Conference Realignment..?

[Cascadia]

Flats earthers say that as well

[CrimsonNBlue]

What can't be argued is that, by losing OU and UT, the Big 12 loses its 2 biggest brands in UT athletics and OU football. That's just plain fact. I would also argue that you are losing some of the best non-revenue sports programs in the entire league. UT everything and the OU softball juggernaut.

Logically, then, by adding 4 schools in response, it's true that you have 2 more mouths to feed from what, arguably, is very likely to be a smaller pizza.

I think it is both true that the Big 12 appears to be in a much better position today than it was 2 months ago, but that it would be a stretch to say they are in a position of power. I think that distinction can only be given to B1G and SEC--they are in a position to do whatever they want sans convincing Notre Dame, apparently.

[Cascadia]

I wonder if Stanford and ND are seen as a package deal for the B10. Would suck if that’s the case because that makes me think Oregon and Washington would be teams 19 and 20.

[Sparko]

The reality is football drives the train. The PAC remainders are not on par with the Big 12 in football now and will now lose the southern California recruiting edge. They will be lucky to come to the Big 12. Oklahoma and Texas are an awful lot like Nebraska. They have been replaced by Baylor and Okie State in football largely. Winning is a hell of a thing. Kansas has had more recent BCS football success than most of the teams in the PAC hard as that might be to believe.

[Cascadia]

Last 10 Seasons

9 Bowl Games
Oregon

8 Bowl Games
Washington
Arizona State

7 Bowl Games
Washington State
Stanford
Utah

5 Bowl Games
Arizona

3 Bowl Games
Oregon State
California

2 Bowl Games
Colorado

0 Bowl Games
Kansas

[ChalkRocker]

We're gonna be fine, imo.

Big 12 will, too. Won't ever be the BIG or sec, tho'. Horrors.

[Sparko]

Last 10 Seasons

9 Bowl Games
Oregon

8 Bowl Games
Washington
Arizona State

7 Bowl Games
Washington State
Stanford
Utah

5 Bowl Games
Arizona

3 Bowl Games
Oregon State
California

2 Bowl Games
Colorado

0 Bowl Games
Kansas

Proves my point. Very little relevance after 2008. Kansas could arguably have been national champ over a two loss Les Miles team. Knowing Miles, should have been. USC was driving the PAC. The bowl game metric is simply a six win threshold, which even Kansas could have done a few times in the PAC. The Big 12 has been a bloody 9 game gauntlet. One reason UT and OU have opted out. Both schools compared to SC and UCLA have no money worries. But they were worn out by the end of the season. Should have supported expansion earlier.

[KUTradition]

nothing new, really…just speculation

https://www.deseret.com/2022/7/20/23268 ... ?_amp=true

[Sparko]

I give CnB/Fish props for underlining what was wrong with the PAC a year or so ago even before they lost the whole SoCal market: They play late, get little eastern exposure, and suffer in ratings because of the late start. Sure are lucky KU didn't try to join Colorado last year. Take away SoCal and there is nothing left to talk about. Orgeon and Washington are probably temporary occupants anywhere, and their ratings aren't enough to drive a meh football conference. I think floodgates open quick. You simply have to leave for the 12 and be first on the bus. ESPN is a real financial mess as cable is still dying. Their streaming service sucks as we all know--and is almost doubling in price. Disney has enough anchors right now they may need to right the ship by making some tough calls. Truth is, ESPN gambled and way overpaid for the Cletus and Bevo rights.

[CrimsonNBlue]

So, does this give Big 12 some life?

[Sparko]

Good decision by ESPN--BiG probably a lot greedy. ESPN simply can't make bad deals right now as it is fighting to survive.

[NewtonHawk11]

Yep. ESPN and KU are friends. ESPN will go after Big 12 pretty hard, I think.

[Sparko]

Here is where basketball might save the Big 12. A lot of programming in the fall and winter to fill and the premium conference is the Big 12. Might as well cement in some decent numbers across the sports.

[UnholyLivingDead]

B1G just announced a 7-year deal with Fox/CBS/NBC worth more than $7 billion. For football, that means 3 big tv windows: an 11 a.m. game on Fox, 2:30 p.m. game on CBS, and a primetime game on NBC each week. Apparently the caveat attached is that they are going to get to 18 teams.

[KUTradition]

some mix of Washington, Oregon, Cal and Stanford

[UnholyLivingDead]

The rumor I saw was expansion to 18 would be geared toward creating a 4th TV window which would definitely mean west coast for a late game.

[CrimsonNBlue]

I think we're in for a decade plus of movement.

When the NCAA gets out of governing college football and men's basketball, there's just going to be even more reshuffling, imo.

[Cascadia]

Have to think Washington and Oregon are the preferred combo. Presuming Notre Dame is out.

[UnholyLivingDead]

What's to say that conference realignment doesn't just become a permanent process, kind of like promotion and relegation? There's nothing really to stop conferences from shuffling the deck every time it's time to negotiate a new tv contract. Conference configurations stick around for 7-8 years, then they realign to maximize the money out of the next contract. That would really suck, but I certainly wouldn't be shocked to see something like that happen.

[CrimsonNBlue]

What's to say that conference realignment doesn't just become a permanent process, kind of like promotion and relegation? There's nothing really to stop conferences from shuffling the deck every time it's time to negotiate a new tv contract. Conference configurations stick around for 7-8 years, then they realign to maximize the money out of the next contract. That would really suck, but I certainly wouldn't be shocked to see something like that happen.

You’re certainly right, but I think that’s not too much different than the last 100 years. KU’s been in a bunch of conferences.