Big 10 Report: Conference Realignment

[Mr. Laz]

A source in St. Louis familiar with the situation told NewsCenter 16 Thursday afternoon that Missouri will leave the Big XII and soon join the Big 10. Other schools expected to follow the Tigers are Syracuse, Pitt, Rutgers and Nebraska.

Many have speculated that such an expansion would include Notre Dame but ND athletic director Jack Swarbrick told me today that the Irish prefer to stay independent in football and in the Big East for other sports. Swarbrick said maintaining football Independence is such a part of what Notre Dame is.

He went on to say the Big East is a great partner for the University in other sports.

"We do have to monitor what is going on," Swarbrick said. "There will be significant shifts. "Hopefully we can navigate them by keeping our football independent and keeping our Big East affiliation because that is what we care about."

The move of Syracuse, Pitt and Rutgers to the Big Ten from the Big East could categorically change the landscape of the Big East itself. Thus, what Swarbrick is referring to when stating the University must continue to monitor what is going on.

The interview with Swarbrick was done before the late afternoon announcement.

http://www.wndu.com/sports/headlines/92447574.html

[RustShack]

Iowa State will win the North. With or without Nebraska. Oh, and ISU also has the #2 hardest schedule in the nation.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by RustShack

Iowa State will win the North. With or without Nebraska. Oh, and ISU also has the #2 hardest schedule in the nation.

Hey there.

[aturnis]

Originally Posted by RustShack

Iowa State will win the North. With or without Nebraska. Oh, and ISU also has the #2 hardest schedule in the nation.

...and they suck!

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

Hey there.

OK Mizzou might win it. But Iowa State will be a close second!(even though there isn't a North anymore, but you know what I'm saying.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by RustShack

OK Mizzou might win it. But Iowa State will be a close second!(even though there isn't a North anymore, but you know what I'm saying.

Eh, they are ascending. But not that much.

[LiveSteam]

Mach Browns belly is a powerful player



https://www.maplestreetpress.com/book.cfm?book_id=121

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by vailpass

They would be behind Oklahoma, aTm, and OStU for sure. They would be somewhere in the mix with Texas and Mizzou. At best, they would be fourth. At worst, they would be sixth.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

NU would have probably been #5 in the Big 12 at best.

Big 12 > Big 10

Now here is a guy who really knows his college football. Tell us more.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

They would be behind Oklahoma, aTm, and OStU for sure. They would be somewhere in the mix with Texas and Mizzou. At best, they would be fourth. At worst, they would be sixth.

Whatever you say.

[HolyHandgernade]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...joining-pac-12

The Pac-12's desire to make its own network -- and in the process prevent the creation of the Longhorn Network -- was a factor that kept Texas in the Big 12.

And now, with the Pac-12 set to make an official announcement later Wednesday about its network, Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott told the Austin American-Statesman that it all but eliminates the possibility of future membership for the Longhorns.

"I think you could certainly imply that, with the news that we're going to announce tonight," Scott told the newspaper. "The Longhorn Network would be certainly a huge impediment."

Scott reiterated his recent comments that future expansion was coming, but it's unlikely now that Texas would be a part of it.

"It's not something we are looking at now," he told the paper. "We did our deal. We're very happy with it. We're not thinking or looking at expanding at the moment, but we are trying to create the strongest conference possible. I do feel there will be further expansion, and I want to be an attractive place to come."

Scott also said he's watching the Longhorn Network's progress with the prospect of televising high school games, saying that if it's officially given permission by the NCAA, the Pac-12 Network will broadcast high school games as soon as the network goes live.

If Texas keeps pushing towards independence and OU/A&M keep flirting with the SEC, I say Scott will try to move first again to a 16 team conference by adding Texas Tech, OSU, KU and MU. He'll have to move quickly because the Big 10 will also target MU-KU to round out its conference assuming Notre Dame will also stay independent.

It would make the most sense. If he lets the Big 10 grab KU-MU, he's stuck with KSU-ISU which isn't as attractive. If he gets the KU-MU-OSU-TTech quad, he adds a four state footprint in the coveted central time zone. From a marketing perspective, if you air the Tech and OSU start times AFTER their Texas-A&M-OU counterparts, you can pick up enough transient fans of those fan bases who will watch "their other state school" play those "hippies out west". While they may not buy said school's merchandise, they will turn their TVs on to watch and root for them.

That would give them the transient Texas markets, the transient Oklahoma City and Tulsa markets, the Wichita, KC and St. Louis markets. That's a huge market share to add to Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, California, Portland and Seattle markets. He would basically own just about everything west of the Mississippi. It would also give the PAC points of contact with the other two big conferences. The state of Missouri alone borders three Big 10 states and two SEC states.

It might not be regarded as the strongest football conference, but it would command a huge market. With the new national/regional structure of their TV network, it flows nicely into midwest/mountain/California/northwest regional four school bundles. KSU, ISU and Baylor will probably have to find smaller conferences (unless the Big 10 needs a school to round out to 16, in which case they might take ISU, if the Big 10 didn't get MU-KU).

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Whatever you say.

Nebraska's a solid team, but they aren't Ohio State nor Oklahoma. You act like you expect them to come in and take over the conference when they haven't won the Big XII in forever.

[Mr. Kotter]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Nebraska's a solid team, but they aren't Ohio State nor Oklahoma. You act like you expect them to come in and take over the conference when they haven't won the Big XII in forever.

I live in Big 10 country; hands down, the most over-rated conference in the country.

The Huskers will make a splash; big fish in a smallish pond...just sayin'.

[LiveSteam]

BIG 10 media days,stroking the Husker EGO big time.

[LiveSteam]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Nebraska's a solid team, but they aren't Ohio State nor Oklahoma. You act like you expect them to come in and take over the conference when they haven't won the Big XII in forever.

Thats right Saul. We have NOTHING. Why would anyone compare Nebraska's
accomplishments in football to the likes of OU & O-ST. Thats just stupid right?

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Nebraska's a solid team, but they aren't Ohio State nor Oklahoma. You act like you expect them to come in and take over the conference when they haven't won the Big XII in forever.

I don't believe NU would have finished 5th in the B12 this season. Your opinion differs and we will never know.

I don't put NU on par with the big boy programs today. I also don't talk shit about an upcoming opponent because there is no upside in it. UM and tOSU may have off seasons this year. IMHO it is an extremely fortuitious time to be joining the B10 however even our worst teams can bite a team in the ass if they aren't ready to play.