Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[HFCS]

Based on KenPom the Big 12 is probably currently in a 7-8 year run of dominance beyond what any other conference has achieved. I don’t think even our own fans appreciate this league.

Big 12 needs to be pounding this. Football is the driver, but for a league like the Big 12 basketball makes a difference. It’s probably the one conference with a high enough ratio of bball to football media value where it results in a material difference in per team revenue.

It was no fluke that we struggled in conference but curb stomped other major conference teams last year. Most P6 conference champs would’ve finished in bottom half of big 12. Top half of ACC was the only other basketball that wasn’t a lower level entirely.

 

[jcyclonee]

What's fascinating was the draw of the backyard brawl. Those rivalry matchups can not be ignored. If you get one of those per week in a conference, the conference's ratings will shoot up and be more desirable. BUT, they've gotta be blood thirsty rivalries, ala BYU vs Utah, KS vs K-State, etc.

I like the rivalry matchups. That's one reason that I am less opposed than others to WSU and OSU joining the conference. The Apple Bowl and Civil War can be pretty entertaining games.

 

[HFCS]

So far when presented the opportunity between improved chances to win a conference and cash, they have all taken the cash. Any of the schools get a Big 10 offer they are taking it. Not only for the money, but out of fear that Big 10 and SEC will pick off enough teams, get to a total of 48 and split off. The Big 10 doesn't need any of those schools, and the difference between a good pickup or a mediocre one in the grand scheme of per school revenue isn't going to make that big of a difference. A conference with Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State is probably worth $80-100M per school. The rest are all in the margins. Sure they want to optimize, but there's nobody but ND left that is going to drive the revenue up by a meaningful amount across 18-24 teams at $80-100M per team as it is.

It's also a reason why Stanford certainly can be in play. UO, UU or UW are all worth more from a sports media perspective, but not enough that it has a real material impact on per team revenue. UCLA did not add value, but were added as a USC dance partner.

I keep pointing out the real “checkmate” move in all of this was actually when they got Penn State to join up. Nebraska was a bad add but it didn’t matter. Rutgers/Maryland helped BTN at the time but are probably dead weight now and it doesn’t matter. USC is the first real homerun since PSU.

The first domino for SEC was a small one in Arkansas splitting up SWC but A&M/Texas combo is probably what that PSU add was for big ten. It’s checkmate.

 

[HFCS]

I like the rivalry matchups. That's one reason that I am less opposed than others to WSU and OSU joining the conference. The Apple Bowl and Civil War can be pretty entertaining games.

Civil War trophy being a platypus needs more press.

 

[BCClone]

Civil War trophy being a platypus needs more press.

Those things are mean. Unless it’s Perry.

 

[jcyclonee]

Civil War trophy being a platypus needs more press.

I agree. Also, Robin Williams describing God creating the platypus is terrific.

'If you look at a platypus, you think that God might get stoned, "OK, let's take a beaver and put on a duck's bill. It's a mammal, but it lays eggs. Hey Darwin, kiss my @ss!" '

 

[jcyclonee]

Those things are mean. Unless it’s Perry.

Perrr-eeee is now today's ear worm.

 

[AuH2O]

I like the rivalry matchups. That's one reason that I am less opposed than others to WSU and OSU joining the conference. The Apple Bowl and Civil War can be pretty entertaining games.

I think there is a limit though. Adding Utah, as one of the most valuable PAC brands to play BYU is great. Great heated rivalry that will draw well. OU-UW are good rivals, and WSU and OSU are so low value you just can’t bring them in. OU and UW probably draw better vs many other teams than they do vs their in state rivals.

 

[AuH2O]

I keep pointing out the real “checkmate” move in all of this was actually when they got Penn State to join up. Nebraska was a bad add but it didn’t matter. Rutgers/Maryland helped BTN at the time but are probably dead weight now and it doesn’t matter. USC is the first real homerun since PSU.

The first domino for SEC was a small one in Arkansas splitting up SWC but A&M/Texas combo is probably what that PSU add was for big ten. It’s checkmate.

PSU to the Big 10 is still probably the most important single conference add by anyone in the past 50 years.

 

[exCyDing]

I live near there and UCLA sports fans don’t exist. Not even for their recent final four run.

That's not true. After living in LA for almost a year I saw someone wearing a UCLA shirt for the first time yesterday. There were dozens of people at their game last week, too many to have just gotten lost and randomly wound up at the Rose Bowl. At least a few had to have been there intentionally.

 

[theshadow]

PSU to the Big 10 is still probably the most important single conference add by anyone in the past 50 years.

The Big East ****** that one up. They could have had PSU in the early '80s.

 

[Clonehomer]

The announcement show where each of the PAC 12 AD's sit at a table and one-by-one put on the hat of the conference they're moving to is going to be lit with suspense.

Other way around. The Big10, SEC, and Big12 commissioners will be sitting at the table putting on the hat of the school they will take.

 

[StPaulCyclone]

The conference has failed to market itself as the #1 basketball conference even though it has been by a mile. When the ACC and Big East had their dominant runs you’d constantly hear about how it was the greatest thing ever.

ESPN is the key to this. B12 needs to do a better job, but once again our media partners fail us too.

 

[20eyes]

PSU to the Big 10 is still probably the most important single conference add by anyone in the past 50 years.

Not disagreeing but South Carolina joining the SEC in '91 thereby creating a conference championship game was a pretty big one...

 

[jcyclonee]

I think there is a limit though. Adding Utah, as one of the most valuable PAC brands to play BYU is great. Great heated rivalry that will draw well. OU-UW are good rivals, and WSU and OSU are so low value you just can’t bring them in. OU and UW probably draw better vs many other teams than they do vs their in state rivals.

I do agree. I'm just not as opposed to OSU and WSU as others. I guess I'm just a bit of a sentimental fool.

 

[jcyclonee]

ESPN is the key to this. B12 needs to do a better job, but once again our media partners fail us too.

More Fran, less D1ck.


That doesn't sound good.

 

[HFCS]

That's not true. After living in LA for almost a year I saw someone wearing a UCLA shirt for the first time yesterday. There were dozens of people at their game last week, too many to have just gotten lost and randomly wound up at the Rose Bowl. At least a few had to have been there intentionally.

My wife was at the gym in LA a few years ago and overheard this discussion:
"You going to watch the Superbowl tonight?"
"No, I don't really like basketball."

That right there, is why the Pac has been in trouble. It's just a different world up and down west coast. The inland parts of these states are more like the midwest, but the population is on the coast where sports just aren't that big, especially college sports. UFC is drastically more popular in LA than college football is.

 

[Boxerdaddy]

PSU to the Big 10 is still probably the most important single conference add by anyone in the past 50 years.

I'm not disagreeing, but what about A&M to the SEC? There may have been things shifting before that, but that really seemed to open the floodgates. But PSU to the B1G had an impact years before that.

 

[Acylum]

Solar tarps. So the more people that stay home, the more clean renewable electricity generated. Win Win?

Q: What did Californians use for light before candles?
A: Electricity.

 

[Gorm]

Not disagreeing but South Carolina joining the SEC in '91 thereby creating a conference championship game was a pretty big one...

South Carolina was third on the SEC's list.