Memphis proposing lucrative offer to join Big 12, but it lacks support from conference leadership: Sources

[bendm]

Issue is that it's unlikely to stop at 6 as the Big12 has already signed up for bigger is better/safer and they could use some regional partners for the WV/Cincis. They'd likely go after all the large state schools thereafter like NCSt, VaTech. Once that string gets loose, the other three are likely going to pull it until it unravels to blow it up and make it irrelevant, and take contract value with them.

Big10 and sec aint interested in anyone outside those top 6. Could big12 go to 20? Maybe we’ll see, but That would still leave 8 ACC schools and they could also add Tulane, Memphis, USF. Still better than the BE/Indy.

 

[Hondo 77]

College sports are just so screwed up now.

 

[freescooter]

Memphis is a giant grift. They are having trouble funding the stadium upgrade that is in progress. They have all kinds of recruiting violations. It's in a corrupt dump of a city. It's not even the most popular college team in the city.

Nobody knows Memphis State better than the Big 12.

Seton Hall is already in. It's like saying the B1G should add LIU to compensate for Rutgers.

I don’t disagree. But let’s not pretend Seton Hall and a few others are all sweetness and light. In a perfect world we would only have to associate with Georgetown and maybe Villanova. The rest of the NBE is pretty slimey.

 

[freescooter]

if i understand correctly, the 200M/250M isnt a "gift" to the conference; it's an advertisement package. right?
If i got that right, then, who KNOWS what the terms of that money were....

"the Big 12 Conference brought to you by FedEx"
"FedEx Big 12 Championship Game"
"Fedex Field at Univ of Memphis, a Big 12 Institution"
"FedEx" logos plastered all over the place at all B12 FB/BB games and in the bball tournament

not seeing people talk about that aspect, which makes the money way less attractive...
I'm assuming that the Big 12 has no interest in tying its pockets and contractual obligations that hard to a city like Memphis, which beside some near-term cash, does nothing to elevate the profiles of its current member schools.

I think that aspect makes the rejection way less embarassing to the univ of Memphis. or maybe it's even more embarassing. idk.

Yeah because nobody here would watch the Jeep Big East Championships.

 

[Rufus]

Big10 and sec aint interested in anyone outside those top 6. Could big12 go to 20? Maybe we’ll see, but That would still leave 8 ACC schools and they could also add Tulane, Memphis, USF. Still better than the BE/Indy.

I would add Virginia to the six (I think both the B1G and SEC would show interest) and an outside chance the B1G would possibly consider Georgia Tech to plant a flag in Atlanta. But outside of that, I don't think any other ACC school stands a snowball's chance of P2 interest.

 

[Rufus]

If Memphis makes the same offer to the ACC, would the ACC show interest? They seem be ok with selling their souls for an extra dime.

 

[DFW HOYA]

If Memphis makes the same offer to the ACC, would the ACC show interest? They seem be ok with selling their souls for an extra dime.

No, for the same reason West Virginia can't get any interest from the ACC: the perception about its academics.

 

[CL82]

No, for the same reason West Virginia can't get any interest from the ACC: the perception about its academics.

 

[ZooCougar]

B10 has been consistent in large flagship research schools with solid academics and contiguous, so yeah UVa and GTech would definitely be on their radar. I’d say UVa, UNC, GATech and a Florida school all fit their profile. They took Rutgers and Maryland, so would think tapping into growing southern markets where midwesterners are migrating rapidly would make total sense.

The Big 10 doesn’t care about contiguity. That’s from a 1985 Sports Illustrated or something.

 

[Chuck]

We saw it with both SMU and Memphis. Apparently some universities feel that if you are not a part of the P4, you will be irretrievably left behind and dust are prepared to pony up serious money to try to prevent that from happening.

Some universities have made it their identities and believe it's their only way to thrive or even survive. We know that US higher education is in for a big change with changing demographics and at least currently due to political reasons (loss of international full pay students).

SMU got its ACC bribe money directly from alums. In essence, they solicited those funds in lieu of contributions to their endowment (which is solid, but not spectacular) or other projects (like new facilities). They must have determined that having legit D1 sports outweighs student aid or a new building.

Schools like Memphis should consider deemphasizing sports. The school is not well funded and has a small endowment. Memphis doesn't get many out of state students and doesn't get the wealthy smart kids in Tennessee. They get the kids that couldn't get in anywhere else, or need to commute from home. The mandate should be providing the best education, for the lowest price, to its Tennessee residents. To be fair, the only reason people have heard of the school and not a school like Rowan in New Jersey is sports, but is that really helping its students? EDIT: I looked up the costs, and it is SUPER cheap to go to Memphis.

 

[ZooCougar]

Some universities have made it their identities and believe it's their only way to thrive or even survive. We know that US higher education is in for a big change with changing demographics and at least currently due to political reasons (loss of international full pay students).

SMU got its ACC bribe money directly from alums. In essence, they solicited those funds in lieu of contributions to their endowment (which is solid, but not spectacular) or other projects (like new facilities). They must have determined that having legit D1 sports outweighs student aid or a new building.

Schools like Memphis should consider deemphasizing sports. The school is not well funded and has a small endowment. Memphis doesn't get many out of state students and doesn't get the wealthy smart kids in Tennessee. They get the kids that couldn't get in anywhere else, or need to commute from home. The mandate should be providing the best education, for the lowest price, to its Tennessee residents. To be fair, the only reason people have heard of the school and not a school like Rowan in New Jersey is sports, but is that really helping its students? EDIT: I looked up the costs, and it is SUPER cheap to go to Memphis.

SMU didn’t fork over bribe money. They got the money from alums to pay the school in lieu of taking a media payout.

They have no shortage of money and are a super wealthy school.

Supposedly and I would love it if someone fact checked this, they get $25M a year for Tier II and III rights.

 

[ZooCougar]

It was fairly consistent up until they went west to take the LA market, and was mentioned by their commissioner. It breeds rivalries and is an ease on travel. If they stay consistent with their theme, primarily strong academic flagships, UVa, UNC, GA Tech, FSU would all be their next round of targets. It opens up big new markets and major recruiting grounds.

It’s irrelevant now. Hasn’t been relevant probably in this century.

 

[UConnJim]

Here is the biggest problem Memphis faces: athletic department revenues of $67.5 million in 2024 and the average Big 12 school has about $100 to $125 million in revenues. In comparison, UConn's revenues were $105.6 million. How can Memphis make up the difference in revenues?

 

[ZooCougar]

Here is the biggest problem Memphis faces: athletic department revenues of $67.5 million in 2024 and the average Big 12 school has about $100 to $125 million in revenues. In comparison, UConn's revenues were $105.6 million. How can Memphis make up the difference in revenues?

Relocate the school to a different state.

Maybe do more than be the third most popular college sports program in your own city (Tennessee and Ole Miss).

 

[CL82]

Not sure I agree - was very relevant with Rutgers and Maryland, contiguous flagship AAU schools. That was 2014. Certainly applied to Nebraska in 2010. They made an exception for the LA TV market, which had natural tie ins with the Rose Bowl.

RU didn't get in because of its "academic excellence". Nor did it get in because it's contiguous with Pennsylvania. It got in primarily because New Brunswick is, barely, within the NYCDMA, which allowed the Big Ten network, the ability to receive a premium and beyond the first tier on cable within that area. Secondarily, as I am fond of saying, it got in because parts of New Jersey have a population density that rival New Delhi. There are 9 million people in New Jersey and that's a big potential customer base for the Big Ten network. In essence, the addition of Rutgers was a money grab pure and simple. Not that there's anything wrong with that, and it has worked just as it was designed to. It really didn't matter that it was "contiguous" with Pennsylvania or that it served as a "bridge" to Maryland as we've seen from later additions to the Big Ten

 

[CL82]

Sure / but then why didn’t they bring Texas or Florida schools in then? It’s strategy within some cohesive approach that doesn’t turn it into a giant Frankenstein. They do their best to stay within some structured footprint to maintain culture.

Because the last I checked, neither Texas, nor Florida schools are located within the New York DMA?

 

[kobe]

The doom and gloom here is crazy. We get a few more very good football seasons under our belt combined with basketball continuing to be elite and I can see an invite in our future.

we dont want you guys lol

 

[CL82]

we dont want you guys lol

Well, I guess we'll just have to be satisfied with winning national championships. You remember that feeling, right Kobe? Well, actually I guess you wouldn't unless you were born around 1950.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

B10 will be very much interested in UVA (deepen DC), UNC (growing population), Georgia and Florida as will get them the eastern seaboard in football loving states in pops where there are a ton of Midwesterners.

I basically agree (fully agree on the B1G eventually wanting UVA &UNC), but:

1) Florida and Georgia aren't leaving the SEC

2) the B1G won't consider holding the second tier property in a state where someone else holds the highest tier property.

 

[CL82]

Massive and growing populations and huge TV markets, especially as it comes to college football. The B10 is thoughtful in their approach.

B10 will be very much interested in UVA (deepen DC), UNC (growing population), Georgia and Florida as will get them the eastern seaboard in football loving states in pops where there are a ton of Midwesterners.
I’d expect them to all be on the board, SEC and B10 battling for UNC and UVa.

Once the ACC implodes I’d expect the crumbs left behind to be highly unattractive. Best we can hope for is Duke left behind, and an ACC leftovers/BE merger for hoops/Olympic.

Hey, no argument here, I think the Big Ten has taken the most intelligent approach to expansion of any major conference. The California grab seemed weird, but I'm sure the numbers make sense.

I agree with you regarding UNC and UVA. I don't think FSU has much of a chance. They have proven themselves to be a troublesome conference mate. I suspect the Big Ten views them to be a bit of a redheaded stepchild.

I'll also agree with you that the most likely outcome for us is to end up in a depleted ACC. From where we are now, however, that would still be a significant step up with better games and more meaningful rivalries.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I meant states - as in GaTech and then Miami or FSU.

Disagree with 2. For Georgia and Florida, I think they’d make the exception if all else lined up. States are big, so plenty of market share and have elite recruits. GA tech is in Atlanta so you get a foothold there. I could see them going Miami over FSU for similar reasons.

I know that you meant states. My point was that the only schools the B1G would consider in the two states that you mentioned won't be available.

Time will tell which one of us is correct. Keep in mind that the B1G has had a far different approach to expansion than the B-12, ACC or any other non-P2 conference.

 

[John]

I don’t disagree. But let’s not pretend Seton Hall and a few others are all sweetness and light. In a perfect world we would only have to associate with Georgetown and maybe Villanova. The rest of the NBE is pretty slimey.

worse than slimey, they're boring.

 

[ZooCougar]

Not sure I agree - was very relevant with Rutgers and Maryland, contiguous flagship AAU schools. That was 2014. Certainly applied to Nebraska in 2010. They made an exception for the LA TV market, which had natural tie ins with the Rose Bowl.

Well. Too bad. You learn something new every day.

They are so big it’s hard to not add something that is contiguous Z

 

[uconndogs]

I think the BiG and SEC are dividing the country up north and south. Obviously there is no formal agreement to that effect, but I would be surprised to see the BiG try to go into Florida, SC or Georgia and there is nothing left for them in Texas. Maybe they duke it out for UNC and Virginia, but like another poster already mentioned, I would not be surprised if that isn't already worked out.

 

[ZooCougar]

we dont want you guys lol

They dint even want you anymore. And your midget coach fired you.