Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[isucy86]

Good point, might be part of the reason rumors are that many B1G ADs/presidents are in no rush to add more schools.

Because Fox (11CT), CBS (2:30) and NBC (7:00) are paying top dollar at those time slots- they rotate who picks 1,2,3 each week. Each of the networks is going to want the premier matchup at their time slot.

So it seems to me if ORWA are added to Big10, an existing or new media partner may need to be creative to add a 4th exclusive, high viewership window.

It might be easier for Big10 to get Amazon or Apple to pay $75-100M annually to stream 13-15 games. But NBC, CBS and FOX might also be willing to add some more $ to their existing deals because adding the ORWA brands creates more great matchups for them to choose at their 3 spots.

 

[isucy86]

Problem there is, the streamers want the good games to drive subscriptions, they don't want Rutgers vs Purdue.

Agree, but if the Big10 adds ORWA they have a pretty solid list of top brands:

tOSU
UM
USC
PSU
OR

And then a solid group of secondary brands:

Wisky
Huskers
UCLA
UW
Iowa
MSU
Minn

I don't feel like a streamer getting a 4th or 5th choice of games is going to get stuck with a bad matchup. A Purdue v Rutgers game will be on FS1 or BTN.

 

[cysmiley]

this article is a BS narrative. the PAC didnt 'spare' the big 12. they told us to get ******.

By telling us to get ****** they spared us. Admittedly we made a mistake in thinking we could join with them and make a better, more powerful conference. We didn't do due diligence in the matter, and they saved us the ignominy of being a part of being allied with P12 teams.

 

[isucy86]

I just don't see the difference between BYU and Utah....6 of one, half dozen of the other...no need to double up there and take up a valuable spot.

Not sure what valuable spot UU would take. Sure if OR interest in Big12 is legitimate, but I'm skeptical. I'm also skeptical that Yormark would stop at 14, unless the TV partners resist. I can't believe ESPN would balk at additional $40M or FOX $24M annually to be at 16 teams.

The Big12 having BYU and Utah makes tremendous sense. No difference than OU/OSU or KU/KSU or UT/TT.

Both Utah schools have passionate fanbases. And UU has been a consistent top 20 team the last decade.

 

[IcSyU]

I still have PTSD from Utah's last trip to Ames. I'm certain Shaky Smithson is still out there somewhere running wild and free with no Cyclones even remotely close to touching him.

 

[isucy86]

Arizona's President was just appointed to 1 of 3 spots on Pac12 Exec Committee. So that might be incentive or create further level of commitment to give GK a chance to present media rights numbers.

There was also speculation he might be a candidate for Stanford's recently vacated President spot.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Browsing social media… give the AZ fans credit - the vast majority of them actually want to come to the Big 12. There was one tool that wanted to wait because the big 10 might be interested, but their own smacked him down hard and fast.

 

[Clonehomer]

https://www.si.com/college/2022/12/05/colorado-ad-deion-sanders-contract-money

“We don’t have the money yet, but I know we’ll have it so I’m not worried about that piece,” George said when asked about Sanders’s contract on Sunday.

I was reminded of this quote from back in a December. I wonder if a move was planned for this long or if there really wasn’t a choice for CU to stick around and take the lesser TV package because of Deion’s contract.

 

[SCNCY]

https://www.si.com/college/2022/12/05/colorado-ad-deion-sanders-contract-money

I was reminded of this quote from back in a December. I wonder if a move was planned for this long or if there really wasn’t a choice for CU to stick around and take the lesser TV package because of Deion’s contract.

That’s a good question. I’d have to think they knew they would get at least Big12 money, as they had the opportunity to jump.

 

[RonBurgundy]

That’s a good question. I’d have to think they knew they would get at least Big12 money, as they had the opportunity to jump.

They were delusional and lied to. They saw the B1G money and deluded themselves into thinking they could approach that. Once USCLA left, they were consistently lied to that they would get “the bronze” and have a media deal placing them in a solid third.

This is a big reason CU wouldn’t wait. They gave Deion a fat contract and the Big 12 was a sure thing.

 

[Uncle Paul]

That's what I was thinking, FOX/CBS/NBC chip in some added $$ for added inventory but obviously nowhere near enough to put UO/UW at a full share, but then a streamer comes in with a little bit more.

Thank You for using the correct abbreviation UO/UW

 

[t-noah]

My source tells me it’s Oregon, and that will cause two more to follow by the end of August.,

I will tip my hat to you if you are correct!

If this is true, I will guess AZ and WA would be the other two.

 

[Cloneon]

If ORWA join Big10, I am sure TV partners would get first opportunity to up their investment for additional game inventory.

But if they don't want to pay, then bringing in another partner like Amazon is the Big10's call. But for big $, it might have to be a unique time slot like Fri primetime or late Sat night.

Is that in the contract? If so, very interesting.

 

[JM4CY]

 

[Allikat]

Arizona's President was just appointed to 1 of 3 spots on Pac12 Exec Committee. So that might be incentive or create further level of commitment to give GK a chance to present media rights numbers.

There was also speculation he might be a candidate for Stanford's recently vacated President spot.

This changes my opinion on Arizona being the next school to leave.

The Presidents, not the ADs, control conference affiliation. I can see where Robbins would show allegiance with Stanford unless the media deal is shown to be too low. By then, it may be too late.

if Oregon thinks they can get an unequal share they might stay too but based upon their forums their fan base seems to be warming to the Big 12 (whereas UW is still PAC or Big 10 only).

Reluctantly, my prediction is UConn as the 14th and the PAC survives barely. I hope I am wrong. As much as I fear Oregon could be a mini Texas, that should be our push for the 14th team.

 

[Nolaeer]

Sorry if this was already posted, but Fox, unlike ESPN, has promised to pony up additional money for just 2, not 4 more.

Unless Fox changes its position, it may just be Az and call it a day.

 

[Stormin]

This changes my opinion on Arizona being the next school to leave.

The Presidents, not the ADs, control conference affiliation. I can see where Robbins would show allegiance with Stanford unless the media deal is shown to be too low. By then, it may be too late.

if Oregon thinks they can get an unequal share they might stay too but based upon their forums their fan base seems to be warming to the Big 12 (whereas UW is still PAC or Big 10 only).

Reluctantly, my prediction is UConn as the 14th and the PAC survives barely. I hope I am wrong. As much as I fear Oregon could be a mini Texas, that should be our push for the 14th team.

UConn is not going to be added.

 

[Nolaeer]

Uconn will be added if no more PAC teams join.
BY wants uconn. the ADs don't, but BY gets his way ( I predict).

Id rather az, or if fox agrees to pony up fpor 2 more, az, wash, and oregon.

Problem is fox wont pony up 1 penny for oregon and washington to go to BIG. why would they pony up 12 million a piece for oregon/wash to big 12?

I dont think people fully appreciate our new TV deal. it is MORE than what we received with texas and ou. predictions a year ago from the national media was the new big 12 deal would be 20 or less, with most saying less. BY should have his way when it comes to marketing the future big 12.

 

[clonehome]

I think it’s just a formality of waiting for PAC to provide a final media deal. Since they’ve been PAC members for so long, they need that last justification for leaving. And weak media numbers would be that push and justification for the regents to accept Arizona to leave.

This makes sense but with CU leaving it seems like a PAC media deal is less likely to be arrived at any time soon. It must be pure chaos in those negotiations now.

 

[Clonehomer]

Taking money out of the equation, I could see how a fan feels this way. OU/UW would be on an island out there in the Big12 without really any driveable road games. The competition would be lower, but as long as the CFP continue to have the top 6 conference champs as qualifiers, they or Oregon could essentially buy their tickets in August if they were in the MWC.

But, money is still a thing and college athletics haven’t cared about geography or the fans for a long time now.