Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)
- Thread starter ISUcyclones11
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If they were smart, they would muzzle Barta. It’s real testy in realignment, as we know, as to what you can and can’t say publicly. I would find it hysterical if that buffoon got the conference in a lawsuit in all this.
KidSilverhair
Well-Known Member
I dunno, having Cal & Stanford at the same odds as Okie State for the B1G seems weird, since Okie State isn’t getting a B1G invite and I could see maybe possibly Stanford or Cal along with Washington/Oregon/ND.
Baylor or Cincy to the SEC? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills …
Baylor or Cincy to the SEC? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills …
The funny part is the genealogy part is more interesting than the no news, only rumors realignment talk. And then throw in BC high finance lesson.
Let me clear up the “you” thing: I’m a lifelong, diehard Cyclone fan from central Iowa. My dad and two of my brothers are alumni. My brothers were both on partial athletic scholarships as Cyclones. I can say with absolute conviction if I’d been able to even sniff marginal D-I talent I’d have absolutely been a Cyclone (alas, D-III for me). My username is a (dumb) Cyclone reference. I think of it as the date of my Cyclone Communion after being born into Cyclone fandom.
Now, I mostly agree with some of what you’re saying here. An ISU or UCF model probably fails miserably for a Cal. I don’t think the middle fits it well.
There is potentially a future where they could drop straight down to the Big Sky along with UC Davis.
That said, I’d argue some of those advantages may give it a shot at P2 under the right conditions. For example, if the Big 10 landed ND and expanded to 24 in the very near term I’d bet money they get the call. Not life savings, but high 3 to (very) low 4 figures money.
Enrollment, alumni base, academics, geography/market, etc. would all be factors in that case. You’re right it is not ISU or Cal, but when the Big 10 expands if you could wave a wand and confer upon ISU all of Cal’s institutional attributes as well as their current football/basketball woes and level of fan engagement you’d be foolish not to do so.
Also note: Even with waning interest the last Cal/Stanford game in Berkeley (with fans allowed) still had 58K butts in seats. Apathetic and big still attracts a crowd.
My hope is that the PAC-12 disintegrates now and the Big 12 gets to pick a set of teams that makes the most sense to solidify it as the clear #3. Maybe that includes Cal/Stanford, maybe it doesn’t. My ignorant guess is they’re more valuable than at least WSU/OSU, but probably others as well.
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These are quotes from Barta in his press conference yesterday. That is what he said. Whether he was being honest or not, that is another thing.
If ND doesn't move yet there's a real chance that we get blueballed for a while. The Pac-12 plans for 10, we plan for 12, the ACC stays shelled up at 14.5. The B1G and SEC move forward with 16.
Eventually something will crack. No doubt about it. But it may not be for another year or two. It could even be longer than that.
Eventually something will crack. No doubt about it. But it may not be for another year or two. It could even be longer than that.
"you" is 3rd person- think "one". You presented a case for Cal- I wasn't sure whether you were a Cal fan or ISU fan, but I don't believe it mattered.
For several reasons Cal is a better BIG candidate than they are a desirable school for the P3, primarily that the BIG can afford to do whatever they want, and wanting Berkeley as a Big 10 brand is a plus few other revenue lowering schools can offer. But we're talking P3, Big 12 poaching, so it matters little.
My major question with Cal is I don't see why the mountain 4 would "tether" themselves to Cal. The are not at the top of the leftover 10. Cal would leave as soon as offered, and if the PAC lose Stanford or UW/Oregon, Cal lacks agency. With Stanford being a strong chance of being BIG, and Oregon/UW having standing applications, what cal prefers as a backup to the BIG should not factor in.
Was that Cal/Stanford anecdote a positive or negative? Two P5 programs close together combining for not even 60k for their biggest game sums up Pac12 football.
I'd love to see Cal/Stanford in the BIG, but if they are not, we'll have to take them in a Big 20. I assume the networks would back this. I don't think the Big 10 is stopping at two Pac teams, so it would not be for more than 1 GOR cycle imo.
Their football stadium also happens to sit right on top of a fault, and while it was retrofit a decade ago, one good earthquake could probably bring it down. The best solution would probably to be to build a new stadium, but there is no interest in doing so: first the current stadium is a historical landmark, second, I've heard studies have shown there are a ton of environmental conflicts with doing so that the people in Berkley are opposed to, and third there just isn't enough interest in the program to overcome these issues.
Dodd has the credibility of a journalist on the WWE payroll.
I was an involved banker, some customers daughters I was much more involved with. Was a hands on type helper.
Given the housing shortage in that area i'm sure there would be some who would be happy to have that land opened up for apartments.
I hope not. The BIG new deal will get done soon, although they could work in provisions for expansion. Maybe even what schools.
The Pac is in their exclusive window. If they get low-balled in that, which also sets the starting point for any new network or streaming, what will the Pac sign? (also, what are the chances the PAC knows they have a 3rd network or streaming that is willing to overpay to get "in"?)
I'm hoping ND moving means step-change realignment- 40 team P2 and a single "3rd" conference within weeks after. But if ND stays for now, I hope we could still see movement in preparation for ND. For example, ESPN creating an ACC division in SEC to try and lure ND. Or FOX tempting ACC schools to challenge GOR, in effort to lure ND.
I think the backstop is the new CFP and employment ruling. Both of those will greatly impact conference alignment. The closer you get to the GOR, the less likely anything major happens in ACC-SEC imo
My guess is the conversation probably went something like this:
OSU: "PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE???"
SEC: "..... ..... ..... ..... ..... No."
