Here’s a bombshell

[UConnRock]

Difference is SEC owns those markets way more than ACC teams own theirs.

In an alternate would we may end up with Duke, Louisville, Cuse, Pitt, and BC (except we say no to them) in the Big East once the ACC falls apart. That would be incredible

Need to go back to that time of having a hybrid Big East with a mix of football and basketball schools. Duke, Louisville, BC, UConn, Wake, Ga Tech, Syracuse, and Va Tech are the football schools that I can think would fit. Then just keep the Catholics for a great basketball conference.

Although my general thought is that Pitt and Louisville will be scooped up by the Big 12

 

[HooperScooper]

Here's an article from ESPN running through the scenarios for the Big 12, PAC 12 and ACC. Haven't read farther enough into the article to see if they mentioned that a lot of this has been caused by ESPN's greed.

I hate all this CR stuff. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I don't know how or when it will happen, but I have a feeling that at some point this will all come back to kill everyone involved in making these decisions. Over the centuries it seems that greed and power plays have always come back around to hurt the people involved in making these decisions. This all just feels so wrong. I'll probably be gone by the time it happens but at some point it will happen.

College realignment's next steps: ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12 scramble amid chaos​

 

[Jbirdp5]

Ouch not even a UConn mention in this article….we are not even in the conversation

 

[Ha Who]

Because at the end of the day, Clemson/FSU are not going to be happy unless they are making the $100M/yr that the SEC schools are about to make.

The best part is once they make the move they have taken the next step toward irrelevance on the field.

 

[JMick]

Ouch not even a UConn mention in this article….we are not even in the conversation

There were no mentions of USC and UCLA going to the B1G until it happened. Silence isn't necessarily a bad thing.

 

[ThabeetDown]

Ouch not even a UConn mention in this article….we are not even in the conversation

And also, well, because ESPN hates us. But no news isn't bad news IMO! We are a willing pawn as needed.

 

[uconndogs]

Here's an article from ESPN running through the scenarios for the Big 12, PAC 12 and ACC. Haven't read farther enough into the article to see if they mentioned that a lot of this has been caused by ESPN's greed.

I hate all this CR stuff. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I don't know how or when it will happen, but I have a feeling that at some point this will all come back to kill everyone involved in making these decisions. Over the centuries it seems that greed and power plays have always come back around to hurt the people involved in making these decisions. This all just feels so wrong. I'll probably be gone by the time it happens but at some point it will happen.

College realignment's next steps: ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12 scramble amid chaos​

I totally get what you are saying Hooper. I actually think the BiG and SEC are eyeing what they perceive as a much bigger prize by breaking away from the rest of college athletics. If that scenario unfolds, things will be about as far away from "college" football as they could possibly be..........and to your point, I think they may rue the day they did this. I think there are a lot of college football fans that have no interest in watching professional minor league football. I certainly know one!

 

[Ha Who]

I totally get what you are saying Hooper. I actually think the BiG and SEC are eyeing what they perceive as a much bigger prize by breaking away from the rest of college athletics. If that scenario unfolds, things will be about as far away from "college" football as they could possibly be..........and to your point, I think they may rue the day they did this. I think there are a lot of college football fans that have no interest in watching professional minor league football. I certainly know one!

I have said many times look at business for examples. Big banks, AOL-Time Warner, IBM, GE, airlines, etc. it is quite clear where this ends. Yes, the few will have all this money, but the market will speak

 

[ctchamps]

Interesting take from the Charlotte Observer about USC East’s position in the SEC with the Texas and Oklahoma merger. Also some limited commentary about the four ACC schools who may be taken by the SEC. Not all roses for everyone in these conferences.

SEC not all Roses for all it’s Members

 

[upstater]

Of course. The Big 12 is being loud because the Pac-12 is moving in silence with the better plan.

You're thinking like an academic. From Tramel's article:


And this


That said, WVU would jump to the ACC if they could and so would Cincinnati or Central Florida. In fact, the Big 12 would probably welcome that, as it would give them better options to fully merge with the PAC.

Let me put it this way: Colorado left the B12 back when it had Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri & Texas A&M.

Twice Texas considered joining the Pac10 (at the time). The first time they were rejected because Stanford nixed it.

The 2nd time they seriously considered it before driving a much better revenue deal for themselves (it can be argued they just used the P12).

 

[aburks41]

There were no mentions of USC and UCLA going to the B1G until it happened. Silence isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Yup, every time our name has publicly been in the news (first couple of BE/ACC raids and then the B12 expansion like 6 years ago that didn't end up happening) we got burned. Meanwhile the UConn to the Big East news broke only when the deal had already been written in ink. I don't think we will hear anything about UConn until the ACC news starts. We're not getting a B1G invite, but once the ACC starts to get poached or they look to add teams, then it will be our turn

 

[HuskyHawk]

Let me put it this way: Colorado left the B12 back when it had Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri & Texas A&M.

Twice Texas considered joining the Pac10 (at the time). The first time they were rejected because Stanford nixed it.

The 2nd time they seriously considered it before driving a much better revenue deal for themselves (it can be argued they just used the P12).

And yet here we are. Aside from the Big 10, academic prestige no longer matters. The Pac has always been in a precarious position, because the value of games played in their time zone is simply lower. They also have a vast buffer of sparsely populated land between their population centers and the rest of the country. It was always viewed as being somewhat protective, but also limiting. They were foolish to reject Texas and OU.

I'm sure the Big 12 would love to jettison UCF and BYU. I think Cinci and Houston are strong enough. But they don't want Oregon State or Washington State. So Colorado, Utah and the Arizona schools need to decide whether they stay in the Pac, and possibly see it lose UW, Oregon, Stanford or Cal, or they move on to what would be a better geographic and possibly cultural fit for them.

Colorado's old football glory came from McCartney recruiting LA better than the LA schools did. Hasn't been the case in a long time. Lately, UT and OU have been strong recruiting SoCal, and I suspect the B1G wants to tap that recruiting area and shift it to their schools to better compete with the SEC.

 

[beerfan]

Here's an article from ESPN running through the scenarios for the Big 12, PAC 12 and ACC. Haven't read farther enough into the article to see if they mentioned that a lot of this has been caused by ESPN's greed.

I hate all this CR stuff. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I don't know how or when it will happen, but I have a feeling that at some point this will all come back to kill everyone involved in making these decisions. Over the centuries it seems that greed and power plays have always come back around to hurt the people involved in making these decisions. This all just feels so wrong. I'll probably be gone by the time it happens but at some point it will happen.

College realignment's next steps: ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12 scramble amid chaos​

"Any cries for Oregon and Washington in the Big Ten should be tempered by the reality that if USC and UCLA wanted them there in the first place, they'd probably be there. Those schools appear to value owning Los Angeles and the rich recruiting market much more. They have a monopoly on the West Coast. Why invite in your top competition?"

Funny, how did that work out for BC keeping us out of the ACC?

Also I remember how Penn State struggled initially when the joined the B1G. They used to heavily recruit NJ and east coast, that became a little more difficult when the closest home games would be in State College (this was before UMD and Rutgers), the same might go for the California kids who want to stay and play mostly at home.

 

[BPT2Storrs]

ACC should just snatch up WVU, Baylor, Kansas, Houston, Cincy and UConn.

ACCs becomes an absolute powerhouse basketball conference. Football keeps FSU, Miami, Clemson and adds some depth with Baylor, WVU, Houston and Cincy. That’s not a bad football conference at all. Those teams are all better then some of mid to bottom tier B1G and SEC schools.

 

[gsmooth]

Agreed, big markets really shouldn’t be a big factor for realignment. I live in Boston, and can vouch that no one cares for BC, BU or UMass at all. Hell there’s probably more UConn fans here than any Massachusetts based teams. They only care about pro sports here and honestly I would be the same way if I didn’t go to UConn.

I imagine NY is the same way, especially with it being a large hub of people from all the US.

I live in Boston as well and I can confirm BC, BU, and UMass combined aren't enough to be a tiny speck on the radar for the Boston sports fans. I actually see quite a few UConn fans in the area, and UConn has national brand recognition and respect and that's what they garner here in the Boston area, but the fans here don't care all that much about college sports.

I am originally from NYC and I can definitely confirm that no one there gives a damn about Rutgers sports. If anything they care a lot more about Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Indiana football and basketball.

 

[gsmooth]

You finally figured it out in the last sentence. It's not "market" in terms of just local team support, TV's and news: it's market in terms of a large group of people who have interest in the product.

The B1G has a presence in NYC and Wash DC not because of Rutgers or Maryland but because there are a ton of B1G alumni in those areas interested in B1G sports. NYC, Chicago, soon to be LA, Wash DC all have strong B1G presence.

Texas is about to become the biggest anchor for the SEC. They will be the top story in the Houston, DFW, Austin, and San Antonio markets. The Big12 can claim Lubbock and be secondary market in Houston and DFW. Right now SEC best big market or population area is Atlanta.

Pac12 is losing LA market. If everything stands pat, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle are biggest population areas of interest but I don't know how much those cities are in to being college towns and spending hours of weekend time watching college sports.

exactly. I just posted a minute ago, as I am originally from NYC, I can certainly attest to the fact that New York City and the metro area fans' attention to Rutgers sports is nil.

 

[Jbirdp5]

There were no mentions of USC and UCLA going to the B1G until it happened. Silence isn't necessarily a bad thing.

There has been rumors about the big ten grabbing those teams for a while, and the article was also pointing out all profitable opportunities….that being said I like your enthusiasm and hope your right

 

[HuskyHawk]

ACC should just snatch up WVU, Baylor, Kansas, Houston, Cincy and UConn.

ACCs becomes an absolute powerhouse basketball conference. Football keeps FSU, Miami, Clemson and adds some depth with Baylor, WVU, Houston and Cincy. That’s not a bad football conference at all. Those teams are all better then some of mid to bottom tier B1G and SEC schools.

That would help the PAC too. If even 3 Big 12 schools leave, then a full merger between Pac and Big 12 becomes more viable.

 

[bendm]

Ouch not even a UConn mention in this article….we are not even in the conversation

forbes needs to compute the value of every BCS school, like they do for pro sport franchises, so this can be settled once and for all.

but if i had to guess, the only PAC schools UConn is more valuable than are WSU/Oregon St. which both look destined for the mountain west unless there's a full on merger of the PAC/Big12.

that's what i'm hoping for, otherwise i might be looking forward to Cal v. Air Force football games.

 

[JMick]

There has been rumors about the big ten grabbing those teams for a while, and the article was also pointing out all profitable opportunities….that being said I like your enthusiasm and hope your right

To be clear, it is not enthusiasm. It's just a statement that no noise isn't necessarily bad. The only rumors about UCLA and USC to the B1G that I recall were Flugar rumors and he has rumored just about every possible scenario

 

[Storrs South]

To be clear, it is not enthusiasm. It's just a statement that no noise isn't necessarily bad. The only rumors about UCLA and USC to the B1G that I recall were Flugar rumors and he has rumored just about every possible scenario

TL;DR there is no reason for UConn to be discussed right now because a lot of uncertain things need to happen before an opening develops and ESPN has bigger fish to fry

To add to your point, a move that involves UConn is a reactionary one, not a proactive one.

Things needs to happen that lead to UConn getting in the ACC, not the other way around. An example:

1. Notre Dame leaves ACC for Big 10
2. FSU / Clemson go to SEC
3. ACC needs to backfill

Add in that the Big 12 and PAC 12 are also out there looking for media deals and we don't know where they are going to end so there could be reshuffling between the PAC and B12 with their media allegiances that affect how ESPN shuffles assets.

Those first two things are far from given in the near term so I doubt ACC is reaching out to UConn until they know the GOR is going to be challenged and/or schools are leaving. You do hope that UConn leadership is backchanneling interest so they know we are interested.

It will also need to be led by ESPN to even allow this or push this to occur, in which if they are pulling the strings they would deal with this process in the order outlined above.

For now we are still at step 1 where ESPN is probably doing whatever they can to keep ND under ESPN umbrella. If that fails, then ESPN probably moves on to step 2 and so on.

 

[JeepCSC]

The ACC’s one trump card is ESPN’s greed. If ESPN wants to keep the Irish away from Fox, and to stop Fox from pushing south, they’ll need to open their wallets. Whether there is an appetite for a push by all parties involved is probably a reach though.

If this be the end, I hope the Heels head south and leave State behind.

 

[aburks41]

TL;DR there is no reason for UConn to be discussed right now because a lot of uncertain things need to happen before an opening develops and ESPN has bigger fish to fry

To add to your point, a move that involves UConn is a reactionary one, not a proactive one.

Things needs to happen that lead to UConn getting in the ACC, not the other way around. An example:

1. Notre Dame leaves ACC for Big 10
2. FSU / Clemson go to SEC
3. ACC needs to backfill

Add in that the Big 12 and PAC 12 are also out there looking for media deals and we don't know where they are going to end so there could be reshuffling between the PAC and B12 with their media allegiances that affect how ESPN shuffles assets.

Those first two things are far from given in the near term so I doubt ACC is reaching out to UConn until they know the GOR is going to be challenged and/or schools are leaving. You do hope that UConn leadership is backchanneling interest so they know we are interested.

It will also need to be led by ESPN to even allow this or push this to occur, in which if they are pulling the strings they would deal with this process in the order outlined above.

For now we are still at step 1 where ESPN is probably doing whatever they can to keep ND under ESPN umbrella. If that fails, then ESPN probably moves on to step 2 and so on.

Are there enough programs out there for the ACC to even backfill with though? There is us and...Temple? Unless they can poach from the B12, the ACC is not in great shape once they lose FSU/Clemson/ND

 

[superjohn]

TL;DR there is no reason for UConn to be discussed right now because a lot of uncertain things need to happen before an opening develops and ESPN has bigger fish to fry

To add to your point, a move that involves UConn is a reactionary one, not a proactive one.

Things needs to happen that lead to UConn getting in the ACC, not the other way around. An example:

1. Notre Dame leaves ACC for Big 10
2. FSU / Clemson go to SEC
3. ACC needs to backfill

Add in that the Big 12 and PAC 12 are also out there looking for media deals and we don't know where they are going to end so there could be reshuffling between the PAC and B12 with their media allegiances that affect how ESPN shuffles assets.

Those first two things are far from given in the near term so I doubt ACC is reaching out to UConn until they know the GOR is going to be challenged and/or schools are leaving. You do hope that UConn leadership is backchanneling interest so they know we are interested.

It will also need to be led by ESPN to even allow this or push this to occur, in which if they are pulling the strings they would deal with this process in the order outlined above.

For now we are still at step 1 where ESPN is probably doing whatever they can to keep ND under ESPN umbrella. If that fails, then ESPN probably moves on to step 2 and so on.

Benedict needs to be working around the clock on this with serious help and pressure being applied from Lamont. I don't understand how UConn still doesn't have a school president.

 

[Storrs South]

Are there enough programs out there for the ACC to even backfill with though? There is us and...Temple? Unless they can poach from the B12, the ACC is not in great shape once they lose FSU/Clemson/ND

It depends on how much movement there is and what happens with the Big 12

If on the other side of this the ACC and Big 12 are to be considered equals, you're basically looking at WVU, Cincy, UConn, USF, Army, Memphis, and Temple in about that order.

If the Big 12 finds itself a step above, then scrap the first two and that's about what you have left for the ACC to grab at.