New Conference re-alignment thread

[Saulbadguy]

The old one has AIDS.

Anyways, Chip Brown from Orangebloods.com reports OU may apply to the Pac-12 by the end of the month.

Oklahoma will apply for membership to the Pac-12 before the end of the month, and Oklahoma State is expected to follow suit, a source close to OU's administration told Orangebloods.com.

Even though Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said Friday the Pac-12 was not interested in expansion at this time, OU's board of regents is fed up with the instability in the Big 12, the source said.

The OU board of regents will meet within two weeks to formalize plans to apply for membership to the Pac-12, the source said.

Messages left Sunday night with OU athletic director Joe Castiglione and Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder were not immediately returned.

If OU follows through with what appears to be a unanimous sentiment on the seven-member Oklahoma board of regents to leave the Big 12, realignment in college athletics could be heating back up. OU's application would be matched by an application from Oklahoma State, the source said, even though OSU president Burns Hargis and mega-booster Boone Pickens both voiced their support for the Big 12 last Thursday.

There is differing sentiment about if the Pac-12 presidents and chancellors are ready to expand again after bringing in Colorado and Utah last year and landing $3 billion TV contracts from Fox and ESPN. Colorado president Bruce Benson told reporters last week CU would be opposed to any expansion that might bring about east and west divisions in the Pac-12.

Currently, there are north and south divisions in the Pac-12. If OU and OSU were to join, Larry Scott would have to get creative.

Scott's orginal plan last summer was to bring in Colorado, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and put them in an eastern division with Arizona and Arizona State. The old Pac-8 schools (USC, UCLA, Cal, Stanford, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Washington State) were to be in the west division.

Colorado made the move in June 2010, but when Texas A&M was not on board to go west, the Big 12 came back together with the help of its television partners (ABC/ESPN and Fox).

If Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were accepted into the Pac-12, there would undoubtedly be a hope by Larry Scott that Texas would join the league. But Texas sources have indicated UT is determined to hang onto the Longhorn Network, which would not be permissible in the Pac-12 in its current form.

Texas sources continue to indicate to Orangebloods.com that if the Big 12 falls apart, the Longhorns would consider "all options."

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe held an emergency conference call 10 days ago with league presidents excluding Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M and asked the other league presidents to "work on Texas" because Beebe didn't think the Pac-12 would take Oklahoma without Texas.

Now, it appears OU is willing to take its chances with the Pac-12 with or without Texas.

There seemed to be a temporary pause in any possible shifting of the college athletics' landscape when Baylor led a charge to tie up Texas A&M's move to the Southeastern Conference in legal red tape. BU refused to waive its right to sue the SEC over A&M's departure from the Big 12, and the SEC said it would not admit Texas A&M until it had been cleared of any potential lawsuits.

Baylor, Kansas and Iowa State have indicated they will not waive their right to sue the SEC.

It's unclear if an application by OU to the Pac-12 would draw the same threats of litigation against the Pac-12 from those Big 12 schools.

Stay tuned.

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

It was.

Point being whatever Texas does or gets, Oklahoma has to do. Or vice versa.

Similar to how UCLA/USC are tied at the hip. Auburn/Alabama, Florida/Georgia, Michigan/Ohio St., etc.

Will be curious to see what happens to the ACC whenever their media rights deal is over. I think a decent amount of the league will join the SEC (FSU, Miami, Clemson, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech), while the rest join the B1G.

The ACC will be divided up by the Big 10 and SEC with a couple of schools left out in the cold.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by MarkDavis'Haircut

No doubt. Cal would sooner die than hobnob with the Great Plains schools and UCF.

Oh yeah, BYU holds a grudge with Utah. Understandably so. Utah would be a great get for the PAC 12. Bring back the Holy War!

From an academic perspective, I don't see Cal or Stanford liking to be affiliated with the likes of SDSU, Boise St., Fresno St. either.

They have to pray they get a B1G invite or I think they'll go independent.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by MarkDavis'Haircut

Cal and Stanford would discontinue athletics before they ever dropped to the MWC. They would commit suicide before having to share a conference with Fresno State.

I think the Big 10 wants Cal and Stanford because the university presidents would make them. There is room for those two schools in the 24 or 32 team conference model. Which is the ultimate endgame.

Washington State and Oregon State are out of luck.

I will agree with you that WSU and OSU are out of luck.

I do not agree with your assessment of that Big 10 wants Cal and Stanford. If they really did want them when they got USC/UCLA at the time, they would have done so at the time.

Cal and Stanford bring little to zero value on athletics and viewership. Not to mention, I just cannot see them getting an invite simply because I don’t see how they can increase the per school number or even keep it where it is, the B1G pie.

Edited to add: The B1G would most likely prefer Oregon and/or Washington as they have better value/offer if they had to choose between the 4 of Cal, Stanford, Washington, and Oregon.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

It was.

Point being whatever Texas does or gets, Oklahoma has to do. Or vice versa.

Similar to how UCLA/USC are tied at the hip. Auburn/Alabama, Florida/Georgia, Michigan/Ohio St., etc.

Will be curious to see what happens to the ACC whenever their media rights deal is over. I think a decent amount of the league will join the SEC (FSU, Miami, Clemson, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech), while the rest join the B1G.

You think the SEC would welcome GT back?

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by Coach

I will agree with you that WSU and OSU are out of luck.

I do not agree with your assessment of that Big 10 wants Cal and Stanford. If they really did want them when they got USC/UCLA at the time, they would have done so at the time.

Cal and Stanford bring little to zero value on athletics and viewership. Not to mention, I just cannot see them getting an invite simply because I don’t see how they can increase the per school number or even keep it where it is, the B1G pie.

Edited to add: The B1G would most likely prefer Oregon and/or Washington as they have better value/offer if they had to choose between the 4 of Cal, Stanford, Washington, and Oregon.

Stanford won the Directors Cup this year. They have a really good athletic department, though it seems like they're break-even or slightly in the red currently. They aren't great in MBB and football currently (were recently with Harbaugh and Shaw up until a few seasons ago).

Cal is a mess but they have the academic prestige and are part of the UC system, which UCLA is subsidizing up to $10 million a year for Cal's athletics for the foreseeable future.

Adding Stanford and Cal brings in the SF TV market as well as their academics. Personally, if I were the B1G I'd go after Stanford to entice ND to join.

Originally Posted by tredadda

You think the SEC would welcome GT back?

Money talks.

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

Originally Posted by Coach

I will agree with you that WSU and OSU are out of luck.

I do not agree with your assessment of that Big 10 wants Cal and Stanford. If they really did want them when they got USC/UCLA at the time, they would have done so at the time.

Cal and Stanford bring little to zero value on athletics and viewership. Not to mention, I just cannot see them getting an invite simply because I don’t see how they can increase the per school number or even keep it where it is, the B1G pie.

Edited to add: The B1G would most likely prefer Oregon and/or Washington as they have better value/offer if they had to choose between the 4 of Cal, Stanford, Washington, and Oregon.

Stanford is a great carrot to attract Notre Dame.

Of course, if the Big 10 wasn't a cesspool of anti-Catholicism in the 1920s, the Irish would have joined. Notre Dame was begging for an invitation and the commissioner wanted them. But the schools and coaches didn't.

Gotta love CFB history!

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Stanford won the Directors Cup this year. They have a really good athletic department, though it seems like they're break-even or slightly in the red currently. They aren't great in MBB and football currently (were recently with Harbaugh and Shaw up until a few seasons ago).

Cal is a mess but they have the academic prestige and are part of the UC system, which UCLA is subsidizing up to $10 million a year for Cal's athletics for the foreseeable future.

Adding Stanford and Cal brings in the SF TV market as well as their academics. Personally, if I were the B1G I'd go after Stanford to entice ND to join.

Money talks.

The bolded part, I can see that, but the odds of that is very low for Stanford. We will just have to disagree on that Cal and Stanford, and just have to wait and see what happens at this point.

There's still more dominoes to fall as the Big 12 wouldn't just take Colorado without considering another to make it back to 14 when OU and Texas leaves in 2024. I still believe it will be Arizona, U-Conn, and Colorado as I mentioned, I just don't know the 4th one.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by Coach

The bolded part, I can see that, but the odds of that is very low for Stanford. We will just have to disagree on that Cal and Stanford, and just have to wait and see what happens at this point.

There's still more dominoes to fall as the Big 12 wouldn't just take Colorado without considering another to make it back to 14 when OU and Texas leaves in 2024. I still believe it will be Arizona, U-Conn, and Colorado as I mentioned, I just don't know the 4th one.

I don't think Stanford can absorb the potential rise in operating expenses, if they do go independent, long-term unless they limit themselves to only playing exclusively west.

Joining the B1G allows them to still play UCLA and USC while having more league revenue and being affiliated with universities held in higher academic regard.

Also allows the B1G to have another market for later games.

I agree with regard to the B12 that they probably aren't done yet and even with those 4, I'm not sure they're done for the next few years. Could see them adding USF to get further into FL (they're also building an on-campus football stadium and are natural rivals with UCF) as well as Memphis. Aside from that, it's slim pickings from the American unless you want to add someone like Tulane, SMU, or Temple.

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

If the Big 12 can't lure any more Pac 12 teams, I would go with Memphis.

SMU isn't happening (TCU and Houston and Texas Tech would block it). Temple is a dead end. Tulane is intriguing (man, they regret leaving the SEC) but beware of one year wonders. USF is all potential which rarely pans out.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by MarkDavis'Haircut

If the Big 12 can't lure any more Pac 12 teams, I would go with Memphis.

SMU isn't happening (TCU and Houston and Texas Tech would block it). Temple is a dead end. Tulane is intriguing (man, they regret leaving the SEC) but beware of one year wonders. USF is all potential which rarely pans out.

I agree with regard to Memphis. Tulane and SMU don't offer really any upside. Temple brings you to Philly, but that's it.

UCF has the potential to be a juggernaut given where its recruiting base is, its investment in facilities, its large alumni base, and its move to Power 5 which is coming after its success in football.

USF has the same benefits and possibilities as UCF except it is years behind in facilities and success.

[displacedinMN]

In 15 to 20 years, we will all be here talking about the breakup of the super conferences.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

It was.

Point being whatever Texas does or gets, Oklahoma has to do. Or vice versa.

Similar to how UCLA/USC are tied at the hip. Auburn/Alabama, Florida/Georgia, Michigan/Ohio St., etc.

Will be curious to see what happens to the ACC whenever their media rights deal is over. I think a decent amount of the league will join the SEC (FSU, Miami, Clemson, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech), while the rest join the B1G.

Miami is AAU now and would prefer the Big 10.

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by MarkDavis'Haircut

If the Big 12 can't lure any more Pac 12 teams, I would go with Memphis.

SMU isn't happening (TCU and Houston and Texas Tech would block it). Temple is a dead end. Tulane is intriguing (man, they regret leaving the SEC) but beware of one year wonders. USF is all potential which rarely pans out.

Colorado isn’t the only school jumping. But if they do end up with an odd number from the PAC, UCONN is the backup option to even the numbers.

[Sassy Squatch]

Yeah, Stanford's biggest appeal is that it's a good throw in with Notre Dame

[Coach]

Sources: The Big 12’s presidents and chancellors voted unanimously Wednesday night on a conference call to accept Colorado as a new member. Colorado still has not formally applied for Big 12 membership, which is expected to happen tomorrow.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 27, 2023