The 4 corners may be delusional enough to pass on more money in a Big 16. But it could cost them a spot imo
The Big 10 is going to kill off the PAC at some point fairly soon. You don’t say this , plus leak targets, unless you DGAF
Warren's words:
"Where expansion goes? I don’t know. … I’m embracing change,” Warren explained, “I’m going to be very aggressive. We want to be aggressive in how we build this. We’re in a stage of probably a five-year period of change.”
“We’re in a five-year period of transformation,” Warren said. “Just because these are some of the moves on the front end of the transformation, we won’t really know that until we get toward a conclusion. I think over the next couple of years, it will settle down — the movement between conferences. How many are there? How many are not there? The structure will become clear.
As for Warren’s “five-year transformation period,” he’s unsure how many power conferences will remain.
“That is a question that remains to be seen,” Warren said. “Think of how much more we know today than we did a year ago. Then think a year from now. It will become crystal clear as far as what is the right fit. The market will dictate where things should settle.”
“Regarding expansion, … it may include future expansion. But it will be done for the right reasons, at the right time,” “When I say add value: value is important, I just look at the fit,” Warren told Action Network Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days. “A fit has to be there academically, has to be there athletically. All those things are really important."
The fit and right reason comments scream they are coming back for more PAC, even though the money is not as good, particularly with Cal and Stanford.
The "market will dictate" comments kind of hint at something like the 4 corners leaving first, then the Big 10 coming in and finishing up the PAC, and seeing what they can shake free from the ACC imo.
And it is impossible to ignore that the BIG/FOX have basically tried drive the 4 corners out of the PAC via making a black whole in the most important market and stoking mass uncertainty thereafter. And not a political whimper for two weeks that UCLA left? That is more than apathy. If you wanted to get 4 corners to leave, you'd block off southern CA, tell them "no" and continually flirt with UW and Oregon, while also leaking Stanford is ND's actual preferred choice. Did UW and Oregon really apply? That almost never happens unless it is likely to be a 'yes'. Someone had reason to feel optimistic.
