Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[ISpyCy]

 

[exCYtable]

I'm just glad that Iowa keeps falling further and further down the Big 10 pecking order in that cupcake of a Western
Division they used to have. Relegate them to nothingness.

 

[MugNight]

SEC and Big East basketball are probably the last things left that have the "soul" of what it has been. That and some mid major conferences, but a few of those have really become crazy geographic beasts too.

The SEC's slow growth has been more organic like a lumbering elephant, not so scatter shot like Big Ten grabbing Rutgers, then Maryland, then UCLA, then Washington. B10's first moves in Penn State and Nebraska were like SEC growth, then they just went totally nuts. The four additions to the SEC are simply more of what SEC is and not wild geographic outliers.

ACC has its core basketball history but its days are numbered.

Big Ten hasn't seemed like old Big Ten at all since they added Rutgers/Maryland, now they might as well have a totally new brand.

Well said

 

[CycloneBamaFan]

If I had to guess… it was Crow and likeminded people at Utah, Cal, and Stanford that wanted the pac to stay together. They tried to change the narrative and see if it gained traction. They had willing reporters thoughtlessly run with it. It worked as much as it could, because it seemed real for an hour or more.

They should have done that 6 months ago, instead of days before the football schedule started. Good strategy, poor timing. Should have done this before USC/UCLA left also!

 

[Allikat]

Agreed....until the next song starts.

This whole thing will happen again in 5 years.....and again when the ACC contract is up.

Yormark has about a decade to develop as much value in the football brands of this conference as he can.

Not to be cruel, but this is a reason NOT to simply extend lifelines to any school. Who the Big 12 brings in must add value to the organization.

WSU and OreSU may be fine schools that we can empathize with, but it will be survival of the fittest in five years. If they add value - great. If we are just giving them a lifeline - they have every chance to dominate the MWC/PAC and get a seat at the table. It worked for TCU who once was in the SWC, got demoted, and is now back.

 

[FerShizzle]

Do we really need ASU? Pull the offer. I guarantee every other school takes you seriously after that.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

If I had to guess… it was Crow and likeminded people at Utah, Cal, and Stanford that wanted the pac to stay together. They tried to change the narrative and see if it gained traction. They had willing reporters thoughtlessly run with it. It worked as much as it could, because it seemed real for an hour or more.

I kind of lean that OU or Wash leaked it, maybe backed by some P12 admin. Because along with the leaks that all P9 are expected to sign GOR, there were also reports that the OU/WA to Big 10 negotiation “lost momentum overnight” and they were not expected to move. That wouldn’t have come from ASU, Stanford, etc.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Listen, I'm tickled to death we are still afloat. But this is becoming kind of dumb. I'm sorry, but so many of these new teams don't do anything for me.

Again, SO glad we have a seat when the musical chairs ends. But there are just too many teams.

I think it’s exciting. CU is a legacy and I’ve always felt the desert schools would be a good fit. The outlier that I’m not excited about is UCF. Everything else is good. Our “make the playoff in the next 25 years” odds just went from 0% to 10% in about 12 months.

 

[MisterO]

Listen, I'm tickled to death we are still afloat. But this is becoming kind of dumb. I'm sorry, but so many of these new teams don't do anything for me.

Again, SO glad we have a seat when the musical chairs ends. But there are just too many teams.

Big picture- this strengthens us. Be happy we’re at the party- even if you’re not excited about everyone at the party.

 

[NWICY]

Who is TDS

Leave the Utes behind.

 

[whatthewhat]

Agreed....until the next song starts.

This whole thing will happen again in 5 years.....and again when the ACC contract is up.

Yormark has about a decade to develop as much value in the football brands of this conference as he can.

Yeah, adding OSU and WSU would come back to bite the Big12 in the next contract cycle. There is a reason that the Pac couldn't get a contract this time and OSU and WSU are two of the reasons why. Adding them devalues the B12 as a whole.

 

[HFCS]

Prime getting a laugh out of other Pac teams moving today after they got mad at Colorado.

Deion Sanders: I don't care about conference realignment -- we're trying to win - ESPN Video

Deion Sanders sounds off on the restructuring of the Pac-12 and what that means for his program at Colorado.

www.espn.com

 

[FerShizzle]

They should have done that 6 months ago, instead of days before the football schedule started. Good strategy, poor timing. Should have done this before USC/UCLA left also!

Running interference like that only works with the clock running out. They hoped everyone would get cold feet at the last minute.

 

[BoomerClone]

Here is where I’m at after all this craziness. Get to 16 with the 4 corner schools in football. Go to 18 in basketball ONLY. Add Gonzaga and Uconn. Make them both a basketball only school. Wait until ACC falls apart and then reevaluate.

 

[FerShizzle]

I kind of lean that OU or Wash leaked it, maybe backed by some P12 admin. Because along with the leaks that all P9 are expected to sign GOR, there were also reports that the OU/WA to Big 10 negotiation “lost momentum overnight” and they were not expected to move. That wouldn’t have come from ASU, Stanford, etc.

Sure, ORWA had something to gain from it and easily could have also been involved.

 

[drmwevr08]

Yeah, adding OSU and WSU would come back to bite the Big12 in the next contract cycle. There is a reason that the Pac couldn't get a contract this time and OSU and WSU are two of the reasons why. Adding them devalues the B12 as a whole.

Sad but true. Could have been ISU once so we just have to feel pretty fortunate.
Money ruins everything eventually.

 

[CYber_saber]

Big12/Basketball/BrettY - 3B Brand in the making

 

[David Freshman1982]

Academically, I always thought Arizona State = Florida State = MAJOR Party School. I never considered them in the same league as Stanford or Northwestern or even a Georgia Tech.

Like and big state academic institution I am sure it has some better than average programs.

However, Crow did get ASU to become an AAU institution. The become a member this year.

It has not changed my perception, but may at least explain why he is trying so hard to stay with Stanford. If he just got the AAU designation, he is trying to leverage it. We do have AAU schools in the Big 12. We were one at one time and still have significant research but he clearly does not value our league's academics.

I am not sure there is a direct correlation between research and overall academic prowess. The bulk of the students could be there to get a decent degree and a great party while a few lab rats focus on research.

The biggest advantage ASU has in academics, which they've leveraged smartly, is that the school is HUGE. Size brings with it certain perks that smaller sized schools can't match. Diverse and specialized faculty. Research grants from all manner of sponsors. Students, students, students. Granted, size doesn't correlate completely with quality, but the association is definitely positive. It's fair to say that all 4 of the apparently new B12 refugees from the PAC10 will immediately become the best overall academic schools in the new B12.

Though in specific specialty areas, others come into play of course. ISU engineering is comfortably #1. ISU and KSU ag programs. KU medical, UH law, etc...

 

[aeroclone]

Here is where I’m at after all this craziness. Get to 16 with the 4 corner schools in football. Go to 18 in basketball ONLY. Add Gonzaga and Uconn. Make them both a basketball only school. Wait until ACC falls apart and then reevaluate.

No hoops only schools. Hold for now, scoop up some ACC schools later if the right opportunities come available.

Gonzaga and UConn will always be available to us. No rush.

 

[enisthemenace]

What a day