Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[06_CY]

To repeat, how great was it stealing the Big 10 Media Days thunder? Sports coverage was split between Iowa and the Big 12 when Colorado had yet to formally state they were joining...then the following day for their meeting and announcement it stole the media coverage again! Fantastic!

TBH, Kirk was probably thrilled not to have all the eyes on him.

 

[cyatheart]

Problem is, B1G doesn't really have the money to add anyone, even at a partial share. There's no automatic escalators like we have. They'd have to re-negotiate, and there's no guarantee what kind of share CBS, NBC, FOX would agree on for UW and UO

Yeah I don’t see where the money comes from in the Big Ten to add either Oregon or Washington, and eventually you have to pay them a full share. Problem the big ten has now, is they are overpaying so many awful teams now, that very few schools can be added that add to the pie. Even with the big ten carriage fees helping, it’s just hard to do.

 

[clonedude]

I'm at the point right now where I just want to see AZ jump to the Big 12 pretty soon... and then be done with it for a little while. Unless Fox decides they will give their full 12 million to 2 additional teams to go to 16? If they do, I wouldn't mind adding ASU and Utah.

I think Oregon and WA might be more of a pipe dream at this point. Sounds like they are dead set on going to the B1G, and I don't think I want to add them just to lose them in a couple years.

 

[heitclone]

The big ten is obviously no a loser in this situation but it would have been less messy to just add ou/uw when they added the LA schools.

It likely would've meant a little less money though and I feel like with the SEC being so dominant on the field, the optics of having the biggest deal are really important to that league.

 

[jbhtexas]

But if you go into the relationship with the understanding of how that's all going to work, you don't have those problems.

If Washington/Oregon come, the come with what's basically a pre-nup.

Really? You don't think the doomsday sayers and Big 12 haters in the press and blogosphere (and it seems there are quite a few of them) would crank up the negativity once Oregon and Washington announce their departure?

 

[KnappShack]

Really? You don't think the doomsday sayers and Big 12 haters in the press and blogosphere (and it seems there are quite a few of them) would crank up the negativity once Oregon and Washington announce their departure?

By that point the ACC could be dead, ESPN could be owned by the NFL, and we could have flying cars in every driveway

Things are moving so quickly that we can only take what's in front of us and see where things stand later on.

 

[clonedude]

I assume if the Big 12 told OU/WA that there would be a huge exit fee for them to jump to the B1G from the Big 12... OU/WA would just turn down the deal and not come to the Big 12, right?

 

[DBQR4CY]

Yeah I don’t see where the money comes from in the Big Ten to add either Oregon or Washington, and eventually you have to pay them a full share. Problem the big ten has now, is they are overpaying so many awful teams now, that very few schools can be added that add to the pie. Even with the big ten carriage fees helping, it’s just hard to do.

Right! There will come a day where your Vandy's, Missouri's, Rutgers of the world could be dropped from a conference so the big names can earn more money.

 

[thakeepa14]

I don’t understand the Big 10 doesn’t want to be the villain though. First, the media will always blame the Big 12 over the Big 10, no matter how many the Big 10 take. It was that way before Big 12 took any team.

Second, they are the villain though. Under the pretense of an alliance, they stole the biggest brand in the PAC. They may not be the water that is flooding the ship, but, they did blow the hole in the hull.

That being said, I don’t think the Big10 gives a **** about the optics. If they really are considering WAOU now, they are just trying to figure out how to get them, without reducing payments to existing members.

I don't disagree on the first part; talking heads follow the money. Big XII doesn't get to write the narrative, the B10 does.

With Arizona to BigXII, FOX/B10 has additional leverage against UO/Wash to reduce their shares because of the impending PAC implosion. This whole thing is in flux. We'll see where this goes.

 

[Rods79]

It sounds to me like you are just trying to discredit McMurphy because his information doesn't fit your Oregon/Washington fetish.

It seems some people here have totally forgotten the last decade+ of chaos and instability the Big 12 has endured due to members actively looking for/finding better deals. Why do people want to jump right back into that?

If Washington and Oregon want the Big Ten, and the Big Ten wants them (for the right price), then at most there will be a couple of years of positivity for the Big 12, followed by a several-year crapshow of chaos, negative press, instability, scrambling to find new members, etc. for the Big 12 as OUWA work out their exit.

Ha, ok. Sources collaborate and leak narratives and deception to spin the media all the time. McMurphy is better than most out there, and he may use sources in a manner consistent with journalistic integrity rather than throwing out definitives. However, everything he said about Oregon and Washington being in the B1G was just his gut reaction from what they said, and his 3 year timeframe makes no sense.

 

[HouClone]

Funny reading that the Utah, Washington, Oregon crowd thinks they need to step up the communication with the Big 10 to get the invite now. Give me a break.

 

[JRE1975]

Where are you getting that info? According to this, it does:

Big Ten reportedly "not done" expanding after $1.1 billion/year rights deals, which include escalator clause

Brett McMurphy reports that a source says the Big Ten is "not done" expanding, and their media deals have a clause for new additions.

awfulannouncing.com

The contract includes an escalator clause, meaning the deal could approach nearly $10 billion if the Big Ten’s membership increases, network sources said. Even after adding USC and UCLA, the Big Ten “is not done” expanding, sources told Action Network.

Is the contract even finalized yet for the BIG? I heard they were still trying to finish all the details.

If they add OU and UW, where are they going to put the extra 15 games a year, all the exclusive windows are taken by Fox, CBS, and NBC? The only revenue they would add would be BTN subscriptions in Oregon and Seattle, which could be fairly significant, but I have no idea how much.

 

[clonedude]

Funny reading that the Utah, Washington, Oregon crowd thinks they need to step up the communication with the Big 10 to get the invite now. Give me a break.

Utah really has inflated views of themselves, don't they. Geez.

Hey Utah... you aren't getting a B1G invite..... ever!

 

[NorthCyd]

I assume if the Big 12 told OU/WA that there would be a huge exit fee for them to jump to the B1G from the Big 12... OU/WA would just turn down the deal and not come to the Big 12, right?

Hard to say if there only alternative is playing in a Mountain West+ conference at significantly less money. I think if they can't secure a B1G invite soon they take a serious look at Big XII even if they have to sign the GOR. It's not that long until it expires.

 

[PickSix]

I've come around to not inviting Oregon and Washington even if the opportunity presents itself. We don't need another Texas trying to throw their weight around everybody else.

Get Arizona, I'm really happy.

Get all the corners, and I'm over the moon.

That'd be a hell of a conference.

 

[Rods79]

Really? You don't think the doomsday sayers and Big 12 haters in the press and blogosphere (and it seems there are quite a few of them) would crank up the negativity once Oregon and Washington announce their departure?

It will be a different game at that time.

 

[HouClone]

The Big 12 is stepping up the pressure with smoke and mirrors. I am saying this in a good way though.

The news about the Big 12 stopping at 14. If Arizona comes at 14 and Washington, Oregon, Utah, or Arizona State say they are in, we going to say no?

The August 1st deadline for Colorado seemed weird too. What were we going to do if the deadline went, invite UConn and Gonzaga immediately?

 

[PickSix]

Funny reading that the Utah, Washington, Oregon crowd thinks they need to step up the communication with the Big 10 to get the invite now. Give me a break.

I love how Utah keeps trying to get in on this B1G conversation like a nosy little sibling who doesn't realize they're not welcome

They are at best the 5th best option in the PAC from the Big 10's perspective.

 

[KidSilverhair]

I assume if the Big 12 told OU/WA that there would be a huge exit fee for them to jump to the B1G from the Big 12... OU/WA would just turn down the deal and not come to the Big 12, right?

I’d assume the same.

My two cents:

* Adding Arizona right now and staying put for a while would be just fine. On the other hand, the rumors are saying the next team will be “surprising,” and AZ doesn’t fit that statement.

* Adding Washington and Oregon would shiv the PAC, and be good for the B12 competitively, but they come with baggage. They’d be the hot chick who marries you while telling you every day they “settled” and could have done better, and then bats their eyes and flashes their bra strap at B1G Chad at the backyard cookout. Get them to sign a solid GOR, and I’d be okay with them … but we’ve already lived through what a Nebraska or a Texas can do to a conference, we don’t need to live that again.

* I just don’t see UConn as anything but bait to try to draw in another PAC member. While going stronger into the basketball side is a bit intriguing and has a lot of upside, conference realignment is all about football. UConn does nothing there, despite what their next-door neighbors ESPN want to tell you.

* I know Yormark is already doing this, but you have to think strategically long-term while still being nimble. The ACC probably isn’t going anywhere for a decade, so going to 14 now instead of reaching for a UConn or Washington State to get you to 16 is the solid play (if UW and UO come with a solid GOR, you do go to 16 with them, of course). And of course, be ready if shenanigans from Florida State or Clemson break the ACC early. Long-term Pitt would be a solid add; I’m less sold on Va Tech or NC State, but I can see the appeal; Syracuse really doesn’t do much for me. Okay, if AZ State and Utah beg us to come over and make it B16, I guess I wouldn’t say no - if the ACC disintegrates in ten years conferences are probably going to 20 or 24 anyway.

Hey, Brett, if you like what I’m saying, hit me up, I have reasonable consulting rates and all kinds of free time.

 

[Drew0311]

Utah really has inflated views of themselves, don't they. Geez.

Hey Utah... you aren't getting a B1G invite..... ever!

Utah fans kind of remind me of Iowa fans. They seem to think everyone cares about them and they have a seat at the big boy table when they don’t.