Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

Maybe. I just think that as long as ND has a path to the CFP as an independent, they'll stay independent.

But if the power 4 conferences want to press the issue, all it would take is to keep their members from scheduling ND. So ND could make the playoffs with a schedule full of G5 or lower schools, but their fanbase wouldn't be happy with that. Now with USC n the Big10, what would ND's schedule look like if they restricted playing them in non-confernce games?
 
Agree. SEC #1/#2 probably Clemson/FSU. B1G #1/#2 probably UNC/UVA.
Clemson makes more sense in the SEC, but that almost entirely depends on when it happens and their post-Dabo transition. The historical norm for Clemson isn’t additive to the SEC. Their targets are a little tougher to figure out. Do want to expand the footprint or defend their territory? UVA and UNC might make sense and are outside the current territory. Everyone else worthy of consideration is inside their existing footprint.

I’d think the B10s priority #1 (non-ND category) would getting into Florida for a variety of reasons. UNC and UVA check most of their other boxes. A lot of who they take depends on if they manage to land ND or want to give USC/UCLA other west coast conference mates.
 
But if the power 4 conferences want to press the issue, all it would take is to keep their members from scheduling ND. So ND could make the playoffs with a schedule full of G5 or lower schools, but their fanbase wouldn't be happy with that. Now with USC n the Big10, what would ND's schedule look like if they restricted playing them in non-confernce games?
They could I just don't think they ever would. I don't see USC, Boston College, Stanford, Michigan St., etc. agreeing to stop scheduling them. But who knows.
 
Maybe. I just think that as long as ND has a path to the CFP as an independent, they'll stay independent.
Yep, but if they lose their ability to schedule the Michigans, USCs, and other major p5 programs of college football, they won’t have much of a chance.
 
Clemson makes more sense in the SEC, but that almost entirely depends on when it happens and their post-Dabo transition. The historical norm for Clemson isn’t additive to the SEC. Their targets are a little tougher to figure out. Do want to expand the footprint or defend their territory? UVA and UNC might make sense and are outside the current territory. Everyone else worthy of consideration is inside their existing footprint.

I’d think the B10s priority #1 (non-ND category) would getting into Florida for a variety of reasons. UNC and UVA check most of their other boxes. A lot of who they take depends on if they manage to land ND or want to give USC/UCLA other west coast conference mates.
I don’t know if UVA and UNC would accept the SEC invite if a big ten was also on the table. That’s purely from the academic side and I guess money side. Also far likely not to get obliterated in the big ten vs the sec
 
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Clemson makes more sense in the SEC, but that almost entirely depends on when it happens and their post-Dabo transition. The historical norm for Clemson isn’t additive to the SEC. Their targets are a little tougher to figure out. Do want to expand the footprint or defend their territory? UVA and UNC might make sense and are outside the current territory. Everyone else worthy of consideration is inside their existing footprint.

I’d think the B10s priority #1 (non-ND category) would getting into Florida for a variety of reasons. UNC and UVA check most of their other boxes. A lot of who they take depends on if they manage to land ND or want to give USC/UCLA other west coast conference mates.
Can I ask why UVa is always included in Big 10 expansion? Their academics are very strong, but their athletics (minus MBB) are not. They also are not well followed in the state. I would actually say Virginia Tech has a larger, more rabid fan following than Virginia.
 
Yep, but if they lose their ability to schedule the Michigans, USCs, and other major p5 programs of college football, they won’t have much of a chance.
Agree I just don't think conferences will take that step anytime soon. Many of ND's institutional relationships run very deep.
 
I don’t know if UVA and UNC would accept the SEC invite if a big ten was also on the table. That’s purely from the academic side and I guess money side. Also far likely not to get obliterated in the big ten vs the sec
That’s my thoughts as well. A lot of schools would pick B10 over SEC if both were in the table.
Can I ask why UVa is always included in Big 10 expansion? Their academics are very strong, but their athletics (minus MBB) are not. They also are not well followed in the state. I would actually say Virginia Tech has a larger, more rabid fan following than Virginia.
State flagship, large population base, great academic reputation, border existing B10 states, AAU.
 
Agree I just don't think conferences will take that step anytime soon. Many of ND's institutional relationships run very deep.
Oh I can 100% see a scenario where the Big 10 prevents Michigan, Michigan State, USC, Purdue, ect from scheduling Notre Dame in an effort to pressure them to join.
 
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Agree I just don't think conferences will take that step anytime soon. Many of ND's institutional relationships run very deep.
It’s also a hot ticket for a home and home. Away fans go to Notre Dame stadium, ND fans travel well to the other place. ND is a golden goose for “non-con”.
 
That’s my thoughts as well. A lot of schools would pick B10 over SEC if both were in the table.

State flagship, large population base, great academic reputation, border existing B10 states, AAU.
Fair enough, but the same could be said of Washington, or Oregon, or Cal, or to a lesser degree Kansas. To get into Big 10, schools need to be additive over $75-$100M per year. I don’t think UVa does that.
 
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But if the power 4 conferences want to press the issue, all it would take is to keep their members from scheduling ND. So ND could make the playoffs with a schedule full of G5 or lower schools, but their fanbase wouldn't be happy with that. Now with USC n the Big10, what would ND's schedule look like if they restricted playing them in non-confernce games?
I'm not sure why the other conferences would want to help drive ND to the B1G, and the whole B1G/ND blood feud started 100+ years ago when they tried unscheduling them. It would be ironic if that's how they finally got them to join, but I'm skeptical it'll work.

Can I ask why UVa is always included in Big 10 expansion? Their academics are very strong, but their athletics (minus MBB) are not. They also are not well followed in the state. I would actually say Virginia Tech has a larger, more rabid fan following than Virginia.
I don't get this either. They're pretty much Arizona with a better academic ranking. Not knocking AZ, but I don't know if they're even additive to the B12 much less the B1G. Virginia has a lot of people, but a third of them are in the DC market that the B1G already has, and VT is a better fit for the SEC if they want into VA. If the B1G wants them for academics that's great. The can cure cancer together and we can make up ground on them athletically. Win-win.
 
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Fair enough, but the same could be said of Washington, or Oregon, or Cal, or to a lesser degree Kansas. To get into Big 10, schools need to be additive over $75-$100M per year. I don’t think UVa does that.
That’s entirely possible. If 20 members is their next stop, ND and FSU/Miami are probably #1 and #1a. Everyone after that depends on those two, IMO.

There’s a reason the PAC schools didn’t get an invite along with USC and UCLA. I just don’t know what it is. It could be USC and UCLA were approached by the SEC and gave the B10 a heads up. Meanwhile, nobody else from the PAC has been approached by anyone the B10 couldn’t grab them from later.
 
If the ACC is picked apart then ND will have to join a conference. They already had to join the ACC as a partial member because scheduling was becoming too difficult. It probably won’t be too long before they get butt hurt they don’t qualify for a first round bye in the playoffs too since they aren’t a conference champion.
 
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Fair enough, but the same could be said of Washington, or Oregon, or Cal, or to a lesser degree Kansas. To get into Big 10, schools need to be additive over $75-$100M per year. I don’t think UVa does that.
No need to lump Kansas in with the others. Their academics are closer to Nebraska than the rest of the big ten and have a very low population. Until basketball gets more actual dollars (not theoretical dollars) Kansas has min value.

Washington and Virginia are top tier universities in fairly large populations that I could see in the big ten. But Washington and Oregon have already been passed up so not sure what the path in is for them.

Cal actively doesn’t care about athletics so they are a non starter.
 
No need to lump Kansas in with the others. Their academics are closer to Nebraska than the rest of the big ten and have a very low population. Until basketball gets more actual dollars (not theoretical dollars) Kansas has min value.

Washington and Virginia are top tier universities in fairly large populations that I could see in the big ten. But Washington and Oregon have already been passed up so not sure what the path in is for them.

Cal actively doesn’t care about athletics so they are a non starter.
Kansas academics are interesting. They're an AAU school, but as of a few years ago their entrance requirements were below Iowa State's. Now its not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison as they lay out specifics as Iowa State's goes off the RAI score (Regiant Admission Index - also used by the University of Iowa and the Univesity of Northern Iowa). I'm still annoyed we no longer have AAU accredidation, but that's a different discussion probably meant for the cave.

Wahington is AAU and in a major metro area, so it seems like they have a lot of value. I'd put Oregon below them, though they are AAU as well. Once Phil Knight passes, I wonder if the shine wears off. Plus I'm not a huge fan of a university getting big based off of a guy getting rich off of cheap Chinese child labor.
 
No need to lump Kansas in with the others. Their academics are closer to Nebraska than the rest of the big ten and have a very low population. Until basketball gets more actual dollars (not theoretical dollars) Kansas has min value.

Washington and Virginia are top tier universities in fairly large populations that I could see in the big ten. But Washington and Oregon have already been passed up so not sure what the path in is for them.

Cal actively doesn’t care about athletics so they are a non starter.
UVA and UNC seem like good Big 10 fits. I think the Big 10 just needs to leave the LA schools on an island. UW and Oregon are fine, but I think UNC and UVA are better fits.
 
UVA and UNC seem like good Big 10 fits. I think the Big 10 just needs to leave the LA schools on an island. UW and Oregon are fine, but I think UNC and UVA are better fits.
I really wouldn’t be surprised if they were left out on an island. Sucks that the Cali schools will have a lot of long travel but that’s what you get when you want to secure the bag
 
Kansas academics are interesting. They're an AAU school, but as of a few years ago their entrance requirements were below Iowa State's. Now its not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison as they lay out specifics as Iowa State's goes off the RAI score (Regiant Admission Index - also used by the University of Iowa and the Univesity of Northern Iowa). I'm still annoyed we no longer have AAU accredidation, but that's a different discussion probably meant for the cave.

Wahington is AAU and in a major metro area, so it seems like they have a lot of value. I'd put Oregon below them, though they are AAU as well. Once Phil Knight passes, I wonder if the shine wears off. Plus I'm not a huge fan of a university getting big based off of a guy getting rich off of cheap Chinese child labor.
I guess my point is whenever anyone talks about the ACC getting carved up, UVA is automatically lumped in with the Big 10. But I can tell you from first-hand experience, their passion for athletics at UVA, particularly football, is slightly higher than Cal and considerably lower than Washington and Oregon. Before Tony Bennett, no one cared about UVa basketball either.

It’s also worth noting Charlottesville is 2.5 hours from DC (Oregon is closer to highly populated Portland than that). And DC is very much a transplant town with allegiances to schools all over. UVa doesn’t bring the DC eyeballs anymore than CU brings Denver or KU brings Kansas City.

The threshold to bring additive value to the B1G is much higher than when Nebraska or Maryland or even USC/UCLA joined. I honestly don’t think UVa brings that value. ND and UNC definitely do.
 
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