Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[Cyghhh]

Media mkts do not have the power they had 15 years ago.

Why do you want to add the ability for a school to improve into P5 category? No reason to be adding teams to this tier when ISU is near the cut line.

Huge pass on UConn and will be seen as a major letdown if that’s the result of all of this.

I disagree. Even in streaming, especially for college sporsts, media markets and population matter. You need eyeballs for streaming and the more eyeballs, the more money. College sports is still mostly a regional thing. Also, cable may be going away, but streaming cable is not.

 

[jdolson27]

Just got online to read the news of the days. I am seeing that the lethargic ACC is thinking of grabbing Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, Oregon, and Washington?

The acc will get raided at some point and then they will be going through it all over again with what they are dealing with now.

 

[CycloneErik]

No **** Oregon prefers the B1G over the XII - EVERY XII school would prefer the B1G over the XII right now. I don't mind Oregon and Washington exploring where they stand with the B1G... because when they ultimately realize the B1G doesn't have a spot for them, that's when we'll finally have our 15th and 16th members.

No doubt. Thanks to Craig there for the obvious hot take of the day that everyone's already known for a long, long time.

 

[HFCS]

I think 1-2 years ago when BY was trying to rebuild the Big 12 on paper the 4 Corners option really appealed to him and all of us. CU and AZ were keen to the idea; ASU and Utah thought the PAC was the superior option and since has talked nothing but mad **** about not wanting to be part of the truck stop conference. And in that time BY has moved on from them and shut that door for them. And in that time the script has flipped. CU has already jumped; AZ seems to just need the final push, and even UO and UW are considering their options. Yet ASU and Utah remain steadfast in not wanting to join the truck stop conference. All I have to say about that is, to coin a Vince McMahon line, "best of luck in your future endeavors."

AZ only has more red tape to clean up than CU. I was more confident in AZ than I was in CU last week. If they don't jump it'll be against the desires of the vast majority of their board, alumni, boosters, etc

 

[Scruff]

I disagree. Even in streaming, especially for college sporsts, media markets and population matter. You need eyeballs for streaming and the more eyeballs, the more money. College sports is still mostly a regional thing. Also, cable may be going away, but streaming cable is not.

cycfan1 is right that it matters less. you are right that it still matters. Brands matter more. Its easier to build a brand in a high-population area... that's why UCF and Houston were considered good projects with future potential.

 

[isufbcurt]

Can't do 9 conference games with 11, 13 or 15.

Good we should be doing 8 conference games

 

[HouClone]

The acc will get raided at some point and then they will be going through it all over again with what they are dealing with now.

Agree. Then I read ACC going after West Virginia. ACC has thumbed their nose at West Virginia for years. If West Virginia leaves, and the ACC breaks up, we would take Wake Forest before allowing West Virginia back.

 

[Cyghhh]

cycfan1 is right that it matters less. you are right that it still matters. Brands matter more. Its easier to build a brand in a high-population area... that's why UCF and Houston were considered good projects with future potential.

And it's why UCONN would be too

 

[Clonehomer]

I don’t see Oregon (nor probably UW) basing their decision on what Arizona does.

I’m assuming Arizona leaving is the death knell to the PAC. If they leave, there is no other choice than to leave the PAC. And as long as the Big10 is calling, the Big12 is the only option.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Only good thing about UConn would be if ESPN's east-coast ****-stroking is a transferrable benefit to the rest of the conference.

I don't want them to muck things up right now, though. Let us get to 14 or 16, then they can be basketball-only adds with Gonzaga some day.

Except UConn isn't taking a basketball only spot. If they don't have a home for football, they might as well stay with the group they've been with forever.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Is it better to have loved and lost vs never loved at all? Lol

I'm ok with renting the Ducks for 5 years

Especially with no guarantee the Big 10 ever comes for them. It’s not some foregone conclusion. Big Ten wanted LA, not USC or UCLA. Gonna have to take SOME risks to come out golden.

 

[FerShizzle]

AZ is in.

per sources?

 

[Remo Gaggi]

Third time I have posted this in 24 hours, but that was over 1,000 posts ago. The longer post details why without UO or UW, only 2 teams add up. But with UO or UW, then you can make 4 work with the prorata. Although at this point, maybe 50/50 on ASU vs UW vs UConn for a potential 4th spot.

TLDR; I think the two most likely outcomes are:
1) Colorado and Arizona only
OR
2) Colorado, Oregon, Arizona, and #4

For the 4th team ASU is my guess. UW will wait for B1G. Utah is being a-holes, plus a 2nd team from Arizona (pop 7.5M) makes a lot more sense than a 2nd team from Utah (pop 3M)).

Agree with this assessment. Tick-tock, the clock is ticking and someone is going to jump, and jump soon.

 

[LeaningCy]

Except UConn isn't taking a basketball only spot. If they don't have a home for football, they might as well stay with the group they've been with forever.

Of course, but our fanbase gets to be cocky SOBs for once and should take full advantage

 

[MugNight]

Georgia Tech isn't even like the ISU of Georgia where they have maybe 1/3 or 1/4 of fans and the fans they do have are crazy passionate like Cyclones?

That’s a decent comparison. There was a time where if you saw someone in ISU gear it probably meant they or someone close to them went to school there. It’s like that in GA for GT, but more extreme. They’re basically in the Hayden Fry dark ages with UGA pummeling them consistently for over a decade.

GT has had flashes of basketball success, but have been dismal in football and hoops lately. Pair it with the rise of UGA, and Atlanta isn’t even GT’s territory. It’s Braves, UGA (especially with all of the games played at the Benz these past few years), and Falcons.

GA State, Kennesaw State, and GA Southern all have D1 football as well.

I have never met a “T-Shirt” GT fan. The school itself is exceptional, and it’s noted that the academic rigors hurt a lot of their recruiting. The alums I know (who care about football) do love their Yellow Jackets though.

 

[LeaningCy]

 

[Clonehomer]

AZ only has more red tape to clean up than CU. I was more confident in AZ than I was in CU last week. If they don't jump it'll be against the desires of the vast majority of their board, alumni, boosters, etc

Do they have an ASU problem, or what’s the issue?

 

[isucy86]

The UCONN thing has to just be bait at this point right? I mean, it wouldn't be a horrible add, but would be pretty disappointing if UCONN ended up being the 14th with what is going down right now.

I don't think they are bait, but backup option if Big12 can only add 1,3 or 5 Pac teams.

 

[RonBurgundy]

Good we should be doing 8 conference games

Can't. Media is paying us for conference content. Cannot back off.

 

[isufbcurt]

Can't. Media is paying us for conference content. Cannot back off.

I know but it was stupid to go to 9 conference games in the first place.