be better off.

 

[Rocky2820]

Notre Dame Fighting Irish's success helps cement football team's independent status -- college football - ESPN

 

[JT_IRISH]

NCAAF Divisions debate down to Indiana, Purdue - ESPN

Thought I would share this. Probably will mean something to our future schedule longterm.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>According to @<a href="https://twitter.com/jfowlercbs">jfowlercbs</a>, ACC Grant of Rights through 2027. … so sorry, Virginia-to-the-Big Ten message board enthusiasts.</p>— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) <a href="https://twitter.com/slmandel/status/326390893848444928">April 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>It would in fact be a perfectly fitting ending to three years of silliness if everyone winds up stuck at 14.</p>— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) <a href="https://twitter.com/slmandel/status/326391202998005762">April 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Great news for us. Stability for the ACC.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

In related schadenfreude:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>There are ZERO BigTen players projected to go in 1st RD of most mock NFLDrafts including these 4: <a href="http://t.co/yjvtBdxe2S" title="http://on.nfl.com/W9eppV">on.nfl.com/W9eppV</a></p>— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/BFeldmanCBS/status/326397873681989633">April 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
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B1G, if true. Suck it, Delany.

 

[dudesthisisthebest]

In related schadenfreude:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>There are ZERO BigTen players projected to go in 1st RD of most mock NFLDrafts including these 4: <a href="http://t.co/yjvtBdxe2S" title="http://on.nfl.com/W9eppV">on.nfl.com/W9eppV</a></p>— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/BFeldmanCBS/status/326397873681989633">April 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
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B1G, if true. Suck it, Delany.

That would be utterly amazing if it happens. I bet Hankins goes first round though.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

ESPN's Brett McMurphy just published an article on the ACC's recent Grant of Rights:

PASADENA, Calif. -- The Atlantic Coast Conference presidents have approved a grant of media rights for the league through 2026-27, effectively halting the exodus of any schools to other conferences, sources said Monday.

The move solidifies the future of the ACC, which had several teams that had been speculated as targets of the Big Ten.

The ACC's grant of rights makes it untenable financially for a school to leave, guaranteeing in the 14 years of the deal that a school's media rights, including revenue, for all home games would remain with the ACC regardless of the school's affiliation.

"That ends expansion right there," a source said.

The ACC becomes the fourth league with a grant of rights, along with the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Big 12. The SEC is the only conference among the Power Five leagues that does not have a grant of rights.

The David Glenn Show, a North Carolina sports-talk radio program, first reported the ACC was considering the grant of rights.

"It was pretty cut and dry to unify this league," another ACC source said. "The ACC has been a really good league and now it can become really special."

Last year when the ACC increased its exit fee from $20 million to three times its annual operating budget -- about $52 million -- Maryland and Florida State voted against the increase.

Maryland leaves for the Big Ten in 2014 and has filed a lawsuit, claiming it shouldn't be responsible for the new exit fee. The ACC also filed a lawsuit against Maryland, guaranteeing the Terps pay the full amount.

As far the grant of rights, "Florida State is on board," a source said.

Multiple ACC schools have been speculated as targets for the Big Ten, if that league decided to expand to 16 schools.

With the grant of rights in place at three other power leagues, if the Big Ten wants to add more schools it would have to target schools from leagues that don't have a grant of rights -- the SEC, the American Athletic Conference (formerly Big East), Mid-American, Conference USA, Mountain West, Sun Belt -- or BYU.

On July 1, Pittsburgh and Syracuse join as full ACC members while Notre Dame joins in all sports but football. In 2014, Louisville joins the ACC as a full member.

"People are always speculating about teams leaving the league, but no one has wavered," a source said. "This (the grant of rights) is a good move. A proactive move."

The grant of rights coincides with the ACC's TV deal with ESPN through the 2026-27 season. That deal was worth $17 million per school per year, but sources told ESPN last year it is expected to increase to at least $18 million per school per year with the addition of Notre Dame.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Excellent news. B1G will be forced to poach CUSA or the MAC if it wants to get to 16. Love it, considering they were behind pretty much all of the realignment that took place.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>True or not, among ACC admins a lot of laughing Maryland for giving up on league too soon. B10 is more money but tough travel, no tradition</p>— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanWetzel/status/326404758820753408">April 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Good riddance. Was not looking forward to playing the Derps.

 

[clashmore_mike]

That would be utterly amazing if it happens. I bet Hankins goes first round though.

Hankins was once a top 5 prospect, but plummeted after putting his name in the draft. I had seen he was a borderline Round 2 pick, so I don't see him going in the first.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Excellent news. B1G will be forced to poach CUSA or the MAC if it wants to get to 16. Love it, considering they were behind pretty much all of the realignment that took place.

And now we get to laugh at B1G bros as they try to rationalize a watered down league that includes Rutgers and Maryland.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The tenor of the ACC today is -- We're one of the big boys. League teams will make more than $20 million starting next year.</p>— Pete Thamel(@SIPeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/SIPeteThamel/status/326404750063063040">April 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
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[clashmore_mike]

And now we get to laugh at B1G bros as they try to rationalize a watered down league that includes Rutgers and Maryland.

 

[dudesthisisthebest]

Hankins was once a top 5 prospect, but plummeted after putting his name in the draft. I had seen he was a borderline Round 2 pick, so I don't see him going in the first.

Wouldn't surprise me at all if he didn't. Just a hunch on my part.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Heh

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>"Hi, I'd like to return these. I don't have a receipt, bu-" - Jim Delany, dropping Rutgers and Maryland on floor and running</p>— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) <a href="https://twitter.com/KegsnEggs/status/326407112215367680">April 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
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[Whiskeyjack]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>End game: <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23ACC">#ACC</a> added <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23NotreDame">#NotreDame</a>, swapped Maryland for Louisville and closed door. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23helluvadeal">#helluvadeal</a></p>— David Teel (@DavidTeelatDP) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidTeelatDP/status/326405736504631296">April 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
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[Whiskeyjack]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>If mock drafts are right about this week's NFL 1st RD> @<a href="https://twitter.com/dpbrugler">dpbrugler</a> Would be 1st time Big Ten is shut out of 1st rd since 1953</p>— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/BFeldmanCBS/status/326413333215461378">April 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
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[clashmore_mike]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>And now that we won't have superconferences for awhile, B1G and Pac 12 win the award for pointless expansion.</p>— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanWolken/status/326411820644573184">April 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
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