What's next for the Conference alignments

[brewcity77]

Okay, so it seems like we're on stable ground...for now. Of course, the idea that eventually the Big Ten and Pac-10 won't consider expansion again is silly, but it won't come tomorrow, or next week, or likely even next year.

But there are changes...first the Big 12 is now down two teams. So where will they look to replace them? They have to get two more football teams if they want to continue their championship game, so who replaces Colorado and Nebraska.

Next, what about our own Big East. It's clear that we were perceived as one of the most vulnerable conferences. I'm sure that with Tagliabue still in the fold, the Big East will probably look to affirm its status as a major conference. In my opinion, that still means improving football. Notre Dame may still be hedging, but maybe the near-collapse of the modern conference system could help Tags and company convince them to think about joining the Big East in football. UCF is still a viable target. I really think getting to 12 football teams is still needed for the Big East, it just looks less likely that we'll be adding a Kansas, Boston College, or Maryland to do that.

There are a lot of people here that seem to have a pretty good idea about what direction this whole thing has been taking, so I'm curious as to where you all think it will go next, and what the Big East can do to create a bulwark against the next raids, whenever they may come.

[GGGG]

I think the BE needs to decide what it wants to be.  Does it want to be a 12-team football conference?  Fine...add some of the schools that you suggest, but I don't think MU should be part of any sort of 20 team conference where their interests become clearly secondary to the football schools.  If that comes to pass, I think the basketball schools should break away, make some strategic invites of other schools, and try to excel in that environment.

[Hards Alumni]

Can I officially be the first to call the old Big 10, the Big Twen?

[goodgreatgrand]

Everything would be a lot easier if the basketball and football schools separated.

The BE football schools can add 2 more full-time members (definitely UCF and perhaps Memphis).

The bball-only schools would need to replace ND (since their sports program is too large to be aligned with the 'catholic' conference. Add A-10 teams to get to at least 12 and I think it would be a pretty good conference. By divorcing the football side, the re-alignment issue will never be a distraction (or problem). 

[bilsu]

I would like to see the BCS or NCAA (who ever is in charge) to come out and say 12 team conferences are considered one league and can have a conference championship game. Conferences that have two divisions of 7 or more teams will be considered two conferences and therefore will not be permitted a conference championship game. That will help prevent the formation of super conferences in football. I do not know why the Pac 10 should be allowed 16 teams with a championship game and expect to have the winner of each division get an automitic BCS bowl.

[Dawson Rental]

I would like to see the BCS or NCAA (who ever is in charge) to come out and say 12 team conferences are considered one league and can have a conference championship game. Conferences that have two divisions of 7 or more teams will be considered two conferences and therefore will not be permitted a conference championship game. That will help prevent the formation of super conferences in football. I do not know why the Pac 10 should be allowed 16 teams with a championship game and expect to have the winner of each division get an automitic BCS bowl.

It's the BCS that's in charge, and they won't make that change because its against their financial interest.  The formation of the BCS was the start of this money grubbing.

[Dawson Rental]

But there are changes...first the Big 12 is now down two teams. So where will they look to replace them? They have to get two more football teams if they want to continue their championship game, so who replaces Colorado and Nebraska.

Nobody, they'll do without a championship game , if they can't get a rule change.  The extra revenue from the conference championship game won't add enough revenue to keep the team payouts from declining due to the two new mouths to feed.

Next, what about our own Big East. It's clear that we were perceived as one of the most vulnerable conferences. I'm sure that with Tagliabue still in the fold, the Big East will probably look to affirm its status as a major conference. In my opinion, that still means improving football. Notre Dame may still be hedging, but maybe the near-collapse of the modern conference system could help Tags and company convince them to think about joining the Big East in football.

Absolutely no way does Notre Dame consider the Big East for football, its the Big Ten or independence, that's it.

I really think getting to 12 football teams is still needed for the Big East, it just looks less likely that we'll be adding a Kansas, Boston College, or Maryland to do that.

I agree with Sultan, a 12 football team Big East means the end of the alliance with the basketball only schools.  It'd be a good thing too, we 'd definitely be the tail on the end of the conference dog at that point.

Latest rumors are that Maryland is now a very likely target for for The Big Ten when they get around to throwing everyone into a tizzy again.