Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[CysRage]

Big 12 fans are a bit jaded since the Ohio State debacle in the first CFP. TCU had a better best win, their loss was much better, and they were way better against their common opponent (MN). Jeff Long and Tom Osborne rigged the system from the start.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the BCS method of selecting teams except that only 2 could play for the national title. They easily could have kept the computers and expanded to 4 but they wanted the committee so there was still control to drive the more media dollars even if it meant one or more more deserving teams sat out. Yes it was rigged but welcome to the new college football.

 

[Trice]

I'm sure it was just the announcer spitballing, but as the BYU/Baylor game was down to its last minute, Mark Jones referred to the game as "Big 12 After Dark."

 

[PickSix]

I'm sure it was just the announcer spitballing, but as the BYU/Baylor game was down to its last minute, Mark Jones referred to the game as "Big 12 After Dark."

That game was a blast. I can definitely get used to watching conference games in that window. Hopefully it’ll become a common fixture once we add the corner 4.

 

[Trice]

I'm sure it was just the announcer spitballing, but as the BYU/Baylor game was down to its last minute, Mark Jones referred to the game as "Big 12 After Dark."

The idea that the Pac had something unique in that time slot that someone else couldn't replicate was always a dumb argument, but this should kill it once and for all.

 

[CloneGuy8]

The idea that the Pac had something unique in that time slot that someone else couldn't replicate was always a dumb argument, but this should kill it once and for all.

Kind of kills the Pac 12 'we own the night' narrative.

 

[Hoggins]

 

[PickSix]

Just when I was beginning to resign myself to the fact that Big 12 expansion won't happen, the conference comes out with a cryptic tweet bragging about a very odd and specific thing,..

There truly is no soap opera quite like realignment.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I'm sure it was just the announcer spitballing, but as the BYU/Baylor game was down to its last minute, Mark Jones referred to the game as "Big 12 After Dark."

I would seriously love it if ISU was in that spot every Saturday. I’m just getting started at that point.

 

[BryceC]

I would seriously love it if ISU was in that spot every Saturday. I’m just getting started at that point.

Whew, I've had my metamucil and I'm tucked in at that point.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Whew, I've had my metamucil and I'm tucked in at that point.

Trade in that Metamucil for some Maxwell House!

 

[KnappShack]

1. Go BYU and Baylor!
2. Holy **** Cows and Tide
3. No one watches USC games

 

[CysRage]

1. Go BYU and Baylor!
2. Holy **** Cows and Tide
3. No one watches USC games

Wazzu fans blowing up the comments about how they should be the Big Ten’s next expansion. Deep down they know the truth where they truly stand.. I hope. Like ISU, their only realistic option is hoping their current conference stands together. Unfortunately for them, the Big 12 is in better shape, much better shape.

 

[BigJCy]

Listened to the Marchand & Ourand Sports Media Podcast (yes I have no life) and they say that ESPN & Pac 12 are hundreds of millions apart right now. They think Apple or Amazon will be involved.

Go to 17:10 mark:

 

[Cyclonepride]

Listened to the Marchand & Ourand Sports Media Podcast (yes I have no life) and they say that ESPN & Pac 12 are hundreds of millions apart right now. They think Apple or Amazon will be involved.

Go to 17:40 mark:

The Sports Media Podcast

Podcast · Sports Business Journal · The hottest headlines, network deals, ratings, trends and everything else you need to know inside sports media.

open.spotify.com

That's good news, as I'm struggling to imagine that Apple or Amazon are just going to shell out significantly more than ESPN for the main contract, or for the leftovers that ESPN didn't want.

 

[JM4CY]

Trade in that Metamucil for some Maxwell House!

or cocaine, amirite?

 

[Hoggins]

Listened to the Marchand & Ourand Sports Media Podcast (yes I have no life) and they say that ESPN & Pac 12 are hundreds of millions apart right now. They think Apple or Amazon will be involved.

Go to 17:40 mark:

The Sports Media Podcast

Podcast · Sports Business Journal · The hottest headlines, network deals, ratings, trends and everything else you need to know inside sports media.

open.spotify.com

My guess is the Pac 10 is trying to pull off a MLS type deal. 100% digital with the option for games to be picked up on traditional media if that media pays. Say ESPN wants Oregon vs Utah, they can get it if they pay Apple.

Amazon was willing to put bid other networks on the Big 10 deal so the money is probably there. That said, ESPN/Fox will be desperate to keep the Big 12 if the PAC 10 goes digital

 

[JHUNSY]

Just a hypothetical question but what do the conferences prefer more if they have to stick exclusively with one route over the other:
- Viewership (OTA, Cable) but less money
- or money (Streaming) but less viewership

Will the PAC sacrifice viewership/accessibility if it means they can get a little more money from a digital platform vs sticking with a low offer from ESPN to potentially appease schools on the fence?

 

[WhoISthis]

My guess is the Pac 10 is trying to pull off a MLS type deal. 100% digital with the option for games to be picked up on traditional media if that media pays. Say ESPN wants Oregon vs Utah, they can get it if they pay Apple.

Amazon was willing to put bid other networks on the Big 10 deal so the money is probably there. That said, ESPN/Fox will be desperate to keep the Big 12 if the PAC 10 goes digital

The PAC Network failure doesn’t suggest the PAC has the type of following needed for that imo, and a Big 16 would get even more. Although the existing PACN infrastructure nice for Apple/Amazon

Going that route would be interesting for Yormack- he should be able to then work with ESPN and Fox to instead offer a few PAC schools similar money and way better exposure as part of Big 16 that now has less competition for viewers in late night, and now two networks not committing anything to PAC (and BIG in ESPN’s case). In some ways it makes certain Big 12 gets all “the rest” of upfront linear money and exposure. Part of ESPN’s low PAC offer was PAC getting most of ESPN+ budget and filing up ESPN+, so even more left for B12 if PAC goes all digital elsewhere

Imo the PAC being so delusional and butthurt about being the weakest conference that they jump to all digital to avoid being totally removed is a big win for Big 12. There isn’t room for all 5 conferences on linear, so if they want to gtfo, that’s great. We’ll take the late night spot and what’s left elsewhere, plus ESPN’s digital, and offer more exposure and money to flip a couple PAC

 

[BigJCy]

Just a hypothetical question but what do the conferences prefer more if they have to stick exclusively with one route over the other:
- Viewership (OTA, Cable) but less money
- or money (Streaming) but less viewership

Will the PAC sacrifice viewership/accessibility if it means they can get a little more money from a digital platform vs sticking with a low offer from ESPN to potentially appease schools on the fence?

Believe I read the B1G was offered more money from Amazon for one of their packages but they prefered to have more viewership and go the OTA route. Easier for the B1G to do that though because the OTA route was still a ton of money. Will be interesting to see what Conference takes the so-called "risk" and goes mostly or all digital.

 

[SCNCY]

Just a hypothetical question but what do the conferences prefer more if they have to stick exclusively with one route over the other:
- Viewership (OTA, Cable) but less money
- or money (Streaming) but less viewership

Will the PAC sacrifice viewership/accessibility if it means they can get a little more money from a digital platform vs sticking with a low offer from ESPN to potentially appease schools on the fence?

If they were smart, they would try to get more games through traditional methods than what they have now. Traditional methods are still the main method of consuming sports television, but those trends are moving away from traditional and into streaming. It'll take time, but traditional methods are still very important.

The problem they have currently, and for the last several years is that they don't get enough games on traditional methods and thus, that has hurt their brand recognition. I saw an article saying that USC, every year, was guaranteed to have three games on the PAC 12 network every year. That's a lot for your biggest brand.