Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

Clonehomer

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
26,786
24,883
113
No they will watch the USC-Penn St game or UCLA-Wisconsin or OU-Bama or Texas-Florida. There’s so many potential big name matchups in just those two conferences.

Why watch those when you can wait until Sunday and watch the top tier of professional football? Why watch a 2nd tier of pro football?
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Cloneon

CyJack13

Well-Known Member
May 21, 2010
12,666
1,665
113
Why watch those when you can wait until Sunday and watch the top tier of professional football? Why watch a 2nd tier of pro football?

Because college football is on Saturday. Why watch college football now when you could just watch the NFL on Sunday?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1776

JUKEBOX

Well-Known Member
Oct 27, 2008
7,961
1,479
113
No they will watch the USC-Penn St game or UCLA-Wisconsin or OU-Bama or Texas-Florida. There’s so many potential big name matchups in just those two conferences.
Yes I think the idea that the networks have with this consolidation is that:

1. They won't have to overpay what they consider mid-market teams
2. They'll have more marketable matchups to draw in casuals
3. They forecast a large amount of revenue in a playoff expansion

I wouldn't watch that league if it was separate than the one that Iowa State is part of, but I would consider myself more of a hardcore fan and not a casual haha

So I'm not sure if it will work out for them or not. My instincts have me agree with the people that think that they'll have financial issues or greed in the long-term that will destroy P2, but I don't really have an evidence that it won't work out for them in the short term. All I know is that I would be out on that lol
 

Clonehomer

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
26,786
24,883
113
Yes I think the idea that the networks have with this consolidation is that:

1. They won't have to overpay what they consider mid-market teams
2. They'll have more marketable matchups to draw in casuals
3. They forecast a large amount of revenue in a playoff expansion

I wouldn't watch that league if it was separate than the one that Iowa State is part of, but I would consider myself more of a hardcore fan and not a casual haha

So I'm not sure if it will work out for them or not. My instincts have me agree with the people that think that they'll have financial issues or greed in the long-term that will destroy P2, but I don't really have an evidence that it won't work out for them in the short term. All I know is that I would be out on that lol

The other fallout that is not being mentioned is that these contracts will be paid for with subscription fee increases. So everytime you hear about a huge payday in the P2, that means you should expect a rate increase in your streaming/cable bill. How long will that be sustainable? I know I'll be dropping YTTV if the Big12 isn't on ESPN.
 

JUKEBOX

Well-Known Member
Oct 27, 2008
7,961
1,479
113
The other fallout that is not being mentioned is that these contracts will be paid for with subscription fee increases. So everytime you hear about a huge payday in the P2, that means you should expect a rate increase in your streaming/cable bill. How long will that be sustainable? I know I'll be dropping YTTV if the Big12 isn't on ESPN.
That's one reason why I think the B12 could be in a nice spot if we play our cards right today and our commissioner builds relationships with streaming partners (like an Amazon or Apple if they're willing to pay).

In some ways I feel like ESPN is a dinosaur being subsidized by Grandma, and they will continue to have problems and have their content deteriorate as time goes on.
 

Cyclone27inQC

Well-Known Member
Jun 16, 2010
796
912
93
Quad Cities
To add a little sunshine and FACTS into this discussion about the best conferences teams, realignment and etc.

2021 bowl season:
BIG 12 went 5-2.

TTU 34 - Miss St 7
Minnesota 18 - WVA 6
Clemson 20 - Iowa State 13
Oklahoma 47 - Oregon 32
Okie St 37 - Notre Dame 35
Baylor 21 - Ole Miss 7
KSU 42 -LSU 20

Added future BIG 12 teams for 2021:

UAB 31 - BYU 28
UCF 29 - Florida 17
Houston 17 - Auburn 13
Bama 27 - Cincinnati 6

2020 bowl season:
BIG 12 went 5-0.

In conclusion,
Impressive that the BIG 12 had the best winning % of ALL the football conferences the last two years and that's something to remember when other fans start puffing up their chest talking about them being the best team or best conference.

Go Cyclones and the BIG 12
 

OPButtrey

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Nov 21, 2010
707
802
93
57
I wish all the non-SEC/B10 conferences would agree to boycott the ncaa basketball tournament and instead have their own and divy up the cash among themselves. If the B10 and SEC can kill all football tradition for $ then the leftovers should do the same for basketbal.
 

agrabes

Well-Known Member
Oct 25, 2006
1,686
510
113
Because college football is on Saturday. Why watch college football now when you could just watch the NFL on Sunday?
Why watch college football? Because you're a fan of a team? I'm not sure about you, but most people I know who watch college football do it because they are a fan of a team, or it's their alma mater and they'll turn it on every once in a while, or their friends are fans and they'll join in to watch. For example, NDSU alums and fans watch FCS football but they don't tune in to FBS.

I know of very few people who are like "Oh yeah, this is the top matchup in college football so I guess I'll just watch it even though I'm not a fan of any team in the league." The people who do things like that are hardcore sports junkies.
It would be sort of like saying that people who are casual fans of the basketball would tune in to a top matchup in the G-League just for fun because it's the second best level of basketball. Not going to happen.

If a P2 league forms, people who have no association to the teams in it will not watch it. They'll watch their own team, and games from the league their team is in. If they watch any other football, they'll tune in to the NFL.
 

Allikat

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jan 20, 2018
476
543
93
An SEC “expert” brought up an interesting point on the radio yesterday:

He questioned why the SEC would want to expand. He said unless a Clemson or Florida State can bring in more revenue than the current anticipated per team payout you only dilute the remaining teams revenue AND make it easier for a competitor to compete.

Norte Dame is really the only school that is a needle mover.

My (admittedly optimistic) hope:

Notre Dame figures they can still get more money flying solo.

Big 10 and SEC realize the expert is right and stop expanding.

The Big 12 grabs Oregon, Washington and MAYBE two others.

Texas and Ohio State start getting greedy and push for unequal shares.

The BiG 12(16) becomes the best conference as the “big boys“ implode.
 

Allikat

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jan 20, 2018
476
543
93
Why watch college football? Because you're a fan of a team? I'm not sure about you, but most people I know who watch college football do it because they are a fan of a team, or it's their alma mater and they'll turn it on every once in a while, or their friends are fans and they'll join in to watch. For example, NDSU alums and fans watch FCS football but they don't tune in to FBS.

I know of very few people who are like "Oh yeah, this is the top matchup in college football so I guess I'll just watch it even though I'm not a fan of any team in the league." The people who do things like that are hardcore sports junkies.
It would be sort of like saying that people who are casual fans of the basketball would tune in to a top matchup in the G-League just for fun because it's the second best level of basketball. Not going to happen.

If a P2 league forms, people who have no association to the teams in it will not watch it. They'll watch their own team, and games from the league their team is in. If they watch any other football, they'll tune in to the NFL.
Agreed.

I watch the NFL for three reasons.


1) I root for “my team”
2) I enjoy watching regional rivalries with a storied past
3) I know the players and largely associate them with their team.

These last two reasons are linked. I am not a fan of KC or the Raiders but I watch because of the history and I recognize players.

Even before the transfer portal college struggles for the average fan to know the players. I can tell you the starting QB for teams in the NFL but would struggle to tell you the starters in even the Big 12.

I think ultimately the super conferences will erode viewership not enhance it.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Cloneon

jctisu

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2017
8,726
10,674
113
Agreed.

I watch the NFL for three reasons.


1) I root for “my team”
2) I enjoy watching regional rivalries with a storied past
3) I know the players and largely associate them with their team.

These last two reasons are linked. I am not a fan of KC or the Raiders but I watch because of the history and I recognize players.

Even before the transfer portal college struggles for the average fan to know the players. I can tell you the starting QB for teams in the NFL but would struggle to tell you the starters in even the Big 12.

I think ultimately the super conferences will erode viewership not enhance it.
To your bolded point, we will see what happens obviously BUT the current trend of those 30 and under as far as viewership goes for sports is something nobody can predict. The trends are not in any league's favor unless you are talking professional video game leagues or if there is a professional social media league (i.e. tiktok). And this is troubling at the professional level from many reports out there. College sports is a whole different animal when it comes to declining interest among the youth, and they are in far worse shape.

Again, things change, and nobody truly knows how it will shake out. But the trends in youth watching and consuming sports is something that could really do damage in 20+ years after the older generation right now are gone.
 

KidSilverhair

Well-Known Member
Dec 18, 2010
11,021
21,660
113
Rapids of the Cedar
www.kegofglory.blogspot.com
LA-based writer Bill Plaschke says every Saturday will be like a Rose Bowl, with those USC-Michigan and UCLA-Ohio State games! Basketball season will be lit, too, with a weekend of UCLA-Indiana and UCLA-Michigan State on the docket!

As usual, the media fanboys conveniently forget to mention the Friday night USC at Rutgers BTN football matchup, or UCLA taking on the basketball powerhouse that is Northwestern on a Tuesday night.
 

ISUCyclones2015

Doesn't wipe standing up
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 19, 2010
14,608
10,904
113
Chicago, IL
LA-based writer Bill Plaschke says every Saturday will be like a Rose Bowl, with those USC-Michigan and UCLA-Ohio State games! Basketball season will be lit, too, with a weekend of UCLA-Indiana and UCLA-Michigan State on the docket!

As usual, the media fanboys conveniently forget to mention the Friday night USC at Rutgers BTN football matchup, or UCLA taking on the basketball powerhouse that is Northwestern on a Tuesday night.

0% chance they'll ever put a USC Rutgers game on a Friday night.
 

Rods79

Well-Known Member
Nov 27, 2006
3,546
1,238
113
Des Moines
Feels like optimism from WV President Gordon Gee


I don’t know how I feel about Gee opening his mouth again. ‘Member when he had to resign from Ohio State after disparaging nearly every other institution outside the B1G during the last bout of realignment discussion?…I ‘member.
 

StPaulCyclone

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Oct 9, 2008
2,539
2,454
113
Duh!
No. They will only watch their team and maybe not even that. They will do something else with their Saturday.
I am a rabid CFB fan and MBB to a lesser extent. I attend and watch ISU FB games every week. Before and after, I watch other games sun up to sundown; as well as games Wed-Fri. I cared, because ISU and I were connected to a greater thing; with its national scope, pageantry, traditions, rivalries, etc..

This is dying for me, they are ruining what was great about CFB. I will watch ISU, as well as other B12 games; but I am over it. My Saturdays just got a lot more productive. Some casual fans will be done, but some won’t. However, I think there is a diehard group of fans that they will turn into casual fans.

CFB attendance is declining, is viewership? It seems shortsighted to reduce your “league“ fanbase; all while media partners over extend themselves financially for this ”content”. Now, add NIL; transfer portal and realignment to super league BS…it’s not sustainable. The NFL has rules in place on these issues.

i just hope these greedy SOBs and their plan fails fast, so that we have a chance to return to what once once great about college football.
 
Last edited:

KidSilverhair

Well-Known Member
Dec 18, 2010
11,021
21,660
113
Rapids of the Cedar
www.kegofglory.blogspot.com
0% chance they'll ever put a USC Rutgers game on a Friday night.
Okay, noon kickoff in Piscataway, then. :D

It’s less about the time than the opponent. The cheerleaders for realignment think every game will be a Game Of The Week with USC, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan … they’ve gotta play the bottom of the conference, too. They always skip over that part.