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.

[FloridaMan88]

Deion’s recruiting connections in a conference that includes a geographic presence in Texas and Florida… gonna be very interesting to watch.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

UConn is less than that when it comes to football. They're not even in a conference and have virtually 0 following in football, unlike BYU for instance.

Still, I thought it appears that Fox and ESPN had agreed on pro rata for UCONN which gives the Big 12 that option, as opposed to Memphis who would dilute the pie.

That’s why the Big12 Presidents/Administrators won’t take any G5 team unless they have a lot of value, and not many, if any, have that.

[ForeverIowan]

Originally Posted by tredadda

If the ACC were to show cracks, the SEC would pounce on FSU and Clemson in a heartbeat. Same with Miami. The Big 10 probably pounces on UNC, Duke and UVA at minimum.

The Big Ten currently pulls in an insane $ amount per school. I think adding anyone other than Notre Dame dilutes that amount of $ going to each University. It is all dollars and cents. If the bottom line doesn't go up the Big Ten and SEC arent expanding for the sake of expansion. Follow the money.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by sedated

Northwestern and Vanderbilt have an ass ton of money

Yale and Harvard have a ton of money too, but nobody wants them

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Yale and Harvard have a ton of money too, but nobody wants them

But does Harvard and Yale want any of those conferences?

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by ForeverIowan

The Big Ten currently pulls in an insane $ amount per school. I think adding anyone other than Notre Dame dilutes that amount of $ going to each University. It is all dollars and cents. If the bottom line doesn't go up the Big Ten and SEC arent expanding for the sake of expansion. Follow the money.

It is all about football. and money

this is crazy s--- to me.



Remember when the big 10 was about alignment of ideas and research????
just saying

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Yale and Harvard have a ton of money too, but nobody wants them

Big/ACC/SEC/ even the SWC would have crushed them in football.


Besides, Yale and Harvard dont want to be around a bunch of rednecks.

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Why don't they kick schools out? There is really no reason for Northwestern, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt to exist in a P5 conference. The rest of the conference members just subsidize them.

The private schools are where the conference hides the bodies. No information act.

Also, kicking schools out of conferences is extremely rare. Last time it happened at the highest level is when the Big East booted Temple football.

No one wants to establish a precedent. If you are Mississippi State, you are the next on the list if they boot Vandy. It is better to tolerate what Vandy brings to the table (elite academics, solid Olympic sports, and easy football win (every conference needs some easy wins) than trying to kick them out.

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by MarkDavis'Haircut

It is better to tolerate what mu brings to the table (easy football win (every conference needs some easy wins) than trying to kick them out.

Agreed.

[BWillie]

BEST REALISTIC CASE SCENARIO FOR THE BIG 12??
1. Arizona, Oregon, and Washington to reach 16
2. Arizona to reach 14
3. Arizona, Arizona State & UCONN to reach 16
4. Arizona, Arizona State & Utah to reach 16
5. Arizona State to reach 14
6. UCONN to reach 14.
7. Utah to reach 14.

First of all, none of the ACC schools at least at this point is a realistic option until their GOR runs out or gets closer to running out. I think obviously the Big 12 wants Oregon, Washington and Arizona. I think the most likely team to go to the Big 12 if it is only one team is Arizona. I'm sure Arizona prefers to bring Arizona State but what difference does it make to bring them both from a Big 12 perspective? The same thing for Utah as the conference already has BYU. I think Houston may be an exception because of just how valuable being deeply entrenched in the Texas market is in terms of value. Texas is just kind of a different state/area for football than any other area/state.

You can tell the Big 12 is clearly thinking in terms of TV revenue and geographic exposure as they made sure to get UCF to get the Florida market and Cincinnati to get the rustbelt market and then BYU to get the Utah area market. I think the Big 12 wants UCONN more than people think and wants Utah less than they think.

What say you?

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by BWillie

BEST REALISTIC CASE SCENARIO FOR THE BIG 12??
1. Arizona, Oregon, and Washington to reach 16
2. Arizona to reach 14
3. Arizona, Arizona State & UCONN to reach 16
4. Arizona, Arizona State & Utah to reach 16
5. Arizona State to reach 14
6. UCONN to reach 14.
7. Utah to reach 14.

First of all, none of the ACC schools at least at this point is a realistic option until their GOR runs out or gets closer to running out. I think obviously the Big 12 wants Oregon, Washington and Arizona. I think the most likely team to go to the Big 12 if it is only one team is Arizona. I'm sure Arizona prefers to bring Arizona State but what difference does it make to bring them both from a Big 12 perspective? The same thing for Utah as the conference already has BYU. I think Houston may be an exception because of just how valuable being deeply entrenched in the Texas market is in terms of value. Texas is just kind of a different state/area for football than any other area/state.

You can tell the Big 12 is clearly thinking in terms of TV revenue and geographic exposure as they made sure to get UCF to get the Florida market and Cincinnati to get the rustbelt market and then BYU to get the Utah area market. I think the Big 12 wants UCONN more than people think and wants Utah less than they think.

What say you?

As much as I want Oregon, I'm not convinced the Big 12 would be able to hang onto them.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

As much as I want Oregon, I'm not convinced the Big 12 would be able to hang onto them.

I don't think they will either, but that may work to the Big 12's advantage. I think one reason why the Pac 12 can't get a good media deal is because Washington and Oregon do not want to commit to a long-term deal as they are hoping ---- praying for a Big 10 invite. But even if you get UDub and Oregon for a 3, 4, 5 years there is still value in that I think. At such a later point the ACC is going to be ready to be poached.

[ChiefsCountry]

Big 12 and PAC 12 should have just merged together after Texas, Oklahoma, USC, and UCLA left.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Big 12 and PAC 12 should have just merged together after Texas, Oklahoma, USC, and UCLA left.

The entire South division of the Big 12 almost did that years ago. My understanding is the Longhorn Network ****ed that up. Nebraska's Osborne indicated that as the reason Nebraska left to the B1G. The deal for the South division to move to the Pac 12 was done in principle but Texas just wouldn't give up the LHN. Unfortunately Texas was rewarded for their selfishness and while the LHN failed, they got a more valuable SEC opportunity but for Kansas and K-State probably one of the better case scenarios.

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Big 12 and PAC 12 should have just merged together after Texas, Oklahoma, USC, and UCLA left.

I like just adding Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington a lot more than merging with the entire conference.