I generally don't post a new thread, but with all the realignment threads I felt this idea that had been hinted at by DeLoss Dodds a month ago needs reviewed in light of the recent changes.
For the first time, I see ND sending out a media "floater" that it may have to give up its independent status and is basically telling the B1G it doesn't want to share equally. We all know Texas doesn't want to share equally and BYU wants to keep its own network. FSU did put together a realignment committee and the reality of ACC expansion is that the schools they are adding contribute very little to FB other than Pitt if the rumors of UConn and Rutgers come to fruition. In other words, the ACC places basketball first - FSU does not. If I were Texas and Notre Dame, the time is now to put together the conference they want so that it maximizes revenue, keeps AQ status so they can't get forced into an equal revenue sharing conference, and use the times to pick a conference and maintain a brand such as the Big XII that has guaranteed contracts. Right now, they don't have much bargaining power against conferences that want to equally split the pie that Texas and Notre Dame can enjoy all by themselves right now.
I think the schools could also include Arkansas as if the Mizzou rumor to SEC becomes true, Arkansas is really getting squeezed out of any prior recruiting advantage it held in the St. Louis and Texas markets in the SEC. Getting back to the Arkansas/Texas rivalry may also be appealing to Texas if OU leaves.
Starting with those 5 schools (Texas, Notre Dame, BYU, FSU, Arkansas), the conference then can add ISU, KU, KSU, TTU and Baylor from the Big XII to be able to keep the conference and then add Louisville and USF from the Big East (if Arkansas leaves the SEC could then add W.Virginia). This conference would allow for a better recruiting foothold for ND in Florida and Texas and could be set up as follows:
North Division: Notre Dame, BYU, Florida State, ISU, KSU, KU
South Division: Texas, Arkansas, Louisville, Texas Tech, Baylor and USF.
(Switching Florida State and Louisville also makes sense, but I figure ND will like the prospect of having FSU on its schedule each year as it guarantees a big made for TV game that brings back the memories of beating FSU with National Championship possibilities on the line)
For scheduling, each team gets 1 rival game from the opposite side that they will always play. A good scenario would have the rivals as Tex/BYU; ND/Ark; FSU/USF; ISU/Baylor (the litigation threat bowl); KU/Louisville; KSU/TTU.
This would also allow ND to maintain a non-conference schedule that includes Michigan and USC and Navy whereby even if they lost 2 games, they could still qualify for a BCS bowl by winning the Big XII championship.
As with the Pac 12 idea, I would also suggest that the championship game be played at the home stadium of the team that wins the regular season. Again, additional possible revenue stream for enticing ND, Tex, Ark, FSU, and BYU to this idea.
Finally, Tier I and II money (with the exception of Notre Dame's NBC contract) get split evenly and each gets to keep their Tier III money as was agreed upon last year. To entice Texas and BYU even more, agree that their games against one another will be allowed to be aired on LHN or BYU's network every year depending on who the home team is. Since Notre Dame's NBC contract and the Big XII ESPN contract both expire after the 2015 FB season, the renewal package can be negotiated to allow for additional conference dollars to be split equally regarding Notre Dame's visitor's share for home conference games for Tier I (Right now, the money for their home games gets split between ND and whoever they are playing -if it is a conference game, you merely take the visitor's share and put that into the overall conference pool and split it exclusive of ND since they are keeping the home team revenue). Based on where the market is going, I would estimate Tier I deal with this conference would approach $150-200mil (or more) to go along with the current $90mil for Tier II which should have a step-up clause for expansion.
In the end, we end up in much better financial shape than any other alternative currently suggested and we continue to have great teams coming to play ISU in all sports. Also, I think all teams in the conference benefit financially. It goes without saying the Big XII and Big East teams would. The current ACC tv deal is for $155 million/year for all sports and all tiers so FSU is currently locked into a deal for approximately $13mil - that deal still has 11 years left after this year. Arkansas would be the only question mark but I believe we could add the incentive to match what the SEC pays out if the new tv deals don't make that happen already.
Time for Dodds to make the call(s) and make the ultimate powerplay.
For the first time, I see ND sending out a media "floater" that it may have to give up its independent status and is basically telling the B1G it doesn't want to share equally. We all know Texas doesn't want to share equally and BYU wants to keep its own network. FSU did put together a realignment committee and the reality of ACC expansion is that the schools they are adding contribute very little to FB other than Pitt if the rumors of UConn and Rutgers come to fruition. In other words, the ACC places basketball first - FSU does not. If I were Texas and Notre Dame, the time is now to put together the conference they want so that it maximizes revenue, keeps AQ status so they can't get forced into an equal revenue sharing conference, and use the times to pick a conference and maintain a brand such as the Big XII that has guaranteed contracts. Right now, they don't have much bargaining power against conferences that want to equally split the pie that Texas and Notre Dame can enjoy all by themselves right now.
I think the schools could also include Arkansas as if the Mizzou rumor to SEC becomes true, Arkansas is really getting squeezed out of any prior recruiting advantage it held in the St. Louis and Texas markets in the SEC. Getting back to the Arkansas/Texas rivalry may also be appealing to Texas if OU leaves.
Starting with those 5 schools (Texas, Notre Dame, BYU, FSU, Arkansas), the conference then can add ISU, KU, KSU, TTU and Baylor from the Big XII to be able to keep the conference and then add Louisville and USF from the Big East (if Arkansas leaves the SEC could then add W.Virginia). This conference would allow for a better recruiting foothold for ND in Florida and Texas and could be set up as follows:
North Division: Notre Dame, BYU, Florida State, ISU, KSU, KU
South Division: Texas, Arkansas, Louisville, Texas Tech, Baylor and USF.
(Switching Florida State and Louisville also makes sense, but I figure ND will like the prospect of having FSU on its schedule each year as it guarantees a big made for TV game that brings back the memories of beating FSU with National Championship possibilities on the line)
For scheduling, each team gets 1 rival game from the opposite side that they will always play. A good scenario would have the rivals as Tex/BYU; ND/Ark; FSU/USF; ISU/Baylor (the litigation threat bowl); KU/Louisville; KSU/TTU.
This would also allow ND to maintain a non-conference schedule that includes Michigan and USC and Navy whereby even if they lost 2 games, they could still qualify for a BCS bowl by winning the Big XII championship.
As with the Pac 12 idea, I would also suggest that the championship game be played at the home stadium of the team that wins the regular season. Again, additional possible revenue stream for enticing ND, Tex, Ark, FSU, and BYU to this idea.
Finally, Tier I and II money (with the exception of Notre Dame's NBC contract) get split evenly and each gets to keep their Tier III money as was agreed upon last year. To entice Texas and BYU even more, agree that their games against one another will be allowed to be aired on LHN or BYU's network every year depending on who the home team is. Since Notre Dame's NBC contract and the Big XII ESPN contract both expire after the 2015 FB season, the renewal package can be negotiated to allow for additional conference dollars to be split equally regarding Notre Dame's visitor's share for home conference games for Tier I (Right now, the money for their home games gets split between ND and whoever they are playing -if it is a conference game, you merely take the visitor's share and put that into the overall conference pool and split it exclusive of ND since they are keeping the home team revenue). Based on where the market is going, I would estimate Tier I deal with this conference would approach $150-200mil (or more) to go along with the current $90mil for Tier II which should have a step-up clause for expansion.
In the end, we end up in much better financial shape than any other alternative currently suggested and we continue to have great teams coming to play ISU in all sports. Also, I think all teams in the conference benefit financially. It goes without saying the Big XII and Big East teams would. The current ACC tv deal is for $155 million/year for all sports and all tiers so FSU is currently locked into a deal for approximately $13mil - that deal still has 11 years left after this year. Arkansas would be the only question mark but I believe we could add the incentive to match what the SEC pays out if the new tv deals don't make that happen already.
Time for Dodds to make the call(s) and make the ultimate powerplay.
