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Conference Realignment-Maryland/Rutgers to the Big Ten

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  Conference Realignment-Maryland/Rutgers to the Big Ten
#1

Posted: August 13, 2011, 4:08 AM Post
Posts: 123
I don't know if it's technically final yet but from everything I'm hearing it's all but done.  There are also reports that Missouri, FSU and Clemson are going to the SEC but those are more premature.  Whatever happens the SEC won't stop at 13 teams so you can expect at least one more team.  So let's say that Missouri, FSU and Clemson do join, does the Big Ten respond?  You'd think they'd have to.  But with who?  My top four choices would be Notre Dame, Boston College, Syracuse, and Pitt.  That would bring a lot of big TV markets into the fold.  Plus ND has a national following.  Finally, and this is just my selfish little reasoning, but BC and Notre Dame bring fine hockey programs that would help legitimize that Big Ten hockey conference that currently only has 6 teams.


Last edited by PeaveyFury on September 19, 2011, 10:28 AM, edited 1 time in total.

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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#2

Posted: August 13, 2011, 4:19 AM Post
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Texas might just end up an independent as their conference is crumbling around them.

I don't think the Big 10 has to respond, as it doesn't really care what happens in the South, but I would think they would definitely poach eastern TV markets if they open up. Problem is the marginal revenue gains by adding a 12th school (football championship game) far outweigh the gains of adding a 13th-16th school. So new candidates will be subject to increased scrutiny, which dampens expansion efforts.

If Texas wanted to sign up, or Notre Dame, it would easily be worth adding either of those schools. Other than that, I'm not convinced any other school would be a great enough get unless the Big Ten felt their hand was forced, which I'm not sure it is yet.


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#3

Posted: August 13, 2011, 5:07 AM Post
Posts: 123
I think if the SEC moves to 16, especially with possible TV markets in Dallas/Ft. Worth and Kansas City/St Louis, the Big 10 would have to do something.  Hopefully Notre Dame would see the writing on the wall and realize that once the SEC moves to 16, so will the Big 10, and then eventually the PAC 12 and whats left of the Big East and ACC.  Notre Dame can't survive on it's own like Texas because Texas has it's own network. I'm not even sure Texas could survive on it's own with 4 "super conferences".  I wouldn't mind seeing Texas in the Big 10, but they seem to think the world revolves around them. They were a huge reason why Nebraska left the Big 12 and are a huge reason why A&M is leaving.  They are essentially destroying the Big 12 all on their own.  I don't see how you can admit them into the Big Ten when they have their own network and will probably want the same thing they want now (televise HS games and a conference game).

I'd really like to see BC in the Big 10.  I think that'd be a great pickup to get the Boston TV market and another east coast team in there.  I've heard schools like Maryland and Virginia as possibilities, presumably because they are AAU members which the Big Ten likes, and I guess the Washington market would be a good get, but Maryland just doesn't do it for me.  Rutgers I guess would be another possibility because of their AAU membership and TV market, but athletic wise they bring absolutely nothing.  Pitt is AAU as well and have been a basketball powerhouse lately plus have a pretty decent football program.  Syracuse is also a basketball powerhouse and may bring the NYC market.  So for me, ND, Pitt, BC, and Syracuse.  I'd be ok with Missouri as well and I guess I could get on board with Maryland.


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#4

Posted: August 13, 2011, 7:50 AM Post
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I agree re: Texas. I had some hope for them last summer, but they're wrapped up in their own world down there and the Longhorn Network and B10 Network can't coexist in the same conference.

And yeah, AAU membership is almost a prerequisite to join the B10. That makes Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Rutgers, and Pittsburgh top candidates.

I would guess that Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Rutgers are on the top of the B10's expansion list, in that order. It will be fun to see what happens.


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#5

Posted: August 13, 2011, 8:04 AM Post
Posts: 1559
Texas is probably going to end up going independent. As for A&M, the DFW market isn't really a gain, because College Station is between Austin and Houston, not close to DFW. And really, A&M considers Texas a big brother, so I think right now, it's time to try to 1 up them. It's a great move for A&M, if they do go to the SEC.


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#6

Posted: August 13, 2011, 9:42 AM Post
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sbrylski06 said:
And yeah, AAU membership is almost a prerequisite to join the B10. That makes Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Rutgers, and Pittsburgh top candidates.
Nebraska isn't an AAU member...


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#7

Posted: August 13, 2011, 9:45 AM Post
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LambeauLeap President
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I agree that this is a huge win for A&M. I see zero credibility to the Missouri rumors, as I simply don't see what they offer to the SEC geographically or in terms of prestige. Probably just an extension of the rumors of their discontent back when Nebraska and Colorado bolted because of Texas' power in the Big 12.

Sounds like Texas will be either independent or push strongly to keep the Big 12 together, even if it's with 8 teams. Obviously, the SEC will look to add at least one more to even things up, so this could spark another exciting period of conference scrambling.


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#8

Posted: August 13, 2011, 8:38 PM Post
Posts: 123
Nebraska isn't an AAU member...

Oddly enough, I think they were a member when they got invited into the Big Ten and then got voted out of the AAU before they were official members of the Big Ten.  If AAU is still a prerequisite, then I'd guess Pitt, Maryland, Rutgers, Missouri, Kansas and Virginia would all be considered. Maybe Iowa St but I don't see what they could bring to the table.  But Notre Dame isn't a member and they've been invited in the past.


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#9

Posted: August 14, 2011, 1:09 PM Post
Posts: 123
So apparently the SEC is not going to invite TAMU yet.  If I were the Big 10, I'd consider inviting them, along with a few others, right now.  The 16 team conferences are coming so they may as well get the best schools they can.  TAMU is an AAU member I believe and getting into Texas would be very beneficial for them, both in terms in exposure and with recruiting.  TAMU and Missouri and then two east coast teams (Pitt and Rutgers?) would do great things for the Big 10.


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#10

Posted: September 06, 2011, 10:11 AM Post
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LambeauLeap President
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Lots of talk about Oklahoma actively searching for a new conference, possibly going with Texas/Tech/Ok State to the Pac-whatever, and this time they seem fairly credible. Stoops and Oklahoma are being quoted a lot today, and much of it suggests that they don't care about staying in the Big 12 and are indifferent about whether or not they stay/join a conference with Texas.

Reports out of New York also have the Big East looking at adding Kansas, KSU, and Missouri, making them a basketball powerhouse conference.

There seems to be a general consensus of inevitability regarding the 16-team super conferences at this point- where does that leave the Big Ten in all of this?


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#11

Posted: September 06, 2011, 10:56 AM Post
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I would still like to see Texas join the Big 10, but I know they would never check their ego at the door, so it won't happen. I think the Big 10 just has to wait quietly in the reeds, with their targets firmly hashed out, and wait for the first firecracker to go off. I don't think there's a lot of direct competition for schools between the Big 10 and the SEC, and I have to think the Big 10 is also preferred to the Big East by any school looking to make a jump, so the Big 10 is in a pretty good position to just wait for the perfect time.


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#12

Posted: September 07, 2011, 10:55 AM Post
Posts: 123
where does that leave the Big Ten in all of this?

My ideal end game for the Big 10 is this:

Notre Dame:  National recognition.  Good academics.  In the heart of Big 10 country.  This is a no brainer
Missouri: AAU member.  Borders multiple Big 10 states. Solidifies Kansas City (31st largest) and St Louis (21st largest) tv markets
Boston College:  Another excellent academic university and another huge tv market (7th)
Maryland:  AAU member and two more large tv markets in Washington DC (9th) and Baltimore (26)

East/West Divisional breakdown:
West (Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, Purdue)
East (Michigan, Michigan St., Notre Dame, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio St, Penn St., BC)

So essentially you are adding four very good academic institutions, adding five large tv markets AND adding the national audience that follows Notre Dame.  The Big 10 doesn't have to sacrifice its academic reputation for the sake of athletics like other conferences do. 

Looking at the tv markets, adding these schools and counting current members, you would solidly have the following markets watching your conference:
Chicago (3rd largest market) Boston (7) DC (9) Detroit (11) Minneapolis-St Paul (15) Cleveland/Akron (18) St Louis (21) Baltimore (26) Indianapolis (27) KC (31) Columbus (34) and. Milwaukee (35) You are also partially in the Philly (4), Pittsburgh (24), and Cincinnati (33) markets.  That's 15 of the 35 largest tv markets.  And finally, for my selfish pleasure, you add two schools with hockey teams to the Big 10 hockey conference.  BC is a national powerhouse in hockey.

I hear the Big 10 isn't interested in Missouri, which really surprises me.  They are interested in Maryland and Notre Dame.  I have no idea where they stand on BC but I really think BC would be a HUGE get for them. 


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#13

Posted: September 08, 2011, 4:27 AM Post
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LambeauLeap President
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The problem with a school like Missouri is that for expansion to make sense in the Big Ten, they have to get schools that increase the conference revenues, otherwise the current schools are essentially taking a cut in each of their pieces of the pie. While KC and St Louis are nice markets, Missouri doesn't have enough of a brand to bring in a lot of extra revenue.

Notre Dame fits the bill for a lot of reasons, and would almost certainly be included in any expansion efforts. Oklahoma is a national power with a big brand that would be a huge get for the conference. I would think the appeal of shorter travel distances and not playing football games in the Pacific Timezone with noone out east watching might be interesting to Oklahoma. I'd take Ok State in a heartbeat too if it meant getting Oklahoma.


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#14

Posted: September 08, 2011, 5:04 AM Post
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I remember the Oklahoma/Nebraska rivalry being huge back in the 80s/90s. They've been conference rivals for like a hundred years. You'd think that OK would seriously consider the Big 10 instead following wherever Texas goes.


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#15

Posted: September 08, 2011, 8:02 AM Post
Posts: 123
You'd think that OK would seriously consider the Big 10 instead following wherever Texas goes.

Does the Big 10 want Oklahoma?  I'm not sure they match up academically.

I've also read reports now that both Notre Dame and Texas are in serious talks with the Big Ten.  Apparently they both presented the Big Ten with their conditions for joining.

http://www.cornnation.com...exas-to-the-big-ten-some

Take it as you want.  I have no idea how legit the source is, but I find it interesting.  I can't imagine Nebraska is all that happy about Texas joining, but this would be huge for the Big 10.  If schools were "free agents",  Texas and Notre Dame would probably be the top two.  The Longhorn Network would have to somehow coexist or be absorbed by the Big Ten Network.  I just hope Texas can check its ego at the door.

Get these two along with Missouri and BC and I'm good : )


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#16

Posted: September 09, 2011, 2:11 AM Post
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The Weatherman
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Notre Dame would be a nice pickup for the B10 hockey conference also.

I think the Big Ten should stay at 12 unless Notre Dame agrees to come in. If so, then the floodgates open.

Texas doesn't seem likely, I'm sure they have steep demands.

Better to take ND and one other school to get up to 14. Don't play the race to 16 game, wait and see is a better approach. The super-conference model is going to fail for some schools and they may be willing to flee for the B10 several years down the road. In fact, there's no guarantee that it will work at all, in 10 years we could see 8 disenfranchised schools bolting to create a new conference. The better model is to be patient and pick schools that are good fits for the B10.


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#17

Posted: September 09, 2011, 8:34 AM Post
Posts: 123
I don't think Notre Dame is going to join a conference unless they absolutely have to, and that won't happen until the 16 team conference race starts.


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#18

Posted: September 11, 2011, 12:13 PM Post
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Maybe we can take this time to trade Minnesota for a better team, like Baylor.


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#19

Posted: September 14, 2011, 6:13 AM Post
Posts: 123
This is getting kind of interesting.  It's all going to happen, it's just a matter of who is going to act first.  Oklahoma is going to go to the Pac-12. Oklahoma St will go with them.  This pretty much will dismantle the Big 12, so Baylor and Iowa St will have no more reason to keep up the legal threats with Texas A&M.  Texas A&M will then leave for the SEC, who will eventually look to add at least one more team.  The Big East has already talked about adding Kansas, K-State and Baylor and could do that right away.  The Big Ten doesn't want to be left behind so they'll grab somebody.  Notre Dame will realize they need a conference and will join the Big Ten.  And by 2014 there will be four16-team conferences. 

And it's all Texas' fault Image.  When they joined the Big 12 they became the center of the universe.  They needed the Big 12 headquarters to be in Texas, which pissed off Nebraska.  Nebraska eventually fled to the Big Ten to get away from Texas.  Texas then forms it's own network and actually gets to show HS football games and one conference game on the channel.  Of course this gives them a huge advantage so A&M says see you later.  And now Texas is desperately trying to hold the Big 12 together and everyone else is like screw you. 


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  A&M to the SEC/Pitt & Syracuse to ACC/Conference Realignment
#20

Posted: September 15, 2011, 6:43 AM Post
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It is going to be very interesting to see where Texas ends up. It seems like just about every conference is on the table for them, with the ACC now firmly in the mix.


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