Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[jctisu]

Yeah they're not adding cannon fodder because they already have cannon fodder. Of course it's about money and adding the big brands. But they're also not losing the middle and lower tier programs, because they're needed to prop the big guys up.

What I'm saying is that I don't see any kind of "superconference" happening where it's comprised entirely of bluebloods and elite brands, because once that happens, over half of those programs will no longer be bluebloods or elite brands. There are just as many L's to go around in conference play as there are W's.

To the bolded, and I am not saying I think this would happen. I am just saying how it would have to be done.

It would have to be set up like the NFL, with a commissioner, player's union, CBA, equal everything, etc. The NFL is set up for every team to be .500, and yes it doesn't work that way because franchise's can't get out of their own way with poor leadership, drafting, trades, contracts, etc. But that's the crux of it. They try and make it so the teams that finish poorly get better draft opportunities and schedules to improve their team and situation.

With the legal stuff around athlete's being paid and all of that, it's not like it isn't feasible. Not sure what happens, but there is a way to keep everyone a brand of some sort.

 

[Al_4_State]

If the top 20-30 teams were to only play each other, it wouldn't be long before they weren't the top 20-30 teams anymore. A consistent top, a consistent middle, and a consistent bottom would emerge. Then you'd have people questioning why are those teams at the bottom getting an equal cut as the teams at the top. They'd no longer be considered bluebloods or elite because they're finishing with 3 or 4 wins every year, their brands take a massive hit, and since many of them are in low population areas, they won't bring much value in terms of TV markets or the number of fans who care. So then what? Trim the fat again and go with a conference of the 10 or 15 best? Then what happens when a top, middle, and bottom emerges there? Go to a 6 or 8 team conference of the really really best? Guess what, a top and a bottom will emerge there too.

Conferences, and more specifically conference flagships, need cannon fodder.

You aren't wrong, but it feels like this is what some want.

 

[isucy86]

A brand is only as valuable as its ability to attract eye balls.

There is a pretty long shelf-life for a brand. We're still touting the media brands for Nebraska, Miami, UCLA, Texas, etc and its been over a decade since they have had elite success on the field.

My guess if we looked at TV viewership #'s in 2022 vs 2000 we would see many of the same schools.

Fans have long memories of the "glory years".

 

[Gonzo]

You aren't wrong, but it feels like this is what some want.

I'd question whether it's something many of those bluebloods would want. How long will tOSU or Michigan or LSU or maybe even Alabama or Georgia fans put up with turning in 6-win seasons?

 

[Al_4_State]

I'd question whether it's something many of those bluebloods would want. How long will tOSU or Michigan or LSU or maybe even Alabama or Georgia fans put up with turning in 6-win seasons?

Nebraska's been doing it for awhile now.

 

[Gonzo]

Nebraska's been doing it for awhile now.

Lol, fair point.

 

[dafarmer]

I'd question whether it's something many of those bluebloods would want. How long will tOSU or Michigan or LSU or maybe even Alabama or Georgia fans put up with turning in 6-win seasons?

As long as they have a shot a the CFP and big money, they will stay. H###, I'm a Bears fan and how long has it been since they were Championship caliber.

 

[HFCS]

There is a pretty long shelf-life for a brand. We're still touting the media brands for Nebraska, Miami, UCLA, Texas, etc and its been over a decade since they have had elite success on the field.

My guess if we looked at TV viewership #'s in 2022 vs 2000 we would see many of the same schools.

Fans have long memories of the "glory years".

I really don't think Nebraska is a "brand" anymore.

There's absolutely nothing behind a "nebraska" brand of anything other than dominant football. It's remote and low population even compared to other "flyover" states like Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma.

The brand of their basketball team is the single worst program ever in a major conference.

Texas, Miami and UCLA have some inherent value from where they are located.

I grew up in Sioux City on the border and you see about 30% as much Nebraska gear there now as you saw in the 90s. When it dies that bad 500 feet across a river, rest assured it's completely dead nationwide.

 

[KnappShack]

There is a pretty long shelf-life for a brand. We're still touting the media brands for Nebraska, Miami, UCLA, Texas, etc and its been over a decade since they have had elite success on the field.

My guess if we looked at TV viewership #'s in 2022 vs 2000 we would see many of the same schools.

Fans have long memories of the "glory years".

Da Bears.....

Dat 85 team der waz da best

 

[HFCS]

Da Bears.....

Dat 85 team der waz da best

Locals hang on. Non-locals remember for about a decade.

I used to looooooooove listening to Ditka schlep his wares on local Chicago radio. People think Trump steaks and Trump water was funny? Ditka had his own brand of Chicago Giardinara (spicy peppers). Ditka had steaks like Trump. Ditka had cigars, restaurants, sausages, I think a car dealership. You couldn't turn on the radio when I lived there after 2000 without Ditka selling you some crap.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Keep dreaming.

Right now where can Michigan go to make more money?

When you realize that Academics and Athletics are separate entities you will start to figure out that when push comes to shove its all about money. And saying they think they make enough, just makes you look even more ignorant. I guarantee Michigan has never went into a meeting about Money and said "Oh we make enough, we dont need more, you dont have to increase our deal" You have to be insane to think that.

My point is 7 years from now when the media companies say, "yeah we are maxed out, we cant give you an increase" And all the schools left on the table only reduce the share instead of increasing it, People will start coming up with other ideas. And when Fox and ESPN tells Ohio St and Mich and Alabama and Georgia etc, they will pay them double to create a new league, I guarantee they all jump, and wont care one bit about building in auto wins.

Michigan has never once gone into a media deal to negotiate themselves, that’s the point. Of course the conference has gone in and asked for more money and every time they have been happy with the payout.

I love how you can just throw out something like “7 years from now” and predict something so radical as a foregone conclusion.

 

[KnappShack]

Michigan has never once gone into a media deal to negotiate themselves, that’s the point. Of course the conference has gone in and asked for more money and every time they have been happy with the payout.

I love how you can just throw out something like “7 years from now”

But the days of a nice, tidy, tight 10 team league playing football for fun and pride are dead.

You say the Big 12 fans have a different view because of what we've been through.

We can tell you that it can (and will) happen in the Big 10. Uneven distribution when you have ******* Rutgers on the payroll is going to happen.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

But the days of a nice, tidy, tight 10 team league playing football for fun and pride are dead.

You say the Big 12 fans have a different view because of what we've been through.

We can tell you that it can (and will) happen in the Big 10. Uneven distribution when you have ******* Rutgers on the payroll is going to happen.

If at some point the big ten is in the position the Big12 is as a middle of the pack conference money wise, sure that can happen. Not when you’re at the top

 

[BCClone]

What size do these conferences go to? If they go to 20, what keeps them from splitting back to divisions and be like the east and west now. They have the crappy side and the good side again. Or go to three where one is the low Enders and the blues secure couple easy wins beating up on them. Since they are the crappy group they split pay by division and the crappy side makes less but more then anyplace they could go.

 

[alarson]

If at some point the big ten is in the position the Big12 is as a middle of the pack conference money wise, sure that can happen. Not when you’re at the top

And that's where your assumption is wrong.

It'll happen because it'll end up being the only way to continue the perpetual revenue growth for those schools with an option to make it continue. Has nothing to do with relative placement of conferences.

These administrators don't really seem to actually care what's good for fans or even competitive success. Just about making sure the gravy train keeps running faster and faster.

 

[Big_Sill]

Michigan has never once gone into a media deal to negotiate themselves, that’s the point. Of course the conference has gone in and asked for more money and every time they have been happy with the payout.

I love how you can just throw out something like “7 years from now” and predict something so radical as a foregone conclusion.

It seems equally foolish to say, as a foregone conclusion, that something 7 years from now WON'T happen.

 

[HFCS]

But the days of a nice, tidy, tight 10 team league playing football for fun and pride are dead.

You say the Big 12 fans have a different view because of what we've been through.

We can tell you that it can (and will) happen in the Big 10. Uneven distribution when you have ******* Rutgers on the payroll is going to happen.

A central planner could have grouped eight 10 team pods filling into a 16 team playoff that increased revenue of all schools and all media companies in the long run far more than what will actually happen.

Like Gunner alluded to, capitalism doesn't work that way. Capitalism doesn't max out profits for all with a grand vision. It maxes out profits right now for the certain people making the money right now.

 

[KnappShack]

If at some point the big ten is in the position the Big12 is as a middle of the pack conference money wise, sure that can happen. Not when you’re at the top

Where is the top? Why wouldn't the revenue drivers want that pie?

This isn't a Big 12 vs Big 10 comparison.

It's a traditional collegiate sports vs big money.

Big money always wins.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

It seems equally foolish to say, as a foregone conclusion, that something 7 years from now WON'T happen.

If you’re looking at history, saying the same thing that has always happened will repeat is far more likely to be accurate then the new radical departure. I could be wrong but I obviously don’t think I am.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Where is the top? Why wouldn't the revenue drivers want that pie?

This isn't a Big 12 vs Big 10 comparison.

It's a traditional collegiate sports vs big money.

Big money always wins.

Because it’s never happened in the big ten and has never even come up. It is the oldest, richest, and most stable conference for a reason. It’s obv locked in for 7 more years and there is no reason to think they won’t get another deal 7 years from now to lock it in again. Sports are also often cyclical. Michigan was a dumpster fire for close to a decade. OU might be horrible in the SEC. Clemson when from being a joke to being considered a power that could very well fall back into irrelevance.