Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[isucy86]

Interesting, in different interviews on Tuesday, a couple SEC talking heads Paul Finebaum and Cole Cubelic were down on the Pac12's long term viability.

Makes me wonder if the SEC won't be sniffing around the Pac10- maybe bargain shopping to stay a step ahead of Big10 out west. IMO the SEC going west makes sense with adds over last decade of A&M, Mizzou, OU and Texas.

 

[SCNCY]

Interesting, in different interviews on Tuesday, a couple SEC talking heads Paul Finebaum and Cole Cubelic were down on the Pac12's long term viability.

Makes me wonder if the SEC won't be sniffing around the Pac10- maybe bargain shopping to stay a step ahead of Big10 out west. IMO the SEC going west makes sense with adds over last decade of A&M, Mizzou, OU and Texas.

If the series of events is to be believed. The SEC approached USC and UCLA to join the SEC; probably the same time that Texas and OU were approached. USC and UCLA then went to the Big10 and said were going to the SEC unless you invite us. Which started the Big10's expansion to the West Coast.

Oregon and Washing would probably be the only teams the SEC would want, but I don't think either of those schools would want to be in the SEC due to academics.

 

[PickSix]

If the series of events is to be believed. The SEC approached USC and UCLA to join the SEC; probably the same time that Texas and OU were approached. USC and UCLA then went to the Big10 and said were going to the SEC unless you invite us. Which started the Big10's expansion to the West Coast.

Oregon and Washing would probably be the only teams the SEC would want, but I don't think either of those schools would want to be in the SEC due to academics.

Not sure I understand this. There are some great academic schools in the conference. Both schools would fit right in (Oregon isn't even that elite academically any way). Oregon and Washington are not operating in a position of strength, so they'll no doubt jump at the first chance they get to join either of those conferences.

With that being said, I don't see any movement until the next TV cycle gets closer and the ACC implodes.

 

[isucy86]

If the series of events is to be believed. The SEC approached USC and UCLA to join the SEC; probably the same time that Texas and OU were approached. USC and UCLA then went to the Big10 and said were going to the SEC unless you invite us. Which started the Big10's expansion to the West Coast.

Oregon and Washing would probably be the only teams the SEC would want, but I don't think either of those schools would want to be in the SEC due to academics.

Agree.

But could the SEC get ESPN to pay $35-$40M a year over the next decade for any 4 corner schools? That is a premium above ESPN's Big12 prorata, but maybe ESPN would see value in:

• Sooner vs. ASU game over Okie State vs. ASU game or
• Texas vs. Colorado over Kansas vs. Colorado, etc.

It would also give ESPN it's Saturday After Dark inventory.

 

[RonBurgundy]

Interesting, in different interviews on Tuesday, a couple SEC talking heads Paul Finebaum and Cole Cubelic were down on the Pac12's long term viability.

Makes me wonder if the SEC won't be sniffing around the Pac10- maybe bargain shopping to stay a step ahead of Big10 out west. IMO the SEC going west makes sense with adds over last decade of A&M, Mizzou, OU and Texas.

The SEC (and the B1G) can literally do whatever they want. They have the fat cat media deals. They can poach anyone they want tomorrow from the Pac, Big 12, and ACC. They just make it effective when the current GOR expires. Or they can sit back and wait.

I can't ever see the SEC selecting a west coast school when several ACC schools will be in play. The only schools that the SEC and B1G cannot have with the wave of a hand are the B1G and SEC schools.

Which makes the Ore/Wash case interesting. If the B1G wanted them, it would be done by now. So, does the B1G not value them, or is this all about the perception of not making the B1G the Pac 12 conference killer?

 

[PickSix]

Agree.

But could the SEC get ESPN to pay $35-$40M a year over the next decade for any 4 corner schools? That is a premium above ESPN's Big12 prorata, but maybe ESPN would see value in:

• Sooner vs. ASU game over Okie State vs. ASU game or
• Texas vs. Colorado over Kansas vs. Colorado, etc.

It would also give ESPN it's Saturday After Dark inventory.

They couldn't even get ESPN to pay more for a ninth conference game, so I doubt it.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Not sure I understand this. There are some great academic schools in the conference. Both schools would fit right in (Oregon isn't even that elite academically any way). Oregon and Washington are not operating in a position of strength, so they'll no doubt jump at the first chance they get to join either of those conferences.

With that being said, I don't see any movement until the next TV cycle gets closer and the ACC implodes.

Washington would be the second best academic school in the conference behind Vanderbilt, Oregon I wiped fit in quite well. SEC has 4 current good academic schools with texas they get a 5th.

 

[SCNCY]

Not sure I understand this. There are some great academic schools in the conference. Both schools would fit right in (Oregon isn't even that elite academically any way). Oregon and Washington are not operating in a position of strength, so they'll no doubt jump at the first chance they get to join either of those conferences.

With that being said, I don't see any movement until the next TV cycle gets closer and the ACC implodes.

The PAC schools have an elitist attitude when it comes to academics and don’t want to be associated to anyone they don’t perceive to be in the same level. Despite the facts athletics and academics aren’t related.

 

[PickSix]

Washington would be the second best academic school in the conference behind Vanderbilt, Oregon I wiped fit in quite well. SEC has 4 current good academic schools with texas they get a 5th.

The US News and World Report seems to have the most commonly cited rankings.

They've got Vandy, Florida, Texas, and Georgia all ranked higher than U-Washington, and A&M not far behind.

Of course we're splitting hairs and it's all subjective, but the bottom line is that there's a pretty large swath of comparable institutions.

I know it doesn't fit the popular narrative to think of the SEC has having solid academics, but they've dramatically improved their standing over the last 15 or 20 years.

 

[Gunnerclone]

The US News and World Report seems to have the most commonly cited rankings.

They've got Vandy, Florida, Texas, and Georgia all ranked higher than U-Washington, and A&M not far behind.

Of course we're splitting hairs and it's all subjective, but the bottom line is that there's a pretty large swath of comparable institutions.

I know it doesn't fit the popular narrative to think of the SEC has having solid academics, but they've dramatically improved their standing over the last 15 or 20 years.

School rankings are dumb. It’s the Ivy’s, Stanford, MIT and the like.

Then you’ve got like ND, NW & Michigan.

Then everyone else is just a malleable mass.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

The US News and World Report seems to have the most commonly cited rankings.

They've got Vandy, Florida, Texas, and Georgia all ranked higher than U-Washington, and A&M not far behind.

Of course we're splitting hairs and it's all subjective, but the bottom line is that there's a pretty large swath of comparable institutions.

I know it doesn't fit the popular narrative to think of the SEC has having solid academics, but they've dramatically improved their standing over the last 15 or 20 years.

Man the rankings for UW are all over the place but you’re right that US News has them in the 50’s I would have swore they were significantly higher.

The SEC still has rough academics, texas helps but there are still only 4 schools in the top 100 unless Auburn moved up. They also have some real rough schools. No it’s not a horrific academic conference like some would have you believe but I feel like it would be a last resort for UW to move there. Might be getting to that point but it would also be a political shitstorm

 

[snowcraig2.0]

Washington would be the second best academic school in the conference behind Vanderbilt, Oregon I wiped fit in quite well. SEC has 4 current good academic schools with texas they get a 5th.

Wash is behind Vandy, Texas, Florida and TAMU.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Wash is behind Vandy, Texas, Florida and TAMU.

They aren’t behind TAMU, they are behind Georgia though.

 

[Acylum]

More on the PAC numbers:

 

[PickSix]

Man the rankings for UW are all over the place but you’re right that US News has them in the 50’s I would have swore they were significantly higher.

The SEC still has rough academics, texas helps but there are still only 4 schools in the top 100 unless Auburn moved up. They also have some real rough schools. No it’s not a horrific academic conference like some would have you believe but I feel like it would be a last resort for UW to move there. Might be getting to that point but it would also be a political shitstorm

There's no doubt that the B1G still has the edge on academics and overall cultural appeal for a Pac-12 school. I'm sure if they had their choice, that's where they would go.

If the SEC is a "last resort", it's the last of only 2 options. I still think if the SEC offers first, those schools should and would jump all over it right away.

Beggars can't be choosers, and I think reality has slapped them in the face hard enough over the last year for them to recognize that now.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

What would be awesome, first-class drama and may be realistic in the near future is if the Big 10 snipes an SEC school or vice versa. The most realistic candidate I could see is Texas A&M going to the Big 10 given their unhappiness with Texas coming aboard. I think the SEC contract ends in 2034.

Unfortunately none of this has anything to do with actual football. The sport has been ruined.

 

[PickSix]

What would be awesome, first-class drama and may be realistic in the near future is if the Big 10 snipes an SEC school or vice versa. The most realistic candidate I could see is Texas A&M going to the Big 10 given their unhappiness with Texas coming aboard. I think the SEC contract ends in 2034.

Unfortunately none of this has anything to do with actual football. The sport has been ruined.

A&M would 1000% be petty enough to do this.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

A&M would 1000% be petty enough to do this.

I also think the Big Ten would 1000% take them

 

[SolterraCyclone]

A&M would 1000% be petty enough to do this.

For sure. And A&M might be one of the few schools additive to the Big 10. Plus it gets the Big 10 into Texas and the school meets the conference’s academic requirements. It makes a lot of sense

 

[CascadeClone]

I also think the Big Ten would 1000% take them

I'd love that as long as they didn't take Kansas or Colorado with them. The drama!! LOL