Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

[Tovarich]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

I wonder when they will be able to play in ACC.

I would think they need to play one more year in the Big East next year. The Big East wouldn't have enough time to get replacements to have enough teams to play any semblance of a real schedule. Especially if West Virginia is the SEC's #14, and I assume that they are if teams are suddenly bailing.

[tehova]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

I wonder when they will be able to play in ACC.
With the possibility of Super-Conferences, I would love to see them do away with BCS and go with 10-12 team Playoffs and bowl games.

The Big East’s exit fee is $5 million, though schools wanting to leave must provide 27 months’ notice.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...ug=ap-acctalks

[TheGamingChef]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

Big East rules require 27 months notice before leaving the conference as well as a $5 million penalty

I'm sure they will leave sooner than that with some sort of financial agreement

[Tovarich]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

I wonder if maybe the Big 12 could take what's left of the Big East and if that would possibly be enough to keep Oklahoma from leaving. If they added some combination of Cincinnati, Louisville, South Florida or TCU, maybe that would be a solid enough conference to continue on with. If both these conferences go away in football, there are a lot of schools who would be demoted to a non-AQ conference. The Big East would have a lot of not too spectacular choice to patch the conference back together if they wanted to though

They'll avoid the 27 months. Soon, everyone will realize how awkward it is and both sides will make sure they're not in there for too long. It'll be awkward enough for them in 2012 when they know they're all lame ducks.

[illwill10]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

Big 12 cant survive with out Oklahoma and Texas. Those are the schools who consistently are good and in bowl games yearly. Big East can pick up Non-AQ schools quickly. I would like to see some FCS schools move into FBS-Non AQ conferences. I would love to see teams like Delaware, Montana, Montana State, Villanova, and App. State make it in the FBS in the future.

[TheGamingChef]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

I wonder if maybe the Big 12 could take what's left of the Big East and if that would possibly be enough to keep Oklahoma from leaving. If they added some combination of Cincinnati, Louisville, South Florida or TCU, maybe that would be a solid enough conference to continue on with. If both these conferences go away in football, there are a lot of schools who would be demoted to a non-AQ conference. The Big East would have a lot of not too spectacular choice to patch the conference back together if they wanted to though

Based on all the realignment stuff I've seen re: the Big 12, Oklahoma's tune changed when it became clear the Big 12 would not reload as well as they had hoped. When A&M announced they were leaving, the Big 12 aimed high and contacted Notre Dame, Arkansas, and BYU about joining up and having a 12 team conference. ND and Arkansas said "No" and BYU said "How about football only?" So the Big 12 adjusted their sights to TCU, Houston, Louisville, Pittsburgh, etc. and it was then that Oklahoma realized this thing wasn't going to work for them. They had no interest in being in that conference when they knew the Pac-12 was an option.

In my opinion the most interesting thing will be what Texas does. I think the tables have kind of turned on them and they are running out of options. The Longhorn Network is keeping them out of where they need to be. If you made me guess, I'd say they make major concessions on the LHN and get into the Pac-12 with OU, OSU, and Tech.

All of this stuff moves so quickly, and so many reports are so worthless, that it's hard to see where things are moving. It's very interesting, but as a lifelong fan of a school that might get left out, it's frustrating, nerve-wracking, and ultimately kind of sad.

[Tovarich]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

Appalachian State has talked about it, I think they want to. Montana has talked about it a lot, but I don't think they've really seemed like they're going to. Villanova has too much work to do to move up I think-they need to build a stadium that doesn't look like it's for a high school. I don't think it's realistic for them to share the Eagles stadium with Temple.

Cal Poly and Cal Davis would love to move up and join the WAC. Massachusetts and South Alabama are up in the next 2 years for sure.

[Cyros]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

Other ESPN Ticket news:

Texas made ACC pitch
UConn and Rutgers are candidates for ACC to go to 16
Iowa State and Baylor in talks with Big East if Big XII dissolves

First two were sourced from a USA Today article about Syracuse and Pitt being accepted by the ACC.

[Tovarich]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

Based on all the realignment stuff I've seen re: the Big 12, Oklahoma's tune changed when it became clear the Big 12 would not reload as well as they had hoped. When A&M announced they were leaving, the Big 12 aimed high and contacted Notre Dame, Arkansas, and BYU about joining up and having a 12 team conference. ND and Arkansas said "No" and BYU said "How about football only?" So the Big 12 adjusted their sites to TCU, Houston, Louisville, Pittsburgh, etc. and it was then that Oklahoma realized this thing wasn't going to work for them. They had no interest in being in that conference when they knew the Pac-12 was an option.

In my opinion the most interesting thing will be what Texas does. I think the tables have kind of turned on them and they are running out of options. The Longhorn Network is keeping them out of where they need to be. If you made me guess, I'd say they make major concessions on the LHN and get into the Pac-12 with OU, OSU, and Tech.

All of this stuff moves so quickly, and so many reports are so worthless, that it's hard to see where things are moving. It's very interesting, but as a lifelong fan of a school that might get left out, it's frustrating, nerve-wracking, and ultimately kind of sad.

Oklahoma definitely seems to have had a foot out for the door for the last few weeks. With the Regents meeting Monday though, I don't think they foresaw this move by the ACC before the meeting. I think they knew Notre Dame and Arkansas types were never coming. If they could get BYU, Louisville and one other team to get to 12, that's gotta be as good as it could have reasonably been expected. That said, it may be more about the lack of trust Oklahoma and the rest of the conference has in Texas than finding sufficient replacements. Given that Texas called an emergency Regents meeting Monday, I suspect they know what Oklahoma plans on doing. If Oklahoma wasn't out the door ASAP, they wouldn't need an emergency Regents meeting with only conference alignment on the agenda. The talks they had last weekend probably didn't go too well.

The Big East if it wanted to, could patch itself back together with Iowa State, maybe Kansas/Kansas State, maybe Baylor, East Carolina, Central Florida, Army and Navy in football only if they could convince either of them. The Big East would survive with its olympic sports. Villanova, Georgetown, St. John's, Providence, Marquette, Notre Dame, Seton Hall and whoever else are still a solid basketball conference. But if they were without football, a lot of schools could be screwed-Iowa State, Baylor (though they deserve whatever happens to them), Cincinnati, Louisville, TCU (I feel really bad for them), South Florida-where are they all going to go? I know TCU isn't going back to the Mountain West after the way their split went.

I was 100% sure Oklahoma would announce they were out the door Monday, but I'm maybe only 98% sure after this Big East news possibly giving them some worthwhile replacements.

[TheGamingChef]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

Oklahoma definitely seems to have had a foot out for the door for the last few weeks. With the Regents meeting Monday though, I don't think they foresaw this move by the ACC before the meeting. I think they knew Notre Dame and Arkansas types were never coming. If they could get BYU, Louisville and one other team to get to 12, that's gotta be as good as it could have reasonably been expected. That said, it may be more about the lack of trust Oklahoma and the rest of the conference has in Texas than finding sufficient replacements. Given that Texas called an emergency Regents meeting Monday, I suspect they know what Oklahoma plans on doing. If Oklahoma wasn't out the door ASAP, they wouldn't need an emergency Regents meeting with only conference alignment on the agenda. The talks they had last weekend probably didn't go too well.

The Big East if it wanted to, could patch itself back together with Iowa State, maybe Kansas/Kansas State, maybe Baylor, East Carolina, Central Florida, Army and Navy in football only if they could convince either of them. The Big East would survive with its olympic sports. Villanova, Georgetown, St. John's, Providence, Marquette, Notre Dame, Seton Hall and whoever else are still a solid basketball conference. But if they were without football, a lot of schools could be screwed-Iowa State, Baylor (though they deserve whatever happens to them), Cincinnati, Louisville, TCU (I feel really bad for them), South Florida-where are they all going to go? I know TCU isn't going back to the Mountain West after the way their split went.

I was 100% sure Oklahoma would announce they were out the door Monday, but I'm maybe only 98% sure after this Big East news possibly giving them some worthwhile replacements.

I would be shocked if we don't see the OU and UT Regents meetings on Monday authorizing both university presidents to take actions in regards to conference. I.E. allowing them to go to the Pac-12.

Right now I'm putting all of my eggs in the Big Ten basket... I'm hoping all of the AAU schools get snapped up and they basically have to take Iowa State... it's a longshot but it's time for a Hail Mary here

[Tovarich]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

Right now I'm putting all of my eggs in the Big Ten basket... I'm hoping all of the AAU schools get snapped up and they basically have to take Iowa State... it's a longshot but it's time for a Hail Mary here

Odds are a lot better for that after today, especially if the UConn and Rutgers news is true. Syracuse, Pitt, Rutgers were all good Big 10 options. Since the ACC is now in a stronger position, and with the huge buyout, Maryland doesn't seem like much of an option for them either. They basically have to take 3 of Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State if they were going to 16(unless Texas is planning on throwing us all a curveball and heading north). But until Notre Dame wants to come, I don't imagine the Big 10 would do anything no matter what anyone else does. They always need to leave a spot for Notre Dame no matter what.

[TheGamingChef]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

Odds are a lot better for that after today, especially if the UConn and Rutgers news is true. Syracuse, Pitt, Rutgers were all good Big 10 options. Since the ACC is now in a stronger position, and with the huge buyout, Maryland doesn't seem like much of an option for them either. They basically have to take 3 of Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State if they were going to 16(unless Texas is planning on throwing us all a curveball and heading north). But until Notre Dame wants to come, I don't imagine the Big 10 would do anything no matter what anyone else does. They always need to leave a spot for Notre Dame no matter what.

I'm hoping you are right. Big Ten will expand from the pool of ND, Mizzou, KU, KSU, and ISU. ND is obviously team #13 (in the B1G's mind) and Missouri has to be team #14. Kansas is a pretty clear-cut team #15 when they go to that size. And #16, if Kansas is already in the Big Ten, would be Iowa State with AAU membership as the icing on the cake. Fingers crossed... sorry Wildcat fans...

[Ziza9Noles94]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

Just broke on the bottom line on ESPN, the ACC has voted to accept Syracuse and Pitt.

Well that certainly solidifies the conference as a Hoops conference. But I just don't see how this adds to the football pedigree. The myth of the NY market being brought in by Cuse is just that...a myth. Hoops will be amazing. But football wise, NY is a pro football area.

Edit: Just saw the UConn and Rutgers update. The thought of playing November games in the freezing cold of Jersey is not appealing.

[Tovarich]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

I think Kansas State would have the benefit of attaching itself to Kansas. If I recall from these discussions last year, Kansas and Kansas State share a BOR? In order to save Kansas State, they might play the 'you can't have Kansas basketball unless you take Kansas State too' card. And that could work.

[Tovarich]

Re: Conference Re-Alignment Thread Part Who Knows

Well that certainly solidifies the conference as a Hoops conference. But I just don't see how this adds to the football pedigree. The myth of the NY market being brought in by Cuse is just that...a myth. Hoops will be amazing. But football wise, NY is a pro football area.

Yeah, NYC is not a college football market-and the Cuse' showing of fans in the Pinstripe Bowl last year confirmed what we already all knew to be true. Pitt is a nice market, but West Virginia owns a sizable chunk of Pitt's market. Rutgers and UConn rumors wouldn't excite me either-UConn hoops is great, but New Jersey and UConn markets probably don't do a ton for a TV contract. The SEC will get an enormous contract with 16-if the PAC could get Texas, it would get an even more enormous deal than it has. If the Big 10 got Notre Dame, it would be a huge deal too. The ACC though, I don't know if they're adding enough to expand the current per-school amount or if they're just watering down the league and each school will get less money because the 4 new schools don't bring in enough. The basketball side will be great, but football, this is just ok.