Key tweets, and it's all gone to Hell.

[hoopsfan22]

Huh? That game could be on The Hallmark channel and it would get numbers. Big10 fans would find that in a heartbeat. You could play The Bridges of Madison County before and OSU/PSU fans would be hyped.

Won't Herbie and Desmond be sad that they can no longer cover their teams?

 

[CoastAtlantic]

 

[Storrs South]

 

[dayooper]

I think this is huge. Entering early negotiations tells me that The Big12 will survive and be the depository for the excess PAC schools not in the P2.

 

[CoastAtlantic]

 

[goldendomer]

I think this is huge. Entering early negotiations tells me that The Big12 will survive and be the depository for the excess PAC schools not in the P2.

My guess is the Big 10 wants the Big 12 to make the next move and than the Big can go for their desired schools.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[goldendomer]

I disagree with Frank here. The Big 12 at least has two media partners open to negotiation. The Pac just took a kick to the groin.

 

[dayooper]

My guess is the Big 10 wants the Big 12 to make the next move and than the Big can go for their desired schools.

Could be. I think there’s money to be saved in consolidating the 2. While there are some brands that aren’t great in the Big12, having schools in 3 or 4 (depending on who goes where) time zones will be a huge benefit to the media partners. The exit fee of the Big12 seemingly has done its job and prevented the break up the conference. Using the Big12 brand instead of the PAC brand leads me to believe that the PAC is losing schools.

I think the only 2 that are a possibility to move to the Big10 are Oregon and Washington. That puts 4 into the Pacific time zone making a nice late game set. Then again, ESPN could be wanting to just use the Big12 with that late game. I would assume games against the Big10 teams would get better ratings than Big12 teams, but I’m not sure they want to spend the money.

 

[Rufus]

I never realized how valuable Washington was until this past two months. Oregon and Washington would be good fits for the B1G.

I don’t see how the B1G could pass on Stanford and Cal. Sure, they aren’t big football brands, but their academics and research would put them at the top of the B1G. It would also lock down the State of California for the B1G. San Diego State may find itself in the PAC 12 or Big 12, but it won’t carry California anymore than Cincinnati can carry Ohio.

 

[huskymedic]

... damn lawyers and those technicalities:

 

[dayooper]

I never realized how valuable Washington was until this past two months. Oregon and Washington would be good fits for the B1G.

I don’t see how the B1G could pass on Stanford and Cal. Sure, they aren’t big football brands, but their academics and research would put them at the top of the B1G. It would also lock down the State of California for the B1G. San Diego State may find itself in the PAC 12 or Big 12, but it won’t carry California anymore than Cincinnati can carry Ohio.

Eh, would Stanford and Cal bring any conference California by themselves? Not sure they would.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Chin Diesel]

Eh, would Stanford and Cal bring any conference California by themselves? Not sure they would.

No, but since USC and UCLA will already be members, the addition of Stanford and Cal absolutely locks down Cali for the B1G.

 

[dayooper]

No, but since USC and UCLA will already be members, the addition of Stanford and Cal absolutely locks down Cali for the B1G.

Sure it would, but do you need to? If Cal and Stanford don’t bring California to anybody, why should the Big10 take them.

If ND wants Stanford as a condition to join the Big10, then I can see it. ND brings in a bunch of money and wound pay for both of them (and then some), but as a standalone, how much would they cost?

 

[huskymedic]

Lol… open season:

 

[Chin Diesel]

Sure it would, but do you need to? If Cal and Stanford don’t bring California to anybody, why should the Big10 take them.

If ND wants Stanford as a condition to join the Big10, then I can see it. ND brings in a bunch of money and wound pay for both of them (and then some), but as a standalone, how much would they cost?

USC and UCLA don't do much to move the needle in Northern California. If it requires taking 4 California schools to lock down California, you do it. Getting Stanford and Cal is way smarter than taking Oregon and Washington. As has been mentioned on these boards several times, the Bay area is one of the largest concentrations of B1G grads in the country. Taking two schools there allows for football to go out there one time a year allowing B1G alums to see their school play either Stanford or Cal and allows the fans at home to schedule a destination road game once a year.

Strategically is weakens Oregon and Washington by further isolating those two schools geographically from other competitors.

 

[CoastAtlantic]

And "Boom!" goes the dynamite.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Sure it would, but do you need to? If Cal and Stanford don’t bring California to anybody, why should the Big10 take them.

If ND wants Stanford as a condition to join the Big10, then I can see it. ND brings in a bunch of money and wound pay for both of them (and then some), but as a standalone, how much would they cost?

Stamford is the first or second best school in the country and the number 1 school playing major sports
Cal is the Number 1 rated Public Institution in the country . Those are factors for the B1G. Both have large research income .
Washington is 10
Oregon is around 65 which. Is far below UConn. The Reputation isn’t the greatest either
They are somehow AAU
so the B1G probably overlook their weaknesses. The other thing is if the B1G doesn’t take them someone else will
I think ND may works out a deal more closely alighting them with the B1G if the moneys right but stay Defacto Indy.
I originally though they had to move but the B1G media partners might save them.

 

[hoopsfan22]

With the two California teams in the B1G, I wonder if one of the two will always be away while the other is home and vice versa so that the B1G will always have a late night game for the west coast audience, while giving the other a game in one of the eastern time slots.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

USC and UCLA don't do much to move the needle in Northern California. If it requires taking 4 California schools to lock down California, you do it. Getting Stanford and Cal is way smarter than taking Oregon and Washington. As has been mentioned on these boards several times, the Bay area is one of the largest concentrations of B1G grads in the country. Taking two schools there allows for football to go out there one time a year allowing B1G alums to see their school play either Stanford or Cal and allows the fans at home to schedule a destination road game once a year.

Strategically is weakens Oregon and Washington by further isolating those two schools geographically from other competitors.

Agreed... The Big10 strategy is to be like the NFL - all time zones and Kevin Warren wants to make sure travel is not a huge burden for the schools and students so having a western pod of 6 teams makes total sense. Look at the markets they would add: LA, San Fran, Seattle and Portland. Talk about a power conference with MAJOR markets - they make the SEC look puny in terms of markets and reach. Over time, they'll be the equivalent/perhaps surpass the SEC on the field. And, from an academics/research standpoint they would continue to pile on more powerhouses.

 

[CL82]

I disagree with Frank here. The Big 12 at least has two media partners open to negotiation. The Pac just took a kick to the groin.

You’ll forgive me if I have a healthy skepticism about the ESPN’s disinterested generosity. Look for this offer to be low with the idea that the big 12 will give up future speculative value for immediate certainty.

On the other hand, it’s also possible that ESPN has decided to make the big 12 the winner of the game of survivor that’s going on between eight and the Pac 12 much like it did when it chose the ACC over the Big East when those two conferences were looking to position themselves.

 

[noeynox]

You’ll forgive me if I have a healthy skepticism about the ESPN’s disinterested generosity. Look for this offer to be low with the idea that the big 12 will give up future speculative value for immediate certainty.

On the other hand, it’s also possible that ESPN has decided to make the big 12 the winner of the game of survivor that’s going on between eight and the Pac 12 much like it did when it chose the ACC over the Big East when those two conferences were looking to position themselves.

The B1G leadership has had the right idea all along. Short term deals they can renegotiate frequently and capitalize on the rising cost of live sporting events. All other commissioners we're lost on this.

 

[TerryD]

Stamford is the first or second best school in the country and the number 1 school playing major sports
Cal is the Number 1 rated Public Institution in the country . Those are factors for the B1G. Both have large research income .
Washington is 10
Oregon is around 65 which. Is far below UConn. The Reputation isn’t the greatest either
They are somehow AAU
so the B1G probably overlook their weaknesses. The other thing is if the B1G doesn’t take them someone else will
I think ND may works out a deal more closely alighting them with the B1G if the moneys right but stay Defacto Indy.
I originally though they had to move but the B1G media partners might save them.

Agreed. NBC will cross market both ND and the Big Ten. It even mentioned "a perfect one/two punch".

NBC will up their ND payments to the reported $60 million. NBC will get ND to play Big Ten teams (maybe a scheduling deal of 3 a year?)

ND will stay independent, get a $38 million dollar a year TV raise and will not violate any ACC contracts, have to pay an exit fee or deal with the GOR (and still receive around $15-18 million a year or so from the ACC/ESPN partial membership and full membership share of ACC Network profits).

A win for everyone involved and a great job by Jack Swarbrick if it happens.

 

[uconndogs]

36-40 programs will breakaway. 18-20 south (SEC) and 18-20 north (BiG). Professional franchises each within a conference. That will be college football and, eventually college basketball. NFL and NBA light. Holds no appeal to me, but evidently the brain trusts see a way to make a lot more money.

Honestly, I have no direct insight into this, but I have to believe this is where its all going.