Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[Bestaluckcy]

Florida State and Clemson think they are too good for the Big 12 as it currently exists. Probably a slim chance they join. A more likely scenario is they take the Washington Oregon route whereby they humble themselves just enough to get a lesser slice of the SEC.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Didn't the AAU thing get debunked? Yes it was a hard requirement 15 years ago but everyone knew kNU was a fringe AAU school during the 2010 realignment and lost AAU shortly after.

If the networks want Clemson and or FSU in the Big Ten, it will happen even if the Big Ten academic elites kick and scream.

I agree that it will be the networks that have a large say in this because they are the ones providing the money, but I also think that to the B10 AAU status is a large sticking point for many university presidents. They took Nebraska, but at the time they were an AAU school, and some could argue that the only reason they are not is because of their hospital situation not falling under the university umbrella.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

I think we forget how much the Big Ten wants Virginia from an academic standpoint. Not only are they probably the best public academic institution on earth, they have a crazy wealthy alumni base and lock down another give chunk of TV sets (which still does matter).

 

[Sigmapolis]

I think we forget how much the Big Ten wants Virginia from an academic standpoint. Not only are they probably the best public academic institution on earth, they have a crazy wealthy alumni base and lock down another give chunk of TV sets (which still does matter).

Schools like....

Michigan
Ohio State
Texas
UCLA
Cal
UC-Davis
(most of the UC system really)
Washington
North Carolina
Florida
Georgia Tech
etc.

...might quibble with that statement.

UVA is definitely on the "S" tier when it comes to public universities, though.

I've always thought they were Big Ten bound on academics alone.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

UNC and UV have to be at the top of the B10 wish list for expansion, both are AAU schools, in states that the league does not now serve. High academic institutions that while they may not bring a lot to the table football wise, they are two of the better BB programs in the country. Get those two schools, push ND to join and then pick the best AAU school left either Georgia Tech or Miami and the B10 would be happy to pass on Clemson and FSU.

 

[StLouisClone]

Clemson joined the ACC in 1953 and won 9 games only once from 1953-1977. They were very mediocre. Swinney turned them into a powerhouse taking advantage of how weak the rest of the ACC has been over the last 15 years.

It will be interesting to see if anyone steps up in the B12 and establishes themselves as a powerhouse.

 

[Freebird]

Would be cool to keep the conference free of toxic egos. I know we would take Clemson and FSU in a heartbeat if they somehow (they won’t) wanted to join. I get we are third fiddle to the big 2, but I’m happy that with the exception of Utah it’s a pretty harmonious relationship between all the schools.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

UNC and UV have to be at the top of the B10 wish list for expansion, both are AAU schools, in states that the league does not now serve. High academic institutions that while they may not bring a lot to the table football wise, they are two of the better BB programs in the country. Get those two schools, push ND to join and then pick the best AAU school left either Georgia Tech or Miami and the B10 would be happy to pass on Clemson and FSU.

The best way to force Notre Dame in is to kill the ACC. They literally can't schedule if the ACC doesn't exist.

 

[ClubCy]

Would be cool to keep the conference free of toxic egos. I know we would take Clemson and FSU in a heartbeat if they somehow (they won’t) wanted to join. I get we are third fiddle to the big 2, but I’m happy that with the exception of Utah it’s a pretty harmonious relationship between all the schools.

Could you provide an example of Utah, as an institution, not being harmonious with the rest of the school?

 

[HouClone]

The best way to force Notre Dame in is to kill the ACC. They literally can't schedule if the ACC doesn't exist.

Notre Dame will join the Big East before joining the Big 12.

 

[ripvdub]

Could you provide an example of Utah, as an institution, not being harmonious with the rest of the school?

I would assume most are just basing it on their fans running their mouths...

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Schools like....

Michigan
Ohio State
Texas
UCLA
Cal
UC-Davis
(most of the UC system really)
Washington
North Carolina
Florida
Georgia Tech
etc.

...might quibble with that statement.

UVA is definitely on the "S" tier when it comes to public universities, though.

I've always thought they were Big Ten bound on academics alone.

What in the world is Ohio State doing on that list?

Besides that I agree, big ten wants UNC and UVA most (outside of ND).

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Notre Dame will join the Big East before joining the Big 12.

I wasn't clear. The Big Ten is the only option they'd consider.

 

[State2015]

I think we forget how much the Big Ten wants Virginia from an academic standpoint. Not only are they probably the best public academic institution on earth, they have a crazy wealthy alumni base and lock down another give chunk of TV sets (which still does matter).

Tbh I see UVA on par or below Stanford in those categories and right around Cal. Why would the B1G not have added those schools when they had the chance over Oregon (lesser academics)? I don’t think UVA gets a shot in the P2 but that’s just me

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Tbh I see UVA on par or below Stanford in those categories and right around Cal. Why would the B1G not have added those schools when they had the chance over Oregon (lesser academics)? I don’t think UVA gets a shot in the P2 but that’s just me

Cal doesn’t care about athletics, like at all. Virginia at least tries in basketball. I have UNC as way more desirable than UVA. But it focuses on what the Big10 wants which is the flagship institutions for states, Stanford is private and essentially an Ivy, and the LA schools make Cal irrelevant.

 

[Sigmapolis]

What in the world is Ohio State doing on that list?

Besides that I agree, big ten wants UNC and UVA most (outside of ND).

They would put themselves there.

You're free to disagree, of course.

But schools like Michigan and Cal have a very strong and legitimate claim to the same title.

My pet theory is the Big Ten takes...

Virginia (academics/new state/big state/been pretty good at basketball)
North Carolina (academics/new state/big state/basketball royalty)
Duke (academics/basketball royalty/excellent rivalry with UNC)
Georgia Tech (academics/new state/foothold in Atlanta/only other P3 school in Georgia)
Miami (semi-academics/new state/big football name/history of rivalries with Big Ten schools)
Notre Dame (scared into joining a conference at that point)

That would make a 24-team national league with good coverage of every region outside of the Deep South and Texas, which unfortunately they have to concede as just being SEC territory. They're also weak in the Mountain West and the Great Plains, but they've concluded those aren't worth having and hence where the Big 12 has built the core of its enclave and stronghold for itself plus a few in Texas and elsewhere.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

They would put themselves there.

You're free to disagree, of course.

But schools like Michigan and Cal have a very strong and legitimate claim to the same title.

My pet theory is the Big Ten takes...

Virginia (academics/new state/big state/been pretty good at basketball)
North Carolina (academics/new state/big state/basketball royalty)
Duke (academics/basketball royalty/excellent rivalry with UNC)
Georgia Tech (academics/new state/foothold in Atlanta/only other P3 school in Georgia)
Miami (semi-academics/new state/big football name/history of rivalries with Big Ten schools)
Notre Dame (scared into joining a conference at that point)

That would make a 24-team national league with good coverage of every region outside of the Deep South and Texas, which unfortunately they have to concede as just being SEC territory. They're also weak in the Mountain West and the Great Plains, but they've concluded those aren't worth having and hence where the Big 12 has built the core of its enclave and stronghold for itself plus a few in Texas and elsewhere.

Oh Michigan 100% would say they are in the top public discussion, Ohio state honestly wouldn’t. They have come a very long way from just admitting everyone in the state and have really improved academics but I don’t think they hold themselves to that ideal. In the field is different.

I don’t see a world where the big ten adds that many. GT was rumored a decade ago as being a prize but since then has dropped off the face of the earth athletically. Duke also is kind of a non starter.

ND is in whenever they want but then it gets tricky as I don’t know if the conference wants to have that many members.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

I wouldn't be shocked if Texas A&M found their way there too. Gets the Big Ten into Texas and A&M away from UT.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

I wouldn't be shocked if Texas A&M found their way there too. Gets the Big Ten into Texas and A&M away from UT.

I actually could see this as well. Not likely but possible

 

[Sigmapolis]

Oh Michigan 100% would say they are in the top public discussion, Ohio state honestly wouldn’t. They have come a very long way from just admitting everyone in the state and have really improved academics but I don’t think they hold themselves to that ideal. In the field is different.

I don’t see a world where the big ten adds that many. GT was rumored a decade ago as being a prize but since then has dropped off the face of the earth athletically. Duke also is kind of a non starter.

ND is in whenever they want but then it gets tricky as I don’t know if the conference wants to have that many members.

You could cut Duke and GT and still end up with 22.

UVA/UNC seem like obvious adds to me. We all know they want ND.

I think they'd want somebody in Florida and... Miami feels more like one of them that the 'Noles.