B1G Expansion and more Conference Realignment

Mavric said:
The biggest counter-balance I can see is pushing for a bigger TV deal if they can spread games featuring NU, tOSU, Mich, Wiscy over more weeks against "decent" opponents instead of directional or FCS schools.
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Or the B1G holds back their second-tier games for the BTN and laughs as they swim in ad money, Scrooge McDuck-style.

Caven said:
"As long as the profits from neutral-site games are shared properly (read: bigger draw getting the bigger check"

You are talking about the Big 10 here - bigger draw gets the same check as everyone else. The difference of course is that you are splitting the money from that neutral site game instead of it just being a road game for you and presumably that split will still be more than what the "lesser" draw team would have gotten by having the game at home.
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You're correct, and I meant that as an ideal situation, and not the reality, but I did a poor job of saying as such. My bad.

 
Caven said:
"As long as the profits from neutral-site games are shared properly (read: bigger draw getting the bigger check"

You are talking about the Big 10 here - bigger draw gets the same check as everyone else. The difference of course is that you are splitting the money from that neutral site game instead of it just being a road game for you and presumably that split will still be more than what the "lesser" draw team would have gotten by having the game at home.
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I'm not gonna lie, if Nebraska plays Northwestern at a neutral site and brings 50,000 fans compared to NW's 10,000 I would hope Nebraska would get a larger portion of the revenue from that game.

 
I'll be very surprised if the end result isn't a 10 game conference schedule for the BIG and whoever else is left. I also wouldn't be surprised if the remaining non conference games are against one of the other remaining super conferences schools. The little guys are going to be completely left out after this is done. 12 games, 6 home, 6 away for everyone. No more Arkansas States. It's going to hurt schools like Nebraska, Ohio State, etc., but the equal revenue sharing in the BIG already does that now. The major programs are going to sacrifice a home game or two for increased revenue for the whole conference and it will be worth it because the new tv contracts are going to be over the top.

 
and looky here, no more FCS for the BIG.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/190943281.html

Not only are we looking at the dawn of superconferences, but those schools are going end up forming a new elite division of college football, probably in the 64 to 80 team range. The MWC's, WAC's, MAC's, BIG East's will end up forming their own division and playing for their own national championship. It's now going to be a mad dash for some of the better schools like Boise State to try to get into one of the superconferences before the door is closed. Change is coming.

 
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HSKR said:
and looky here, no more FCS for the BIG.

http://www.jsonline..../190943281.html

Not only are we looking at the dawn of superconferences, but those schools are going end up forming a new elite division of college football, probably in the 64 to 80 team range. The MWC's, WAC's, MAC's, BIG East's will end up forming their own division and playing for their own national championship. It's now going to be a mad dash for some of the better schools like Boise State to try to get into one of the superconferences before the door is closed. Change is coming.
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I'm surprised that those up north didn't push for this back in 2007 after 34-32
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HSKR said:
and looky here, no more FCS for the BIG.

http://www.jsonline..../190943281.html

Not only are we looking at the dawn of superconferences, but those schools are going end up forming a new elite division of college football, probably in the 64 to 80 team range. The MWC's, WAC's, MAC's, BIG East's will end up forming their own division and playing for their own national championship. It's now going to be a mad dash for some of the better schools like Boise State to try to get into one of the superconferences before the door is closed. Change is coming.
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Problem is, as long as there are non-conference games, this isn't realistic unless they can get teams to sign with ridiculous penalty clauses for backing out. It's one thing to get a FCS opponent lined up years in advance--I'm all for this.

But there are going to be asshats like TCU in the world that, when they schedule a big-name school like Nebraska, drop them in a heartbeat if they think they can even sniff the playoffs or a quality bowl that year. It's not realistic to expect that, with less than six months notice, you'll be able to find a replacement FBS opponent in time.

Granted, this exception may have already been made--I just didn't read anything about it in the article.

 
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Got this Houston Chronicle article sent to me by a friend in the area who I associate with in spite of their connection to the Whorns. :) It has talk from ESPN about the upcoming changes in the Sports Television landscape, including the new SEC Network and their failure known as Longwhorn Network:

Link to article

re: Bevo TV:

"...company president John Skipper said ESPN remains committed to its Longhorn Network but disappointed in its limited availability. “Yes, we’re concerned,” Skipper said. “We wish we were further along in terms of distribution, but we’re confident that we will continue to get deals and that as those deals get done, we’ll get the distribution we need.
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re: SEC Network:

...speculation is that ESPN could renew the Big East deal to fill in the gaps that will be created on ESPNU when it launches its SEC network. Skipper did not address the SEC project but said ESPN “will have an announcement pretty soon about not a particularly well-kept secret.”
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If anything, we have something in print that more or less confirms what we've known for a while about the SEC network coming. What's interesting is that in the same breath as the SEC network being mentioned, people mention the SEC raiding the ACC for V. Tech and North Carolina (or NCState) to support said network. This is probably because there won't be any football on the SEC network, so they'll need to acquire schools for additional, worthwhile content...

...so I wonder if the SEC Network reveal will also be an expansion reveal? It would be a good way to steal the B1G's thunder and get under Delaney's skin...

 
See this is wrong. The SEC should not have a tie in with an influential sports broadcasting company like ESPN. We know it's been that way for a while the way ESPN drools and overhypes the SEC constantly...even before they were winning their titles. I will admit it is starting to take the fun out of college ball. And this scenario will actually put me in favor of a playoff in hopes of evening the playing field....course it would have to be in a format where only ONE SEC team gets in.

Anxiously awaiting the Maryland exit fee verdict...

 
matthew_m_g said:
HSKR said:
and looky here, no more FCS for the BIG.

http://www.jsonline..../190943281.html

Not only are we looking at the dawn of superconferences, but those schools are going end up forming a new elite division of college football, probably in the 64 to 80 team range. The MWC's, WAC's, MAC's, BIG East's will end up forming their own division and playing for their own national championship. It's now going to be a mad dash for some of the better schools like Boise State to try to get into one of the superconferences before the door is closed. Change is coming.
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Problem is, as long as there are non-conference games, this isn't realistic unless they can get teams to sign with ridiculous penalty clauses for backing out. It's one thing to get a FCS opponent lined up years in advance--I'm all for this.

But there are going to be asshats like TCU in the world that, when they schedule a big-name school like Nebraska, drop them in a heartbeat if they think they can even sniff the playoffs or a quality bowl that year. It's not realistic to expect that, with less than six months notice, you'll be able to find a replacement FBS opponent in time.

Granted, this exception may have already been made--I just didn't read anything about it in the article.
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That would assume schools are going to even have a choice in scheduling much longer. Think about if we go to 10 conference games. That leaves you two left. We almost signed and agreement with the PAC-12. That could easily happen again when the super conferences are formed. Then rotate the remaining open date with one of the other two conferences left and college football will be NFL light, pretty much what the tv networks are aiming for.

 
Perspective on B1G realignment from the Detroit News:

With the impending expansion to 14 teams — and possibly 16 — division shuffling will happen. And yes, this is a top priority: Michigan and Ohio State must be in the same division. Give me a moment and I'll explain why that would send Michigan State to the other division.
Am I overly obsessed with Michigan-Ohio State? Not really. As the Big Ten's football cachet dwindles, the rivalry remains its biggest national selling point. The conference already said divisions will follow loose geographical lines, and that makes sense, with no need to slap happy names on them.

By 2014, the divisions should be East and West, and should look like this:

East: Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana, Purdue, Rutgers, Maryland

West: Michigan State, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern
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I have advocated that divisional alignment for the 14 team conference.

I however don't think it matters much since it will only be the format for about 1 or 2 years anyway.

 
Anyone heard anything yet on the ACC exit fee suit? Weren't they supposed to be moving on it yesterday?

 
The Big Ten is working on a transitional plan for ND(whether it is WITH ND or Solo, I'm not sure). Sounds like prep just in case.

I don't know why I didn't see it earlier. This whole "neutral site games" thing sounds like a sweetheart deal for ND.

neutral site games are probably the only way they ever join a conference. That way they can expand the recruiting ground while remaining in a Midwestern/Atlantic conference. keep their USC/Stanford games so they keep the California pipeline but then they would play from Chicago to NYC to Atlanta for conference games.

 
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