Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[FriendlySpartan]

It’s very likely though that the Presidents aren’t as “we want to destroy the rest of college sports” without Fox’s pressure to do so for Fox’s benefit.

Without that external pressure from TV to destroy the sport, the Big 10 probably doesn’t look any different today than it did in 1995.

The Presidents were not the architects of these moves. They enacted them out of fiduciary responsibility.

Also the fact that the sport isn’t being destroyed people just love that narrative.

Legit if you just fixed the transfer rule nothing would be an issue. Thats the one thing that is causing problems.

But hey if college sports is in such a dire place how does ISU have the top ranked recruiting class for basketball? How did Indiana just win a Natty in football? Unless you mainline sports content not in the P2 college sports are in a fine place.

Unless you are upset with ISU’s success and want to go back to the prior years? Wild take but go off king

 

[Al_4_State]

Also the fact that the sport isn’t being destroyed people just love that narrative.

Legit if you just fixed the transfer rule nothing would be an issue. Thats the one thing that is causing problems.

But hey if college sports is in such a dire place how does ISU have the top ranked recruiting class for basketball? How did Indiana just win a Natty in football? Unless you mainline sports content not in the P2 college sports are in a fine place.

Unless you are upset with ISU’s success and want to go back to the prior years? Wild take but go off king

Said like someone whose program hasn’t had a proverbial gun to its head for decades.

**** like this is why we’re rooting for programs like MSU to have to face our reality. **** all the way off.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Said like someone whose program hasn’t had a proverbial gun to its head for decades.

**** like this is why we’re rooting for programs like MSU to have to face our reality. **** all the way off.

Avoiding the question. Best ISU seasons for football ever have come during the current period of college sports distraction, some of the best basketball as well.

As you were cheering on JJ last year were you brining up how college sports was being destroyed because your best player was a transfer? How about when you were beating Iowa in football again?

Just fix the unlimited transfer rule and college sports is in an excellent place

 

[Al_4_State]

Avoiding the question. Best ISU seasons for football ever have come during the current period of college sports distraction, some of the best basketball as well.

As you were cheering on JJ last year were you brining up how college sports was being destroyed because your best player was a transfer? How about when you were beating Iowa in football again?

Just fix the unlimited transfer rule and college sports is in an excellent place

The current moment has been good for my school, but I despise the direction the sport is heading.

I want the G5/6 programs to be part of the stew. I want FCS fans to be able to develop a continuous investment. I think consolidating all the brands is bad. I wish ISU and Iowa still played basketball games at Drake & UNI.

I’m always going to root for my alma mater’s laundry, but that doesn’t mean I like where things are going. It’s obvious to me that without external guard rails, all but the 20ish most valuable brands are facing negative existential changes

 

[FriendlySpartan]

The current moment has been good for my school, but I despise the direction the sport is heading.

I want the G5/6 programs to be part of the stew. I want FCS fans to be able to develop a continuous investment. I think consolidating all the brands is bad. I wish ISU and Iowa still played basketball games at Drake & UNI.

I’m always going to root for my alma mater’s laundry, but that doesn’t mean I like where things are going. It’s obvious to me that without external guard rails, all but the 20ish most valuable brands are facing negative existential changes

The second paragraph is the only part that I disagree with. The G5 shouldn’t have any say in what the P4 are doing.

Totally agree with the guard rails, need that transfer portal locked down after one transfer unless a coach leaves, no exceptions, and prevent people who sign pro contracts from coming back.

Once that’s done the revenue sports are in great shape and many of the non revs are also seeing incredible growth. College hockey has never been better, WBB has hit a post Clark wall but still doing good, baseball and softball are making noise.

A whole lot of good has come out of the changes except for the transfers

 

[cykadelic2]

Plenty of legit reasons but yeah it makes 100% sense for every other conference to be in favor of it. When you get an advantage in sports you don’t willingly give it up

SEC and B10 will still maintain an advantage and double their revenues.

The opposition to the bill is about ESPN and Fox losing their market and financial control of the sport.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

SEC and B10 will still maintain an advantage and double their revenues.

The opposition to the bill is about ESPN and Fox losing their market and financial control of the sport.

For the millionth time, they will double their revenues regardless during the next media deal which is when the contracts would have to be re done anyways as the bill doesn’t allow those to become void and the pooling isn’t even a mandatory part of the bill.

You never address this yet parrot the exact same talking point.

 

[isucy86]

It’s very likely though that the Presidents aren’t as “we want to destroy the rest of college sports” without Fox’s pressure to do so for Fox’s benefit.

Without that external pressure from TV to destroy the sport, the Big 10 probably doesn’t look any different today than it did in 1995.

The Presidents were not the architects of these moves. They enacted them out of fiduciary responsibility.

The Presidents and Commissioners are not Architects of these moves, but more importantly they have final approval (aka Developer).

Why wouldn't the TV partners have a voice in what schools they value MOST in Big10/SEC? ESPN & FOX are profit-driven companies. And that benefits each school in maximizing their share.

No different than Big12 adding UU, ASU, UA, CU and excluding WSU, OSU. Obviously, the last 2 schools would have reduced existing Big 12 schools annual payment more.

 

[cykadelic2]

For the millionth time, they will double their revenues regardless during the next media deal which is when the contracts would have to be re done anyways as the bill doesn’t allow those to become void and the pooling isn’t even a mandatory part of the bill.

You never address this yet parrot the exact same talking point.

You still fail to understand that the bill precludes additional brand consolidation to the SEC and ESPN for the sole benefit of ESPN and Fox and effing ISU in the process.

 

[isucy86]

For the millionth time, they will double their revenues regardless during the next media deal which is when the contracts would have to be re done anyways as the bill doesn’t allow those to become void and the pooling isn’t even a mandatory part of the bill.

You never address this yet parrot the exact same talking point.

And there is probably upside beyond 2x for Big10/SEC if subscription platforms like Amazon, Apple, Paramount & Netflix become active bidders.

Those platforms could also benefit Big12 with upping it's next TV deal.

 

[simply1]

Also the fact that the sport isn’t being destroyed people just love that narrative.

Legit if you just fixed the transfer rule nothing would be an issue. Thats the one thing that is causing problems.

But hey if college sports is in such a dire place how does ISU have the top ranked recruiting class for basketball? How did Indiana just win a Natty in football? Unless you mainline sports content not in the P2 college sports are in a fine place.

Unless you are upset with ISU’s success and want to go back to the prior years? Wild take but go off king

Why are transfers in your crosshairs? Don’t Your examples show everything is fine?

 

[cykadelic2]

The Presidents and Commissioners are not Architects of these moves, but more importantly they have final approval (aka Developer).

Why wouldn't the TV partners have a voice in what schools they value MOST in Big10/SEC? ESPN & FOX are profit-driven companies. And that benefits each school in maximizing their share.

No different than Big12 adding UU, ASU, UA, CU and excluding WSU, OSU. Obviously, the last 2 schools would have reduced existing Big 12 schools annual payment more.

CFB is the only sport where networks dictate conference/division alignment and destroy/relegate athletic programs in the process. DeLoss Dodds even admits that is the case:

College conference realignment roundtable: Former ADs dish on rumors, memories and future

DeLoss Dodds, Tom Osborne and more former ADs give their thoughts on the past, present and future of conference realignment.

www.nytimes.com

Every other major sport conducts their business with the networks in an opposite manner to their overall financial benefit and don’t leave millions/billions of dollars on the table in doing so.

 

[isucy86]

You still fail to understand that the bill precludes additional brand consolidation to the SEC and ESPN for the sole benefit of ESPN and Fox and effing ISU in the process.

The Bill language can preclude/require actions. But that doesn't prohibit the language being contested in the courts.

No way are schools like UNC, UVA, Clemson, Miami, FSU and Notre Dame staying in the ACC if it means a lot less money.

And if those schools thought the language was sound, they'd bolt from the ACC tomorrow morning.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Why are transfers in your crosshairs? Don’t Your examples show everything is fine?

Yep, and I think they should be limited to just once. I guess you could have an exception going from G5 to P4 but think it’s just cleaner to have one transfer only.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

You still fail to understand that the bill precludes additional brand consolidation to the SEC and ESPN for the sole benefit of ESPN and Fox and effing ISU in the process.

I don’t know how many more brands are even worth adding. If you’re saying a couple ACC schools that’s fine but there aren’t many and I don’t think that’s even likely. Possible, but not really likely.

There isn’t much reason for the P2 to change the status quo. But to play devils advocate a bit more let’s just say you are right and the top 4 ACC teams leave. The remainder just join the big 12 and basically it’s not much different then today, just more east coast travel

 

[cykadelic2]

The Bill language can preclude/require actions. But that doesn't prohibit the language being contested in the courts.

No way are schools like UNC, UVA, Clemson, Miami, FSU and Notre Dame staying in the ACC if it means a lot less money.

And if those schools thought the language was sound, they'd bolt from the ACC tomorrow morning.

This is federal legislation, not some podunk county and state legislation. And you obviously missed the memo that the ACC supports the legislation as should the likes of Michigan State to protect themselves from a 20-24 school Super League as recently suggested by the ND AD and JP.

 

[isucy86]

Avoiding the question. Best ISU seasons for football ever have come during the current period of college sports distraction, some of the best basketball as well.

As you were cheering on JJ last year were you brining up how college sports was being destroyed because your best player was a transfer? How about when you were beating Iowa in football again?

Just fix the unlimited transfer rule and college sports is in an excellent place

I hope your right. But I feel past success isn't an indication of the future. It might take 5 years to really see the impact of the revenue advantages the Big 10/SEC have.

A year ago the House Settlement was supposed to level pay-for-play with schools distributing $22M across all sports. In just one portal/recruiting cycle there are SEC/Big10 schools paying their FB players $40M+.

And what happens in FB could shortly happen in hoops. Florida is paying their center $10M and Kentucky is paying Momcilovic $6.5M? Sure Iowa State can sign a great basketball recruiting class. But at the above prices, if the recruits become studs, will ISU be able to keep them?

 

[FriendlySpartan]

I hope your right. But I feel past success isn't an indication of the future. It might take 5 years to really see the impact of the revenue advantages the Big 10/SEC have.

A year ago the House Settlement was supposed to level pay-for-play with schools distributing $22M across all sports. In just one portal/recruiting cycle there are SEC/Big10 schools paying their FB players $40M+.

And what happens in FB could shortly happen in hoops. Florida is paying their center $10M and Kentucky is paying Momcilovic $6.5M? Sure Iowa State can sign a great basketball recruiting class. But at the above prices, if the recruits become studs, will ISU be able to keep them?

Totally get that and I agree with a lot of that. My man pushback is that money isn’t coming from the school. All the schools are paying the same in rev share. If that switch’s then yeah I totally agree with you but even the blue bloods don’t want that.

Milan left because he saw that his NBA career is in doubt and needed to make money while he can. If he got a higher draft grade he would have just stayed in the draft. 100% ****** but pre NIL he would have just left college all together (which is probably easier to swallow but similar result) still ****** he’s at Kentucky

 

[isucy86]

CFB is the only sport where networks dictate conference/division alignment and destroy/relegate athletic programs in the process. DeLoss Dodds even admits that is the case:

College conference realignment roundtable: Former ADs dish on rumors, memories and future

DeLoss Dodds, Tom Osborne and more former ADs give their thoughts on the past, present and future of conference realignment.

www.nytimes.com

Every other major sport conducts their business with the networks in an opposite manner to their overall financial benefit and don’t leave millions/billions of dollars on the table in doing so.

So you don't think TV folks told the professional sports leagues what cities they wanted teams added over the last 30 years?

A simple reality in business. The more profitable TV Partners are, the more they will payout in Media Rights.

Sure guys like Dodds and Osborne yearn for the good old days. But the reality is they were both at ground zero of realignment. So what they have to say in 2026 is pretty hollow.

 

[Cyched]

Didn’t know a BYU grad was the one who brought down Cody Campbell.

Sup