NCAA Conference Realignment

[TruffleShuffle]

So, what's the Big Ten's next move? Going hard after Notre Dame while maintaining discussions with Pitt/Rutgers?

 

Yeah, I think ND and Pitt are their other targets.

 

I'm not as wild about Rutgers.

 

pitt doesn't do much for them; they've already got that market because of penn state. schools like rutgers or syracuse or maryland would give them a better chance of expanding the BTN into more homes.

[cbbryan]

So, what's the Big Ten's next move? Going hard after Notre Dame while maintaining discussions with Pitt/Rutgers?

If the Big 12 doesn't collapse, possibly nothing. This would have triggered a chain of events that would have left a lot of instability on the east coast. But if the Big 12 stays together, I don't think Notre Dame has much more of a reason to join the Big Ten. And unless the Big Ten gets Notre Dame, I don't think we're going to see any additional expansion. They'd be wise to hold off a few years for this to start up again and not handcuff themselves with schools that expand the footprint but don't add much else.

 

I would say the B10 doesn't expand anymore unless ND or Texas comes calling.

[hawkeyecub]

So, what's the Big Ten's next move? Going hard after Notre Dame while maintaining discussions with Pitt/Rutgers?

If the Big 12 doesn't collapse, possibly nothing. This would have triggered a chain of events that would have left a lot of instability on the east coast. But if the Big 12 stays together, I don't think Notre Dame has much more of a reason to join the Big Ten. And unless the Big Ten gets Notre Dame, I don't think we're going to see any additional expansion. They'd be wise to hold off a few years for this to start up again and not handcuff themselves with schools that expand the footprint but don't add much else.

 

And that's the best case scenario in my opinion. There's not much motivation to add anyone besides Notre Dame if the other schools stay at 12 or fewer. With Nebraska you've helped your football profile by adding a national program, added the potential for a big money championship game and did it with a good fit academically, stylistically and geographically. The other schools don't do that.

 

Plus I think it's good for Iowa.

[jersey cubs fan]

Stopping at Nebraska would be a hilarious misstep by the Big Ten. Adding a has been program with no eyeballs does absolutely nothing for them, and it wastes their best effort to actually get the school they've always wanted.

[cbbryan]

And that's the best case scenario in my opinion. There's not much motivation to add anyone besides Notre Dame if the other schools stay at 12 or fewer. With Nebraska you've helped your football profile by adding a national program, added the potential for a big money championship game and did it with a good fit academically, stylistically and geographically. The other schools don't do that.

 

Plus I think it's good for Iowa.

 

I hadn't thought about the impact of an Iowa/Nebraska rivalry. That could be huge.

 

I agree though. Pitt would be a solid school to add, but they wouldn't have the impact of ND or Texas.

[Jon]

Stopping at Nebraska would be a hilarious misstep by the Big Ten. Adding a has been program with no eyeballs does absolutely nothing for them, and it wastes their best effort to actually get the school they've always wanted.

I don't think it wastes it. The Nebraska and Colorado moves were necessary to put things in motion. If The Big 12 stays together, there really wasn't much more they could do to attract Notre Dame aside from going after 2 Big East schools. But that carries a big risk. They didn't want to be the ones to destabilize the eastern conferences alone. It required the SEC's help.

 

This would just be phase 1. Phase 2 comes in a couple of years or so and Notre Dame shouldn't be less of a possibility then than it was a month ago. If anything, I think the discussions/negotiations the Big Ten has had with Notre Dame during this time will help set things up later.

[hawkeyecub]

And that's the best case scenario in my opinion. There's not much motivation to add anyone besides Notre Dame if the other schools stay at 12 or fewer. With Nebraska you've helped your football profile by adding a national program, added the potential for a big money championship game and did it with a good fit academically, stylistically and geographically. The other schools don't do that.

 

Plus I think it's good for Iowa.

 

I hadn't thought about the impact of an Iowa/Nebraska rivalry. That could be huge.

 

Not just that but I think it can be better for Iowa to really be competing with Nebraska/Wisconsin (and the occassional good Illinois/Northwestern year) for a division and having one neutral-site game to take down OSU. Plus having two conference games with Nebraska in basketball can't be a bad thing.

[cbbryan]

Stopping at Nebraska would be a hilarious misstep by the Big Ten. Adding a has been program with no eyeballs does absolutely nothing for them, and it wastes their best effort to actually get the school they've always wanted.

 

I don't think adding Nebraska was there only goal, but do they continue to add schools like Nebraska in hopes of luring ND?

 

I'm not wild about Missouri joining, but they probably would. Pitt could join. Even then, I don't know that the conference is much better.

 

One of the big shoes has to fall.

 

Who would they need to bring aboard for it to be a successful expansion in your views?

[cbbryan]

Plus having two conference games with Nebraska in basketball can't be a bad thing.

 

Not with that crew Iowa threw out last year. :D

[hawkeyecub]

Stopping at Nebraska would be a hilarious misstep by the Big Ten. Adding a has been program with no eyeballs does absolutely nothing for them, and it wastes their best effort to actually get the school they've always wanted.

I don't think it wastes it. The Nebraska and Colorado moves were necessary to put things in motion. If The Big 12 stays together, there really wasn't much more they could do to attract Notre Dame aside from going after 2 Big East schools. But that carries a big risk. They didn't want to be the ones to destabilize the eastern conferences alone. It required the SEC's help.

 

This would just be phase 1. Phase 2 comes in a couple of years or so and Notre Dame shouldn't be less of a possibility then than it was a month ago. If anything, I think the discussions/negotiations the Big Ten has had with Notre Dame during this time will help set things up later.

 

Agreed. I don't see the chances of adding Notre Dame in a few years as any less than they are now. I think Nebraska is about as good of a fit as anyone outside of Notre Dame. You could argue Mizzou because of basketball and the STL/KC markets but Nebraska has more of a national brand. They won't be what they were in the 90's but I think Bo will have them relevant. I'd rather have them than Rutgers/UCONN/Maryland, etc.

[tadowdaddy]

This will tell me if my source is good or not, but I'm hearing DONE DEAL. Big 12 is now solid with 10 teams. We'll see how right on he is. May not be made public til tomorrow, but he said he was 100% certain it was done. Edited June 14, 2010 by tadowdaddy

[cbbryan]

I'd rather have them than Rutgers/UCONN/Maryland, etc.

 

Rutgers doesn't scream must add to me. UConn doesn't match up academically w/ the other B10 schools and only offers basketball at this point. I don't know much about Maryland.

[cbbryan]

Sorry, double post.

[jersey cubs fan]

Who would they need to bring aboard for it to be a successful expansion in your views?

 

Somebody big and meaingful, not Nebraska.

[Tracer Bullet]

Stopping at Nebraska would be a hilarious misstep by the Big Ten. Adding a has been program with no eyeballs does absolutely nothing for them, and it wastes their best effort to actually get the school they've always wanted.

I don't think it wastes it. The Nebraska and Colorado moves were necessary to put things in motion. If The Big 12 stays together, there really wasn't much more they could do to attract Notre Dame aside from going after 2 Big East schools. But that carries a big risk. They didn't want to be the ones to destabilize the eastern conferences alone. It required the SEC's help.

 

This would just be phase 1. Phase 2 comes in a couple of years or so and Notre Dame shouldn't be less of a possibility then than it was a month ago. If anything, I think the discussions/negotiations the Big Ten has had with Notre Dame during this time will help set things up later.

 

Are you assuming that ND football is worse or at least no better in the next 2-3 years?

[kujay]

Seems to me if the B12 does end up surviving as 10, Pac-10 has gone through a lot of effort to get Colorado and probably Utah. That's great for Utah, I suppose good for CU (academically, anyway), but the Pac-10 seems like the loser here.

[Tracer Bullet]

Who would they need to bring aboard for it to be a successful expansion in your views?

 

Somebody big and meaingful, not Nebraska.

 

But it gets them the title game/money grab they wanted. And it's not like Nebraska football isn't in the tough half of the programs in the Big Ten.

[tadowdaddy]

Here's another thought for people asking why the Big 12 would get this TV contract. Fox wants to keep up/surpass with ESPN/ABC and Murdoch has the money to do so. A channel dedicated to ONLY Big 12 sports will compete with anything that the ESPN/ABC college monopoly will offer.

[hawkeyecub]

Seems to me if the B12 does end up surviving as 10, Pac-10 has gone through a lot of effort to get Colorado and probably Utah. That's great for Utah, I suppose good for CU (academically, anyway), but the Pac-10 seems like the loser here.

 

Exactly. They can have a title game now but they downgraded to get there. Not great for the MWC either if they just end up with a Utah/Boise swap.

Edited June 14, 2010 by hawkeyecub

[snoodmonger]

Seems to me if the B12 does end up surviving as 10, Pac-10 has gone through a lot of effort to get Colorado and probably Utah. That's great for Utah, I suppose good for CU (academically, anyway), but the Pac-10 seems like the loser here.

 

If KU really was poised to get the last Pac 10 invite, this whole thing hurts KU more than anything, imo.

 

Now Utah gets invite to #12.

 

Big 12 breaks up again in 3-5 years. The same suspects travel west. aTm goes SEC. KU gets nothing.

[cbbryan]

Here's another thought for people asking why the Big 12 would get this TV contract. Fox wants to keep up/surpass with ESPN/ABC and Murdoch has the money to do so. A channel dedicated to ONLY Big 12 sports will compete with anything that the ESPN/ABC college monopoly will offer.

 

Do they add Air Force and BYU as reported earlier this week?

[snoodmonger]

Here's another thought for people asking why the Big 12 would get this TV contract. Fox wants to keep up/surpass with ESPN/ABC and Murdoch has the money to do so. A channel dedicated to ONLY Big 12 sports will compete with anything that the ESPN/ABC college monopoly will offer.

 

 

who's watching? The state of Texas and the other 14 people in the Big 12 footprint? No cable carriers will feel compelled to carry a Big 12 network outside of those areas.

[kujay]

Seems to me if the B12 does end up surviving as 10, Pac-10 has gone through a lot of effort to get Colorado and probably Utah. That's great for Utah, I suppose good for CU (academically, anyway), but the Pac-10 seems like the loser here.

 

If KU really was poised to get the last Pac 10 invite, this whole thing hurts KU more than anything, imo.

 

Now Utah gets invite to #12.

 

Big 12 breaks up again in 3-5 years. The same suspects travel west. aTm goes SEC. KU gets nothing.

 

Not if the TV contract situation works out the way it seems Beebe is promising. I know what you're saying, I just think the Pac-10 would be a terrible option. Late night games, no exposure on the east coast in terms of recruiting. This is a much better option, even if the league is not as competitive.

[kujay]

Here's another thought for people asking why the Big 12 would get this TV contract. Fox wants to keep up/surpass with ESPN/ABC and Murdoch has the money to do so. A channel dedicated to ONLY Big 12 sports will compete with anything that the ESPN/ABC college monopoly will offer.

 

 

who's watching? The state of Texas and the other 14 people in the Big 12 footprint? No cable carriers will feel compelled to carry a Big 12 network outside of those areas.

 

This I agree with. I'm not the biggest college sports fan and certainly have no interest beyond basketball and football. Despite having it for about two years, I've watched the B10 Network one time. Near the end of the Michigan-App State game. That's it. Of course I would watch a B12 Network if KU basketball or football was on, but I'm skeptical of how well it would do.

[snoodmonger]

you have faith in Dan Beebe? YOu're willing to best KU's athletic survival on him?

 

I'm not.