MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
On the docket for later: playoff expansion close to reality? End of the bowl alliance? Big12 and B1G expansion? Demise of a P5 league?
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
It happened about this time last year and it’s happening again with renewed vigor: playoff expansion discussions between conference presidents.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
With the very real possibility of 3 of the 5 power conferences being left out, presidents are regretting this bill of goods they’ve been sold.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
A 1-loss ND being left out would also be a catalyst that could cause the Irish to join the ACC in all sports.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
ESPN is happy to accommodate to expand the playoffs but could also see fox or nbc get in on the action for new first round games.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
I’ll return this afternoon to go into a lot more detail on expansion. Big things happening. It’ll be hard to pac it all in tweets.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
Abysmal ratings. Botched attempt at a conference network. In-fighting between schools. One conference has become ripe for defections that could change the landscape of college football again. That conference is the Pac12.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
There were cracks showing over 2 years ago. Two schools reached out to the B12(Arizona and Arizona State) at the 11th hour of B12 expanding.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
B12 was about to invite BYU and Cincinnati despite pressure from ESPN to not expand. The brief talks with the two P12 schools were a revelation that in the near future the B12 would have better options for expansion.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
Fast forward to now and the Pac12 has not gotten better. The anchor school of USC has not returned to power. Stanford can’t find its footing. Oregon is improving but still a far cry from where they were. The Arizona schools are still reeling from the botched attempt to raid B12
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
Late games with poor ratings. A network no one watches. Fan interest generally the lowest of the P5. The final straw for the Arizona schools was watching Fox put a nascar truck race higher priority over a conference game.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
Arizona and Arizona State will be leaving to join the B12. It’s not even a matter of if now-just when. Talks have been ongoing for a long time. This will return the B12 to its namesake and with the larger tv markets added will be lucrative for the networks as well.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
But it won’t stop there.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
B10 is poised to win the biggest prize with a sizable chunk of the existing Pac12 and the first true national power conference that will span from coast to coast.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
The leftovers from such a move would be ripe for the taking for the B12. Possibly even returning a former member to the fold.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
As a WVU guy this is not the type of expansion I would’ve hoped for. The near miss of FSU and Clemson still stings.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
I know that WVU has tried to negotiate an out with the B12 for a move to either the SEC or ACC if either expands again.
J. Haught @DubVii Nov 15
If the B10 were to take a "sizable chunk" would they also, in turn, look to dump an equal amount of existing schools?
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
Replying to
@DubVii
No. The B1G has always had contingency for up to 20 members.
Robbie Jay @Robbiejay84 Nov 15
Which teams would the Big10 Target? USC, Stanford, Cal, Oregon, Washington? Those seem to be the ones that fit the profile best
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
Replying to
@Robbiejay84
Add UCLA to that list and you’d have the prize.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
Even the local media in Arizona knows something is going on. Recent stories have hinted as much.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
The Pac12 as a whole is not as valuable to networks due to geography. But in chunks as part of conferences with a more central and eastern makeup they become more valuable.
Tim Webb @realtimwebb Nov 15
Any change the scraps come together with top G5 teams to form a decent conference ( maybe not “power” )
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
Replying to
@realtimwebb
I’d imagine if Utah, Washington State, and Oregon State are left holding the Pac12 name they could form a new conference with MW schools and BYU.
Texas Cyclone @TXCyclones Nov 15
But can anyone really call that a “prize”?
MH ver3 @MH ver3 Nov 15
Replying to
@TXCyclones
A true blue football program in USC, the school with unlimited potential in Oregon, a near blue FB program in Stanford, and a true blue basketball program in UCLA. It’s like winning the powerball.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 21m21 minutes ago
Notre Dame is very close to going all-in with the ACC. NBC contract will remain and ND will receive a full share off ACC revenue while “paying” member schools whose games with them appear on NBC
MH ver3 @MH ver3 20m20 minutes ago
This would necessitate the ACC needing to add a 14th member to keep the divisions even.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 19m19 minutes ago
WVU would be the main target for most ACC schools due to profile and since half the conference is comprised of former conference mates.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 19m19 minutes ago
WVU would not leave B12 before GOR expires unless an out could be agreed on.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 17m17 minutes ago
Other schools ACC would target include UCONN, Temple(yes Temple), Houston, and possibly a sweetheart deal to try and lure Texas(would never happen but Swofford will try)
MH ver3 @MH ver3 16m16 minutes ago
Don’t count out Cincinnati as a possible target but the two Florida directional AAC schools will not get a sniff due to FSU and Miami.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 16m16 minutes ago
I meant 16th member. Sorry. Brain fart.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 13m13 minutes ago
Meanwhile B12 is looking to become the sports content provider for a new Disney streaming service that is looking to replace Netflix as the number 1 streaming service.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 12m12 minutes ago
This new service could be the new home of many of B12 Olympic sports including a large swath of the baseball games.
MH ver3 @MH ver3 12m12 minutes ago
Financials wouldn’t be a huge boost but every million or two per school helps.