Conference Realignment

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#101      
Central IL Illini
altenberger22 said:
Anytime two prominent schools like Texas and Oklahoma make noise about prospectively changing conferences, Kevin Warren, the league office and the member AD's need to be discussing both (1) the impact ON the Big 10, and (2) potential opportunities FOR the Big 10.

I think this forum has accurately identified the universities we may be targeting, if that proves best for the Big 10 conference:

1. Notre Dame (should always be target 1-A)
2. Texas - Texas (probably target 2-A)
3. Northeast & Boston - Boston College
3. Mid-Atlantic & Charlotte - Virginia, Duke, North Carolina
4. Southeast & Atlanta - Clemson and Georgia Tech
5. West & Denver - Colorado (Personally, I don't like the idea of going too far west)
6. Lower Midwest & St. Louis/Kansas City - Missouri & Kansas

Time for a name change too --- The Big 20!!!! (North/South divisions OR East/West divisions)
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Good list. I agree ND and Texas are the obvious home runs. Texas seems a lot more of an SEC fit, but we will see. I would have had more faith with Delany in charge.

I think the teams in your tier 3&4 would come before Boston College though, specifically North Carolina. They have a big national brand, and would bring the Charlotte media market. I think Virginia was seriously considered last time, and would be again. Georgia Tech would bring Atlanta, and is probably a little closer to Boston College on brand value. I also think Kansas would be considered before Colorado because of the strong midwest ties, and powerhouse hoops program. Plus they bring in a lot of the KC market. I don't think Missouri is going anywhere, especially if Texas and Oklahoma move to the SEC.

All in all I would say most realistic additions are
1)Notre Dame
2)North Carolina
3)Kansas
4)Virginia
5)Texas
6)Georgia Tech
 
#102      
Champaign Toast
Got UCONN on my mind. They were in the original Big East for more than 3 decades. When they missed out on an invite to the ACC in 2013, they joined the AAC. Seeking a better fit for their stellar basketball program, they are back in the Big East and their football team is an independent. This potential round of realignment signals an opportunity for them, right?

UCONN would be an intriguing fit for a post-Texas & Oklahoma Big 12. Kansas, which dominates the conference in basketball, would get a marquee basketball conference rival. UCONN would get a miraculous safe harbor for its floundering football program (which has rather good facilities) that needs a rebuild and a fresh start. A weakened Big 12 might not completely overwhelm UCONN in football.

If Big 12 were to also pull, say, Cincinnati, Memphis, BYU, and Boise State, that's kind of a fun conference with a couple of marquee basketball programs and a bunch of football programs that have had moments in the sun. Perhaps you could say the Big 12 would be, from a football standpoint, a Cohort of 1 at a level in between the Power 4 and the Group of 5.

Football suffers, while basketball improves...

<<probably all sorts of context I am missing. Perhaps the Big 12 not sponsoring field hockey is a non-starter for UCONN...>>
 
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#103      
Shief
Going down the 16 team conference realignment rabbit hole, may I propose a potential pod system scenario? I won't go into crazy detail but here are my thoughts for football and basketball.

For football, the conference will be divided into 4x pods of 4x teams. A team will play each team in your pod every year and play 2x teams in the 3x pods, for 9 conference games per year. Pods will be divided in half so that in years 1 and 2 A plays A and B plays B. In years 3 and 4 A plays B. This will allow each team to play the others twice in a four year span. Key rivals are shared in a pod and Thanksgiving rivalry games will be scheduled. The top two teams, and winners of two of the pods, will meet in the conference championship game.

For basketball, the conference will again be divided into 4x pods. A team will again play the other teams in their pod twice a year, 1x of the teams in the other pods twice a year, and the other 3x teams in a pod once, for a total of 21x conference games. The double game will rotate each year in a 4 year cycle.

As an example if B1G added Missouri and Kansas, below is my idea of pods.
Pod 1 (West?) : Iowa (A), Kansas (A), Missouri (B), Nebraska (B)
Pod 2 (North?): Illinois (A), Minnesota (B), Northwestern (B), Wisconsin (A)
Pod 3 (Central?): Indiana (A), Michigan (A), Ohio State (B), Purdue (B)
Pod 4 (East?): Maryland (B), Mich. State (A), Penn State (B), Rutgers (A)
 
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#104      
Joel Goodson
Shief said:
Going down the 16 team conference realignment rabbit hole, may I propose a potential pod system scenario? I won't go into crazy detail but here are my thoughts for football and basketball.

For football, the conference will be divided into 4x pods of 4x teams. A team will play each team in your pod every year and play 2x teams in the 3x pods, for 9 conference games per year. Pods will be divided in half so that in years 1 and 2 A plays A and B plays B. In years 3 and 4 A plays B. This will allow each team to play the others twice in a four year span. Key rivals are shared in a pod and Thanksgiving rivalry games will be scheduled. The top two teams, and winners of two of the pods, will meet in the conference championship game.

For basketball, the conference will again be divided into 4x pods. A team will again play the other teams in their pod twice a year, 1x of the teams in the other pods twice a year, and the other 3x teams in a pod once, for a total of 21x conference games. The double game will rotate each year in a 4 year cycle.

If B1G added Missouri and Kansas, below is my idea of pods.
Pod 1 (West?) : Iowa (A), Kansas (A), Missouri (B), Nebraska (B)
Pod 2 (North?): Illinois (A), Minnesota (B), Northwestern (B), Wisconsin (A)
Pod 3 (Central?): Indiana (A), Michigan (A), Ohio State (B), Purdue (B)
Pod 4 (East?): Maryland (B), Mich. State (A), Penn State (B), Rutgers (A)
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Big, fat no to Miznoz.
 
#105      
The Galloping Ghost
Shief said:
Going down the 16 team conference realignment rabbit hole, may I propose a potential pod system scenario? I won't go into crazy detail but here are my thoughts for football and basketball.

For football, the conference will be divided into 4x pods of 4x teams. A team will play each team in your pod every year and play 2x teams in the 3x pods, for 9 conference games per year. Pods will be divided in half so that in years 1 and 2 A plays A and B plays B. In years 3 and 4 A plays B. This will allow each team to play the others twice in a four year span. Key rivals are shared in a pod and Thanksgiving rivalry games will be scheduled. The top two teams, and winners of two of the pods, will meet in the conference championship game.

For basketball, the conference will again be divided into 4x pods. A team will again play the other teams in their pod twice a year, 1x of the teams in the other pods twice a year, and the other 3x teams in a pod once, for a total of 21x conference games. The double game will rotate each year in a 4 year cycle.

As an example if B1G added Missouri and Kansas, below is my idea of pods.
Pod 1 (West?) : Iowa (A), Kansas (A), Missouri (B), Nebraska (B)
Pod 2 (North?): Illinois (A), Minnesota (B), Northwestern (B), Wisconsin (A)
Pod 3 (Central?): Indiana (A), Michigan (A), Ohio State (B), Purdue (B)
Pod 4 (East?): Maryland (B), Mich. State (A), Penn State (B), Rutgers (A)
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Just note, Mizzou won't leave what would become far and away the richest conference in the country in the SEC if UT joins. Especially when every athletic department is hurting after the last year. Not to mention, the B1G looked at Mizzou during the last round of realignment and deemed them unworthy.
 
#107      
IlliniKat91
ugottabjoshinme said:
SEC needs a 3/4 yes vote to add a school. A&M would certainly vote no, but it isn't quote veto power
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I'm admittedly more in the dark about football than basketball, but is there any chance mid-tier SEC schools vote no on Texas/OU because they're worried about their prestige in the conference? I know they'd both bring in a boatload of money, but would it be enough to sufficiently deepen pockets and protect egos? I don't think Alabama, Georgia, or LSU would care, but some of the others that don't get highlighted as much might be tetchy.

Or am I just theorizing out of my behind here? That's absolutely a possibility.
 
#108      
altenberger22
Central IL Illini said:
Good list. I agree ND and Texas are the obvious home runs. Texas seems a lot more of an SEC fit, but we will see. I would have had more faith with Delany in charge.

I think the teams in your tier 3&4 would come before Boston College though, specifically North Carolina. They have a big national brand, and would bring the Charlotte media market. I think Virginia was seriously considered last time, and would be again. Georgia Tech would bring Atlanta, and is probably a little closer to Boston College on brand value. I also think Kansas would be considered before Colorado because of the strong midwest ties, and powerhouse hoops program. Plus they bring in a lot of the KC market. I don't think Missouri is going anywhere, especially if Texas and Oklahoma move to the SEC.

All in all I would say most realistic additions are
1)Notre Dame
2)North Carolina
3)Kansas
4)Virginia
5)Texas
6)Georgia Tech
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Wasn't intending to TIER. Just listing viable options in the event we go shopping. I will clarify, however, and say that ND should always be tier 1. After that, I don't know whom the conference deems as most "desirable".
 
#110      
altenberger22

​

This is more or less my criteria --- especially when coupled with academic qualifications. And I would speculate (hope) that we have no interest in Oklahoma.

​

AP Final Rankings Greatest Teams Of All-Time​

Rankings from 1935 through to LSU’s national championship after the 2019 season. Who earned the most all-time respect and attention from the AP voters?

Top Teams Of The … 1930s | 1940s | 1950s
1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s

RankTeamsPointsPrevious Rank
1Oklahoma12011
2Alabama10802
3Ohio State10753
4Michigan9934
5Notre Dame9895
6USC8326
7Texas7907
8Nebraska7838
9Penn State7119
10Tennessee68610
11LSU67811
12Georgia59112
13Auburn58413
14Florida State56314
15Florida53816
16Miami53015
17UCLA50317
18Michigan State45418
19Arkansas43919
20Clemson44820
21Wisconsin37823
22Washington37621
23Texas A&M37522
24Ole Miss34724
25Georgia Tech34325
 
#112      
the national
the juiceman cometh said:
I agree on ISU, but I have to imagine KU has a pretty big fan base, and while certainly below the majority of Big 10 schools, they wouldn't be the lowest ranked per US News and World Report. That would be Nebraska at #133. KU is #124.
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My only argument for ISU to join is it’s land grant tradition, similar to several big ten schools. It’s ranked 54th public, 118th overall - so not much better than KU though. But at least their coaches aren’t scumbags.
If OU and UT left, what happens to all those other Texas school? What a mess…

(I don’t think ISU is a good fit for the B1G)
 
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#113      
the national
The Galloping Ghost said:
I'd be shocked if it wasn't, honestly. It'd be foolish to open this pandora's box without having a deal with the SEC ready to go. It's going to be really interested to see what the Texas and Oklahoma legislatures say about this because a lot of schools that forced the construction of the Big 12 are about to be f'ed now.
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I thought there was some bill passed in Oklahoma legislature saying that the two state schools had to be a “package”? Maybe I’m misremembering…
 
#114      
Shief
The Galloping Ghost said:
Just note, Mizzou won't leave what would become far and away the richest conference in the country in the SEC if UT joins. Especially when every athletic department is hurting after the last year. Not to mention, the B1G looked at Mizzou during the last round of realignment and deemed them unworthy.
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Ghost, Missouri would most likely stay in the SEC. I think that the more serious targets for the B1G would be Kansas, Virginia, Notre Dame, Iowa State, and North Carolina, if going to 16.
 
#116      
Greensboro
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
Is there an institution more delusional about their place in the college athletics hierarchy than Texas?
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Frank the Tank opening quote
"When I first started writing about conference realignment over a decade ago, it was always clear to me which school was the biggest prize for every conference: the University of Texas. Whatever metric is used for conference realignment value, Texas has a perfect score in all of them – national historic football brand, rabid fan base, massive home state delivering multiple key TV markets, elite academics and a top recruiting area for football and virtually every other sport. Adding Texas was the original dream for Big Ten expansion and the Longhorns were the centerpiece of the Pac-16 proposal. The Texas power was so overwhelming that they effectively ran the Big 12 as their own conference."

Frank The Tank

Some other interesting points:

Says Kansas basketball moves the needle, 2nd highest 3rd tier TV deal outside (Longhorn network is 1)

Doesn't see anyone else in the Big 12 as likely; mentions a harder to accomplish raid of ACC, such as UVA/GT or Colorado in PAC12

Talks about SEC power right now, absence of Delaney...the pandemic sending the message that you can't leave money on the table & new proposed college playoff being driver for Texas/Okl.

Makes me wonder if the ramification of this could move ND as well. I think this helps stabilize the ACC as the clear conference #4, but if SEC or B1G poach a member of 2, then ND might have to reconsider the long term stability of staying independent.
 
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#117      
IllinoisssssssVarsity
Greensboro said:
Frank the Tank opening quote
"When I first started writing about conference realignment over a decade ago, it was always clear to me which school was the biggest prize for every conference: the University of Texas. Whatever metric is used for conference realignment value, Texas has a perfect score in all of them – national historic football brand, rabid fan base, massive home state delivering multiple key TV markets, elite academics and a top recruiting area for football and virtually every other sport. Adding Texas was the original dream for Big Ten expansion and the Longhorns were the centerpiece of the Pac-16 proposal. The Texas power was so overwhelming that they effectively ran the Big 12 as their own conference."

Frank The Tank
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You have to understand the perspective of the UT hive mind. They only care about football. They have so much money they don’t even really have to care about it and they know it. The move to the SEC is because they think they belong there because they will be the best football team in the best football conference. This is purely an ego/entitlement move. It’s an aura that trickles down from the UT admin all the way down the casual fan. It’s actually kind of Disgusting.
 
#118      
ugottabjoshinme
BIG Ten would be in a tough spot for adding schools. They can't really add an ACC school for 15 years due to the ACC GOR media deal. The deal also includes Notre Dame. Without the ACC, what's left besides picking over the remainder of the BIG 12?
 
#119      
RedRocksIllini
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
You have to understand the perspective of the UT hive mind. They only care about football. They have so much money they don’t even really have to care about it and they know it. The move to the SEC is because they think they belong there because they will be the best football team in the best football conference. This is purely an ego/entitlement move. It’s an aura that trickles down from the UT admin all the way down the casual fan. It’s actually kind of Disgusting.
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All true. The other thing that I think is driving this is that they can smell the winds of change in the college football landscape. The only reason they would leave the TPSOS Conference (Texas plus some other schools) is that the SEC is going to be driving the changes in the college football playoffs and \s the best football team in the the land /s is not about to be left out of those decisions.
 
#123      
Pikeillinifan
Question for the board, would we consider OSU or any of the other Texas teams? OSU has strong football and basketball programs, add them, and Kansas.

I mean you could even look at adding Texas Tech and Baylor to open up the Texas market (although not the key parts of it). That said, I am too lazy to look up academic rankings.

Hopefully there are people much smarter than me (and especially Warren) working on this.
 
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