Drew
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Pac-12 could follow ACC, Big Ten and increase conference schedule to 20 game
Let’s start there, with the economics.
The move from 18 to 20 without expanding the overall schedule — that’s an NCAA issue — would force teams to reduce by two the number of non-conference games.
In many cases, that would be a net positive for the budgets.
The travel expenses incurred by playing the additional road game would be offset by a reduction in the number of so-called guarantee games, the home dates against teams from the Big West or Big Sky or WAC or Summit that can run into the low six figures.
That said, travel would increase: A home non-conference game would be replaced by a one-off roadtrip: Colorado would play in Eugene but not Corvallis, for example; Washington would play in Tempe but not Tucson.
Beyond the travel, there’s another downside to expanding the conference schedule: More losses.
Adding two games for each team guarantees 12 losses for the conference. That’s not necessarily 12 more than the current format brings, because some non-conference games result in defeat. But it could be eight or nine more in total, and for certain coaches in certain seasons, it could mean two more losses.
The benefits, however, far outweigh the negatives.
Adding the weekend of conference play in December would significantly increase the visibility of Pac-12 basketball throughout the conference footprint during a time usually reserved for wondering why there are so many bowl games.
ESPN and Fox would appreciate the upgraded inventory; the Pac-12 Networks would undoubtedly benefit.
“It’s the way the sport is going,’’ Miller said. “We don’t want to be the conference that needs a couple years to catch up.”
Let’s start there, with the economics.
The move from 18 to 20 without expanding the overall schedule — that’s an NCAA issue — would force teams to reduce by two the number of non-conference games.
In many cases, that would be a net positive for the budgets.
The travel expenses incurred by playing the additional road game would be offset by a reduction in the number of so-called guarantee games, the home dates against teams from the Big West or Big Sky or WAC or Summit that can run into the low six figures.
That said, travel would increase: A home non-conference game would be replaced by a one-off roadtrip: Colorado would play in Eugene but not Corvallis, for example; Washington would play in Tempe but not Tucson.
Beyond the travel, there’s another downside to expanding the conference schedule: More losses.
Adding two games for each team guarantees 12 losses for the conference. That’s not necessarily 12 more than the current format brings, because some non-conference games result in defeat. But it could be eight or nine more in total, and for certain coaches in certain seasons, it could mean two more losses.
The benefits, however, far outweigh the negatives.
Adding the weekend of conference play in December would significantly increase the visibility of Pac-12 basketball throughout the conference footprint during a time usually reserved for wondering why there are so many bowl games.
ESPN and Fox would appreciate the upgraded inventory; the Pac-12 Networks would undoubtedly benefit.
“It’s the way the sport is going,’’ Miller said. “We don’t want to be the conference that needs a couple years to catch up.”
