USC & UCLA to the Big Ten

[CoachB]

I thought ND was obligated via contract to join the ACC for football if they decided to join a conference? Is that deal sunsetting?

Yes and no. They can't leave their other sports in the ACC and join elsewhere. If they wanted to pull all their sports from the ACC, they could play wherever they wanted.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

We haven't even commented yet correct?

That speaks pretty loudly.

 

[ndfi78]

Personally, I hate the Big Ten and think it’s a joke conference with OSU being the consistent exception (MSU, Wisconsin at times). I’m okay with scheduling a team periodically, but there has to be a better move for ND. The vibe seems like this is a real possibility for ND though. USC and UCLA look desperate selling themselves to be fish out of water, but I get it. The Pac12 was an even worse conference, and more money is more money.

It's probably going to come down to the B1G and SEC, with the other scrapes in a third conference. Would you rather be in with the scrapes? The <holds nose> SEC?

 

[Irish#1]

Personally, I hate the Big Ten and think it’s a joke conference with OSU being the consistent exception (MSU, Wisconsin at times). I’m okay with scheduling a team periodically, but there has to be a better move for ND. The vibe seems like this is a real possibility for ND though. USC and UCLA look desperate selling themselves to be fish out of water, but I get it. The Pac12 was an even worse conference, and more money is more money.

B1G isn’t a joke. While FB is driving this, they are the best ran conference when you consider all of the other sports and academics.

 

[Irish#1]

We haven't even commented yet correct?

That speaks pretty loudly.

Astute observation.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

B1G isn’t a joke. While FB is driving this, they are the best ran conference when you consider all of the other sports and academics.

Yes, I loathe them but they are a solid conference. They at least pretend to care about academics.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Astute observation.

We are usually pretty quick with a comment. Our ad is not a camera shy individual.

 

[stlnd01]

Personally, I hate the Big Ten and think it’s a joke conference with OSU being the consistent exception (MSU, Wisconsin at times). I’m okay with scheduling a team periodically, but there has to be a better move for ND. The vibe seems like this is a real possibility for ND though. USC and UCLA look desperate selling themselves to be fish out of water, but I get it. The Pac12 was an even worse conference, and more money is more money.

By that standard they're all joke conferences except the SEC. I don't love joining the Big Ten either but I'm not sure what a better move would be.

At this point you know the SEC is coming for Clemson and Florida State, and when they go, the ACC is a basketball conference. We can probably ride out independence awhile longer but a world of just two superconferences is it's only going to get harder for us to schedule quality opponents and access the playoff. The money gap is real.

Personally I've never wanted to join the Big Ten, but adding USC changes the equation to me. If they can bring in a few other big-time programs from outside the Midwest (Oregon/Washington, Clemson? Miami?), that could be pretty fun to be a part of. Moreso than any of the alternatives that I can see.

 

[OhioIrish]

I think having games in the Southeast has been huge for recruiting, though. If I was ND, I would make sure someone from SEC country came to the big with me. Preferably more than 1, so they can play down there. Anything in Carolinas, Georgia, or Florida. I think GT and UNC would be good fits in the Big 24. Maybe even VA, since their academics are good and they have pretty good HS talent. I wish they would take Clemson, as that would bring some more respectability. Maybe even offer TCU, as then you will play in the hotbed of HS talent that is Dallas.

100% agree. A BIG 10 with no southern footprint would be a non-starter, for me. ND might be able to leverage invites to UNC, Miami, and FSU as a condition. Otherwise, wait for the ACC to make a move.

 

[Irish#1]

100% agree. A BIG 10 with no southern footprint would be a non-starter, for me. ND might be able to leverage invites to UNC, Miami, and FSU as a condition. Otherwise, wait for the ACC to make a move.

ND already recruits in the south. Why would joining the B1G prevent that?

 

[OhioIrish]

ND already recruits in the south. Why would joining the B1G prevent that?

It doesn’t. But, having opponents in the south makes it easier to recruit the South — the ACC schedule we play allows this. It’s the same reason we’ve kept USC and Stanford on the schedule all these years — as well as market share. My point is, we have maximized our market share and recruiting presence in Big 10 country, so the south makes more sense. Right now, a massive new Big 10 may be able to offer more TV revenue, but that’s temporary and can be overcome with time and negotiation. To me, it just doesn’t make any sense to join the Big 10.

 

[Rack Em]

Fuck the Big10

 

[Dale]

It doesn’t. But, having opponents in the south makes it easier to recruit the South — the ACC schedule we play allows this. It’s the same reason we’ve kept USC and Stanford on the schedule all these years — as well as market share. My point is, we have maximized our market share and recruiting presence in Big 10 country, so the south makes more sense. Right now, a massive new Big 10 may be able to offer more TV revenue, but that’s temporary and can be overcome with time and negotiation. To me, it just doesn’t make any sense to join the Big 10.

The non conference will still exist. Recruits in my experience rarely mention the playing close to home part. They mention family can watch on TV.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

 

[StPaul_Irish]

So if ND does BiG10, is Oregon in too?

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

So if ND does BiG10, is Oregon in too?

Likely, I would like a Florida school but that is a tougher haul.

 

[B1G20]

It doesn’t. But, having opponents in the south makes it easier to recruit the South — the ACC schedule we play allows this. It’s the same reason we’ve kept USC and Stanford on the schedule all these years — as well as market share. My point is, we have maximized our market share and recruiting presence in Big 10 country, so the south makes more sense. Right now, a massive new Big 10 may be able to offer more TV revenue, but that’s temporary and can be overcome with time and negotiation. To me, it just doesn’t make any sense to join the Big 10.

You'd still have 3 non-cons, one of which I'd assume to be Navy, but pick your other two for the south if you'd like to get exposure there.

ND can schedule whoever they'd like, not every program has that advantage.

 

[stlnd01]

You'd still have 3 non-cons, one of which I'd assume to be Navy, but pick your other two for the south if you'd like to get exposure there.

ND can schedule whoever they'd like, not every program has that advantage.

Yeah. If we do this we should try and schedule a SEC (or whatever remains of the ACC) nonconference game each year.

I get the ACC recruiting argument, and maybe it matters when we play Clemson. But that’s also about being the Game of the Week. I don’t really know that our current games against NC State and Georgia Tech are moving the needle very much in recruiting.

 

[irishandy]

If Notre Dame remained independent in football would that value them? I know it's about the $ with making these super conferences, but could Notre Dame get more out of their NBC contract?

Look at this year's schedule- they start on the road against Ohio St. & end on the road against USC. How many other teams have that schedule?

 

[Dale]

they start on the road against Ohio St. & end on the road against USC. How many other teams have that schedule?

Multiple B1G teams every year starting in 2024?

 

[GoldenAura]

If Notre Dame remained independent in football would that value them? I know it's about the $ with making these super conferences, but could Notre Dame get more out of their NBC contract?

Look at this year's schedule- they start on the road against Ohio St. & end on the road against USC. How many other teams have that schedule?

I'm referencing (and maybe poorly paraphrasing) the latest shamrock podcast w/ Fortuna & Sampson for this:

Just in terms of the media deals ND was already not making as much as SEC/B1G members but it was a small enough difference they didn't mind. The new media deals that will come with superconferences/leagues is gonna be a massive amount in comparison (~100m annually) and likely too much of a difference to turn away from.

I would highly doubt NBC will match it.

 

[irishandy]

Multiple B1G teams every year starting in 2024?

That is a possibility, but I think the chances of playing a non conference game would be greater for B1G teams.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

I like UCLA and USC in the Big10, I think UW and OR is silly. I think a school like Texas Tech or Baylor makes more sense as it includes Texas, w/o SEC bound UT. I wouldn't hate a FL school or something like UNC, but OR and UW don't do it for me. Just my opinion

 

[OhioIrish]

The non conference will still exist. Recruits in my experience rarely mention the playing close to home part. They mention family can watch on TV.

Sure, I think some recruits are fine with their parents just watching on TV, but I don’t think the parents are always ok with that. I agree that non-conference can offset some of the loss of a southern footprint, but eventually the big southern brands aren’t gonna play ND in non conferences and we will end up with UCF and Louisiana Monroe. Having a permanent presence in the south has very few downsides that I can see, and major upside. My perspective is actually more about market share, and I just don’t think the Big 10 can really offer anything ND doesn’t already have.

 

[AvesEvo]

Pete Sampson said on the radio today that a move to the Big Ten for ND would double the revenue of their current deal as an Independent and with NBC. Felt it was the first time, the move actually makes sense financially. Also, they will keep their national footprint, with the conference having teams in California, New Jersey (NY area) and Washington DC.

Everyone in the Big will have the national footprint now. I wonder how that will affect recruiting?

 

[OhioIrish]

You'd still have 3 non-cons, one of which I'd assume to be Navy, but pick your other two for the south if you'd like to get exposure there.

ND can schedule whoever they'd like, not every program has that advantage.

Once a southern mega conference is formed, those major southern teams won’t need the exposure and income of playing ND, we will be stuck playing group of 5 teams twice a year. That’s probably not the exposure that moves the needle for ND. It’d be cool to be in the Big 10 from a scheduling perspective, I just think that there is very little growth potential there — as a truly national brand we can play in any conference we want, I see more potential in the south. Just my two cents . . .

 

[stlnd01]

I like UCLA and USC in the Big10, I think UW and OR is silly. I think a school like Texas Tech or Baylor makes more sense as it includes Texas, w/o SEC bound UT. I wouldn't hate a FL school or something like UNC, but OR and UW don't do it for me. Just my opinion

I'm sure the Big Ten would like a foothold in Texas but Washington is a major research university, the flagship school of a pretty big state. Most Big 10 schools would see it as a peer institution. Compared with Texas Tech which is... not that. And Baylor which kind of its own weird Baptist animal. And neither of them really have all that big a fan base, hardly any outside Texas.
If UT or A&M were available, absolutely, but I suspect the Big Ten will round out the West Coast before they look to raid what's left of the Big 12.

 

[rikkitikki08]

My guess is ND has pretty much already said they’re in if they get to bring some schools of ND choice with them. Jack and ND have a lot of leverage right now and I think Jack is behind closed doors trying to cast a wide net

It was only a matter of time before ND was forced into this but I’ll say it doesn’t look like such a bad deal. We keep most of our rivals and it’s basically going to be a nation wide conference

 

[rikkitikki08]

Also say what you will but the big 10 getting USC was such an impressive move, they know ND or USC never want to lose that rivalry

 

[tussin]

My guess is ND has pretty much already said they’re in if they get to bring some schools of ND choice with them. Jack and ND have a lot of leverage right now and I think Jack is behind closed doors trying to cast a wide net

It was only a matter of time before ND was forced into this but I’ll say it doesn’t look like such a bad deal. We keep most of our rivals and it’s basically going to be a nation wide conference

What would be the power ranking of schools ND would want to bring along?

Most Strategic: Washington, Clemson, FSU, Miami, Oregon(?)

Rival-ish: BC, Navy, Stanford, Miami, Pitt

Overlap there is Miami, and they also happen to be a pretty good school academically.