More conference expansion nonsense

[MU82]

Hard to fathom the ACC ceasing to exist, though strange things do happen in this landscape.

If that were to happen, I echo those who would welcome ND with wide open arms to the Big East. They can have their football independence AND a great conference for every other sport.

It would be tremendous. Right now, it's also a fairy tale.

[Herman Cain]

Small barriers for powerhouses like the B1G and SEC. I don't think the ACC Network will launch, and if it does, I dont think it will be successful

I have a more positive outlook on this issue. 

[Benny B]

Listen... if Oprah Winfrey can have her own network, so can the ACC.  And its ratings will be about the same... except it will be immensely popular with the male analougue of the not-by-choice-stay-at-home-mom-who-works-out-four-hours-a-day-(out-of-fear-that-her-husband-will-divorce-her-if-she-gains-more-than-three-pounds)-and-reads-mommy-blogs-the-other-four-hours-because--that's-right--she-actually-has-eight-hours-of-free-time-but-only-because-she-was-too-drunk-to-remember-to-pick-up-the-kids-from-school, which is something along the lines of guy-who-got-fired-from-Walmart-two-years-ago-who-watches-reruns-of-Duck-Dynasty-all-day-long-because-the-fifth-graders-taking-up-airtime-on-ESPN-with-their-elitist-spelling-bee-competition-made-him-feel-so-dispondent(ding)-that-he-just-didn't-have-it-in-him-to-look-for-a-job-today.

[Coleman]

Listen... if Oprah Winfrey can have her own network, so can the ACC.  And its ratings will be about the same... except it will be immensely popular with the male analougue of the not-by-choice-stay-at-home-mom-who-works-out-four-hours-a-day-(out-of-fear-that-her-husband-will-divorce-her-if-she-gains-more-than-three-pounds)-and-reads-mommy-blogs-the-other-four-hours-because--that's-right--she-actually-has-eight-hours-of-free-time-but-only-because-she-was-too-drunk-to-remember-to-pick-up-the-kids-from-school, which is something along the lines of guy-who-got-fired-from-Walmart-two-years-ago-who-watches-reruns-of-Duck-Dynasty-all-day-long-because-the-fifth-graders-taking-up-airtime-on-ESPN-with-their-elitist-spelling-bee-competition-made-him-feel-so-dispondent(ding)-that-he-just-didn't-have-it-in-him-to-look-for-a-job-today.

I'm buying this for Benny

[GoldenWarrior11]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/15502359/documents-show-big-12-flirting-houston-memphis-ucf-colorado-state-expansion

Officials from Houston, Memphis, UCF and Colorado State have been lobbying the Big 12 expansion committee according to documents ESPN obtained.

IMO, Cincinnati is a lock for #11 (especially since Gordon Gee is on the expansion committee).  One of these four schools (along with BYU) will probably be #12.

And once again, it appears that UConn will be shut out from a P5 invite.  Never a bride, always a bridesmaid...

[Coleman]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/15502359/documents-show-big-12-flirting-houston-memphis-ucf-colorado-state-expansion

Officials from Houston, Memphis, UCF and Colorado State have been lobbying the Big 12 expansion committee according to documents ESPN obtained.

IMO, Cincinnati is a lock for #11 (especially since Gordon Gee is on the expansion committee).  One of these four schools (along with BYU) will probably be #12.

And once again, it appears that UConn will be shut out from a P5 invite.  Never a bride, always a bridesmaid...

Cincy and Colorado State both make sense. BYU and Memphis wouldn't be terrible choices, although IMO not as good as the first two. But Houston and UCF? No way.

[GGGG]

I don't think it is certain at all that those schools will get invited.  Those schools simply look like they are talking with the B12 and the press got their hands on the information due to FOIA requests.  Connecticut's laws may be different and are shielding someone from seeing that information.

If I were schools like Texas and Oklahoma, I would be alarmed at expansion candidates like Houston and Memphis.  I would be talking with the top programs of the ACC to form a new 12-14 team conference with the top schools from both.

[Dawson Rental]

I don't think it is certain at all that those schools will get invited.  Those schools simply look like they are talking with the B12 and the press got their hands on the information due to FOIA requests.  Connecticut's laws may be different and are shielding someone from seeing that information.

If I were schools like Texas and Oklahoma, I would be alarmed at expansion candidates like Houston and Memphis.  I would be talking with the top programs of the ACC to form a new 12-14 team conference with the top schools from both.

The worst thing about such a new conference is that it would likely be the target for every future expansion raid by both the SEC and the Big Ten.  A best of the rest conference that would be regularly losing its top teams and replacing them from the leftovers conference, a lot like the old Big East.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I don't think it is certain at all that those schools will get invited.  Those schools simply look like they are talking with the B12 and the press got their hands on the information due to FOIA requests.  Connecticut's laws may be different and are shielding someone from seeing that information.

If I were schools like Texas and Oklahoma, I would be alarmed at expansion candidates like Houston and Memphis.  I would be talking with the top programs of the ACC to form a new 12-14 team conference with the top schools from both.

I was reading about this today.  Connecticut is purposely taking a low public profile, and is privately actively talking with the Big12. 

[MUMountin]

I don't think it is certain at all that those schools will get invited.  Those schools simply look like they are talking with the B12 and the press got their hands on the information due to FOIA requests.  Connecticut's laws may be different and are shielding someone from seeing that information.

Agreed.  Don't read too much into who is left off this list.  This article is noteworthy for what it does not discuss--how ESPN got the records.  FOIA (and other open records laws) requests need to be very specific in what they are searching for, and depending on what ESPN specifically asked for, there may be other documents that were not responsive to this request that would demonstrate other schools are doing the same thing.

All told, another advantage of having only private schools in the Big East--keeps our dirty laundry from being aired too soon. 

[Mr. Nielsen]

Cincy and Colorado State both make sense. BYU and Memphis wouldn't be terrible choices, although IMO not as good as the first two. But Houston and UCF? No way.

CSU and UC gives the Big 12 almost nothing.

UCF opens open the State of Florida for recruiting to other Big 12 school. Nice size TV market.

BYU has many fans around the US and it's own TV network. BYU moves the needle the most of the schools listed in the ESPN story.

[Herman Cain]

Hard to fathom the ACC ceasing to exist, though strange things do happen in this landscape.

If that were to happen, I echo those who would welcome ND with wide open arms to the Big East. They can have their football independence AND a great conference for every other sport.

It would be tremendous. Right now, it's also a fairy tale.

I agree with this analysis.

[Marcus92]

I was reading about this today. Connecticut is purposely taking a low public profile, and is privately actively talking with the Big12.

That would seem to be a change for UConn, who up until now has been quite public about their interest in joining the Big 12:

http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-jacobs-column-0304-20160303-story.html

[MUFlutieEffect]

That would seem to be a change for UConn, who up until now has been quite public about their interest in joining the Big 12:

http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-jacobs-column-0304-20160303-story.html

Connecticut media is still hot on the trail...

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-big-12-meetings-0507-20160506-story.html

[Coleman]

CSU and UC gives the Big 12 almost nothing.

UCF opens open the State of Florida for recruiting to other Big 12 school. Nice size TV market.

BYU has many fans around the US and it's own TV network. BYU moves the needle the most of the schools listed in the ESPN story.

Denver market...almost nothing?

No one in Florida, much less the rest of the USA, cares about UCF. It is in 5th place in relevance for the state behind Florida, Florida State, Miami, and USF.

We're in agreement on BYU. I think they'd be a good fit.

[GoldenWarrior11]

CSU and UC gives the Big 12 almost nothing.

UCF opens open the State of Florida for recruiting to other Big 12 school. Nice size TV market.

BYU has many fans around the US and it's own TV network. BYU moves the needle the most of the schools listed in the ESPN story.

UCF would be behind Florida (SEC), Florida State (ACC), and Miami (ACC).  They struggle with USF to puncture the Florida market, due to the strong teams ahead of them.  Just because the Big 12 could, conceivably, acquire UCF, doesn't mean they acquire the Florida market.

Would NIU capture the Illinois market?  Does ECU capture the North Carolina market?  Does Houston capture the Texas market?  The answer to all the questions is no - but they do capture the local area around it.  The problem with all of the candidates is that none, fully, bring any state they belong in - only a portion of it. 

If the key to get more households for a Big 12 network (or some hybrid of the LHN), then acquiring Orlando doesn't necessarily help them move the needle.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Denver market...almost nothing?

No one in Florida, much less the rest of the USA, cares about UCF. It is in 5th place in relevance for the state behind Florida, Florida State, Miami, and USF.

We're in agreement on BYU. I think they'd be a good fit.

CSU has no Denver market.

I can't disagree too much on UCF. The state of Florida only cares about Florida, then FSU. Miami doesn't care about Miami. I would say UCF trumps USF, but Orlando and Florida open things up for other Big 12 schools.


BYU would be a great fit, but who is the 12th?

[Herman Cain]

CSU has no Denver market.

I can't disagree too much on UCF. The state of Florida only cares about Florida, then FSU. Miami doesn't care about Miami. I would say UCF trumps USF, but Orlando and Florida open things up for other Big 12 schools.


BYU would be a great fit, but who is the 12th?

BYU is definitely a fit and very desirable economically. Getting to the 12th is where the difficulty is . The Big 10 operated with 11  from the time of Penn State addition to the Nebraska addition, so maybe it is worth looking at that experience.

The best case scenario of all these events is for U Conn to get shut our of any Power 5 conference and then fold their tent on D1 football and then come hat in hand back to the Big East. I realize the likelihood of that is about equal to us signing Kostas....

[mu03eng]

Oklahoma and Kansas would be the top prospects. Oklahoma is one of the all time greats in football and Kansas one of the all time greats in basketball. Both are the kind of must see TV that enhance the Big Ten network. Big Ten will make an academic exception for Oklahoma just like they did for Nebraska.

Kansas would be a B1G target out of B12 for sure, but Oklahoma would be a stretch. 1. They are pretty linked to Texas and 2. They aren't an AAU school. I think you'd be much more likely to see Iowa State and Kansas then any other paring....unless they can pull a coup and get Oklahoma and Texas, pretty sure they would forget the AAU requirement with that kind of windfall.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Kansas would be a B1G target out of B12 for sure, but Oklahoma would be a stretch. 1. They are pretty linked to Texas and 2. They aren't an AAU school. I think you'd be much more likely to see Iowa State and Kansas then any other paring....unless they can pull a coup and get Oklahoma and Texas, pretty sure they would forget the AAU requirement with that kind of windfall.

Iowa State id never going to the BIG1G.  See Rutgers & Maryland.

[mu03eng]

Iowa State id never going to the BIG1G.  See Rutgers & Maryland.

Maryland (from football) and Rutgers(from all aspects) were terrible adds but from a value/eyeballs/revenue generation standpoint they've done exactly what they were intended to do.

You can argue the product sucks, but given the TV contracts I would argue it doesn't matter if they are going to get that much more money.

[GGGG]

Iowa State isn't going to the B10.  It already has that market.

[Bocephys]

Kansas would be a B1G target out of B12 for sure, but Oklahoma would be a stretch. 1. They are pretty linked to Texas and 2. They aren't an AAU school. I think you'd be much more likely to see Iowa State and Kansas then any other paring....unless they can pull a coup and get Oklahoma and Texas, pretty sure they would forget the AAU requirement with that kind of windfall.

Nebraska was only AAU for about 8 minutes after the B1G welcome press conference.

[Marcus92]

Nebraska consolidated the Midwest for the Big 10. But my guess is that if the conference continues to expand, it'll look farther east and south. Duke, Georgia Tech, Virginia and North Carolina of the ACC could be top targets.

They're all top 50 universities. They all belong to the AAU. They're all in major market areas: Duke and UNC (Raleigh-Durham #29 metro market), Georgia Tech (Atlanta #11 metro market), Virginia (12th largest state by population). And they all have strong athletic programs (to varying degrees).

Only 60 schools belong to the AAU. Cornell, Harvard and their ilk aren't joining the Big 10 anytime soon. Iowa State is likely out of the running since Iowa is already in the fold. Chances are that Vanderbilt, Florida, Missouri and Texas A&M are happy right where they are in the SEC. And I don't think the Big 10 is ready to raid the Pac-10 just yet.

That leaves a short list of possible contenders. In addition to the four above, Kansas and Pitt deserve mention. Neither matches Duke or Georgia Tech for market appeal (with Pitt probably getting vetoed by Penn State). But they do fit the Big 10's apparent expansion criteria.

The last one: Texas. Hard to see them finding common ground on the whole Longhorn Network issue. But you never know.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Nebraska consolidated the Midwest for the Big 10. But my guess is that if the conference continues to expand, it'll look farther east and south. Duke, Georgia Tech, Virginia and North Carolina of the ACC could be top targets.

They're all top 50 universities. They all belong to the AAU. They're all in major market areas: Duke and UNC (Raleigh-Durham #29 metro market), Georgia Tech (Atlanta #11 metro market), Virginia (12th largest state by population). And they all have strong athletic programs (to varying degrees).

Only 60 schools belong to the AAU. Cornell, Harvard and their ilk aren't joining the Big 10 anytime soon. Iowa State is likely out of the running since Iowa is already in the fold. Chances are that Vanderbilt, Florida, Missouri and Texas A&M are happy right where they are in the SEC. And I don't think the Big 10 is ready to raid the Pac-10 just yet.

That leaves a short list of possible contenders. In addition to the four above, Kansas and Pitt deserve mention. Neither matches Duke or Georgia Tech for market appeal (with Pitt probably getting vetoed by Penn State). But they do fit the Big 10's apparent expansion criteria.

The last one: Texas. Hard to see them finding common ground on the whole Longhorn Network issue. But you never know.

Solid points.  I will add that Missouri's first choice was the B1G - there were rumblings that they, Nebraska and a third school could have been added in 2011 to the Big Ten; however, it was only Nebraska that got added.  When the SEC became their only option, it was an easy choice to make.  Many think that Missouri would never leave the SEC - but Missouri is a rare school that fits the mold of both an SEC and B1G school.  If the B1G is assured of getting more $$$ from Fox than the SEC is from ESPN, it's very possibly Missouri changes course.  Time will tell though. 

I 100% agree that the B1G's focus, as of today, is eastern and southern expansion (Virginia, UNC, Duke, and Georgia Tech).  It's where the populations are increasing and where the stronger media markets will be (not to mention plethora of respected academic/research institutions).