Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[FerShizzle]

The PAC overall is in a horrible spot. I don't think CO is the only domino to fall, it's just the second part of a feedback loop that's only going to pick up speed as long as the B12 is willing to add PAC schools. The real question is how big does the B12 want to go? 16? 18? ESPN's on the hook for any P5 schools the B12 wants to add, but what is Fox willing to take on?

The media deals that weren't good enough before are only going to get worse. Dropping below 10 schools means no conference football title game (and no revenue that comes along with it). Scheduling suddenly becomes a problem as the conference slate drops from 9 games to 8 to 7, and the media deal follows suit. SDSU's out there, and SMU, but who do they backfill with beyond that? The MWC is already passed the deadline and their buyouts is something like $35M if they want to join for 2024.

Oh, yeah, and they still don't have media deal.

OR and WA are the big prize. IMO, they wouldn't be a problem like Texas, Nebraska and A&M were because they'd have no leverage. Threats to leave if they don't get ______ would just be laughed at. Until the B10 gives them an invite, there's nowhere else for them to go. If/when that day comes, there aren't enough concession the B12 could offer to get them to stay.

i think adding multiple pacific time zone games increases the value of the conference exponentially. whether Fox and ESPN think this is another story, but it has to be included in the calculus.

 

[jcyclonee]

I do have to say I feel bad for Wazzu and Oregon State. They’re in the same spot Iowa State was a few summers ago. Don’t think they should be relegated to the Mountain West

Honestly, this feels like they are in a worse spot.

 

[Malty Flannel]

I don't think the B10 wants or will want Oregon and Wash. They have their west coast brands. They will save any remaining spots in conference for ND (+Stan potentially) and east coast schools like Virginia and North Carolina when the ACC explodes in a few years. I think there's a legitimate chance that either or both Oregon and Wash end up in the BXII in 2024

 

[keepngoal]

If the optics of "Butts in seats" were a requirement for conference membership, half of the Big 10 would be ineligible. The optics of seeing a half empty or nearly empty stadium tells everyone just how much passion a fan base has for the team in question.

And yet… the BIG is in LA, as the optics didn’t and don’t matter. But all knew this .. and why butts dont’ matter.

 

[Acylum]

Cal and Stanford are a big part of the reason USCLA are moving. The ethoses of those four schools are not nearly as aligned as one would think.

 

[Gorm]

And yet… the BIG is in LA, as the optics didn’t and don’t matter. But all knew this .. and why butts dont’ matter.

From what I can see USC has never had a butts in seats problem. At least not nearly as severe as other Pac-12 members. Now UCLA on the other hand...

But lets be honest, if USC wasn't going to the Big 10, UCLA would not be a high target for them either.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

And yet… the BIG is in LA, as the optics didn’t and don’t matter. But all knew this .. and why butts dont’ matter.

The big ten gets to add the LA markets to big ten network and to their media partners. USC is a massive brand that is seemingly on the path back to success. UCLA basically came along for the ride and to provide a rivalry game. Attendance doesn’t matter for schools like that. More importantly though, both those schools fit in perfectly in with everything the big ten is with the exception of geography.

The reason why the other Cali schools have no interest in the Big12 is due to the politics and academics. These decisions are made by university presidents and Standford/Cal don’t care enough about athletics to jump into a conference they are diametrically opposed to in most ways.

 

[Gunnerclone]

The big ten gets to add the LA markets to big ten network and to their media partners. USC is a massive brand that is seemingly on the path back to success. UCLA basically came along for the ride and to provide a rivalry game. Attendance doesn’t matter for schools like that. More importantly though, both those schools fit in perfectly in with everything the big ten is with the exception of geography.

The reason why the other Cali schools have no interest in the Big12 is due to the politics and academics. These decisions are made by university presidents and Standford/Cal don’t care enough about athletics to jump into a conference they are diametrically opposed to in most ways.

WOKE: Making money
BROKE: basing every realignment calculation on the success of the football team over the past 3 seasons

 

[keepngoal]

The big ten gets to add the LA markets to big ten network and to their media partners. USC is a massive brand that is seemingly on the path back to success. UCLA basically came along for the ride and to provide a rivalry game. Attendance doesn’t matter for schools like that. More importantly though, both those schools fit in perfectly in with everything the big ten is with the exception of geography.

The reason why the other Cali schools have no interest in the Big12 is due to the politics and academics. These decisions are made by university presidents and Standford/Cal don’t care enough about athletics to jump into a conference they are diametrically opposed to in most ways.

I agree about UCLA, but USC wasn’t gonna go alone either.

I’ll disagree on the amount of care about athletics from Cal/Stan.

 

[Acylum]

Action Sports: Big 12 to Have 'At Least 14 Teams, Possibly 16'

On Wednesday, the Pac-12 suffered what could prove to be a fatal blow with reports that Colorado is all but headed to the Big 12, pending a vote on Thursday from the school’s decision-makers. With the Buffaloes leaving the conference, any hopes of a media rights deal appear to be dead in the...

www.heartlandcollegesports.com

 

[1UNI2ISU]

F it. Go big.

The PAC is already dead and the Big 12 killed it. Finish the job.

Add Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Washington and UConn and be the clearest number three humanly possible.

 

[keepngoal]

Action Sports: Big 12 to Have 'At Least 14 Teams, Possibly 16'

On Wednesday, the Pac-12 suffered what could prove to be a fatal blow with reports that Colorado is all but headed to the Big 12, pending a vote on Thursday from the school’s decision-makers. With the Buffaloes leaving the conference, any hopes of a media rights deal appear to be dead in the...

www.heartlandcollegesports.com

The quoted part is from action networks McMurphy.

 

[NWICY]

And I don’t think Cal and/or Stanford would ever consider joining the B12. Heck, Cal is probably more likely to go D-3 than move to the B12.

Not that I have any inside info, I don’t, but it just seems to me neither of those schools would ever be interested.

Can't they drop down to the same level as UNI and NDSU?

 

[FriendlySpartan]

I agree about UCLA, but USC wasn’t gonna go alone either.

I’ll disagree on the amount of care about athletics from Cal/Stan.

You think they care a lot about athletics at those schools? Just because they have an AD doesn’t mean they care or would be willing to join the Big12 to keep them going. Stanford has so much money they could easily go independent.

 

[cyfan92]

Yes, monetarily, Oregon St and Washington St are screwed.. Competitivly speaking, moving to the Mountain West or adding a mix of Moutain West and other to what is left of the PAC conference allows them to be the top dogs and still have a shot at the CFP.

As a fan, I would MUCH rather be them than be a fan of Vandy, Northwestern, Rutgers, and get your brains beat in in all the major sports, but collect paychecks.. Wining > Money

If I am Oregon or Washington, you are PRAYING for a lifeline to the Big 10. Stanford and Cal should join the West Cost Conference for athletics and drop football. No one in their fanbase cares, redevelop their football stadiums to expand their awesome academic campus', and keep sports they can be competitive in.

 

[exCyDing]

People thinking Cal schools could fit in the BXII seem to forget that less than a year ago California passed a law saying state funds couldnt be used to transport state employees to most of us lowly, bigoted, not-progressive-enough midwest states. Combine that with the well known fact that the Cal schools prevented any religiously affiliated school (BYU) from entering the conference. There is no way any Cal school will ever be a part of the BXII. In their eyes we are all right-wing hillbillies and religious fanatics

To be fair, that law applies to state funds, which does not apply to Athletic Department. Even if they're partially funded through the university general fund and the state, media money, donations or other funds could easily be earmarked to "travel expenses."

That said, I don't think Cal or Stanford want to join the B12, and I don't think either are particularly valuable by the B12's metrics.

 

[wenkeej]

View attachment 114861

I can't tell... is she happy or mad about the current state of college realignment.

 

[TXCyclones]

F it. Go big.

The PAC is already dead and the Big 12 killed it. Finish the job.

Add Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Washington and UConn and be the clearest number three humanly possible.

THIS! I hope that we have learned from our own past! The Pac could have destroyed the B12 by taking a handful of teams. But they didn't do it.

The B12 now has the chance to throw the dirt on the P12 grave! JUST DO IT! Take Oregon, Washington, ASU, AU!! Leave the minor remnants to the MWC!!!

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Yes, monetarily, Oregon St and Washington St are screwed.. Competitivly speaking, moving to the Mountain West or adding a mix of Moutain West and other to what is left of the PAC conference allows them to be the top dogs and still have a shot at the CFP.

As a fan, I would MUCH rather be them than be a fan of Vandy, Northwestern, Rutgers, and get your brains beat in in all the major sports, but collect paychecks.. Wining > Money

If I am Oregon or Washington, you are PRAYING for a lifeline to the Big 10. Stanford and Cal should join the West Cost Conference for athletics and drop football. No one in their fanbase cares, redevelop their football stadiums to expand their awesome academic campus', and keep sports they can be competitive in.

Northwestern has played in the big ten championship game the same number of times as Iowa…

 

[Malty Flannel]

Action Sports: Big 12 to Have 'At Least 14 Teams, Possibly 16'

On Wednesday, the Pac-12 suffered what could prove to be a fatal blow with reports that Colorado is all but headed to the Big 12, pending a vote on Thursday from the school’s decision-makers. With the Buffaloes leaving the conference, any hopes of a media rights deal appear to be dead in the...

www.heartlandcollegesports.com

Saying the BXII would add a G5 school to get to 14 is dumb. The only one *possibly* worth taking is SDSU, but theyre not paying the 34m buyout. The bigger reason why is the pro-rata clause only applies to P5 schools. I'm guessing Yormark already knows who is joining the BXII with Colorado. He wouldn't have taken just 1 school if he wasnt positive that another would fall. I'd imagine its full court press on Wash and Oregon right now. If one of them goes, you're set. If both of them go, add AZ and get to 16. If neither of them go, AZ is your fallback to get to 14