More conference realignment talk

[MU82]

From Yahoo Sports:

Power conferences working on contract to bind schools to new enforcement rules, with strict punishments

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/breaking-news/article/power-conferences-working-on-contract-to-bind-schools-to-new-enforcement-rules-with-strict-punishments-005652210.html?

Officials from the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and ACC are circulating a draft of a groundbreaking and first-of-its-kind document intended to prevent universities from using their state laws to violate new enforcement rules and, in a wholly stunning concept, requires schools to waive their right to pursue legal challenges against the new enforcement entity, the College Sports Commission.

The document, now viewed by dozens of leading school administrators, would bind institutions to the enforcement policies, even if their state law is contradictory, and would exempt the CSC from lawsuits from member schools over enforcement decisions, offering instead a route for schools to pursue arbitration.

The document, described as an "Affiliation" or "Membership Agreement," is not finalized but a draft of the contract has been distributed to several school presidents, general counsels and athletic directors — many of whom have expressed legal concerns with several of the document's concepts, which are now being refined.

The document is meant to be signed by all power conference schools, perhaps as well as others opting into the settlement, as a way to bind the group and provide stability around the enforcement of rules. That includes, most notably, decisions from the new Deloitte-run NIL clearinghouse, dubbed "NIL Go," an entity expected to more strictly enforce booster pay.

The consequence for not signing the agreement is steep: a school risks the loss of conference membership and participation against other power league programs.

"You have to sign it," says one athletic director who has seen the document, "or we don't play you."

"As a condition of membership, you must comply with the settlement and enforcement," says a power conference president with knowledge of the document.

[SaveOD238]

Further proof that the turmoil and legal finagling will continue until Congress acts to codify new laws regarding college athletics, including an exemption from anti-trust laws.

[The Sultan]

Further proof that the turmoil and legal finagling will continue until Congress acts to codify new laws regarding college athletics, including an exemption from anti-trust laws.

I just don't see much agreement on what this should look like either though.

[MU82]

Further proof that the turmoil and legal finagling will continue until Congress acts to codify new laws regarding college athletics, including an exemption from anti-trust laws.

Yeah, after reading that article, I was wondering how it could hold up with no antitrust exemption.

[dgies9156]

Yeah, after reading that article, I was wondering how it could hold up with no antitrust exemption.

+1,000!

[Litehouse]

So does this give the Big East a competitive advantage because we don't have to play by their rules?  or does it bring us closer to a split within the NCAA between these 4 conferences and everyone else?

[MU82]

So does this give the Big East a competitive advantage because we don't have to play by their rules?  or does it bring us closer to a split within the NCAA between these 4 conferences and everyone else?

It does neither because that situation doesn't exist. We'll see if it ever does.

[forgetful]

Don't get me wrong, I love college sports, but all of this kind of points in the direction of one logical conclusion.

Sports don't belong in college under this "professional" type model. There is zero alignment, besides possible profit, between the educational mission of a school and sports.

We won't see sports removed from college, because too many people live and die by college athletics, but the reason all of this is hard and makes no sense, is that inherently, college sports don't make sense.

[brewcity77]

So does this give the Big East a competitive advantage because we don't have to play by their rules?  or does it bring us closer to a split within the NCAA between these 4 conferences and everyone else?

In theory, yes. Big East programs have the most money to allocate of non-football schools. For football schools, probably 75+% will go to football, which leaves them with a lower ceiling of what they can offer athletes. Even if Big East schools spend a third of their available revenue (because that's all they can afford), that's more than 25% of football schools that maximize spending.

But that's in theory. In practice, do any of us really believe the SEC is going to sign on to an agreement that puts them at a competitive disadvantage without a plan in place to circumvent it? I don't. This will all lead to the same place it's always led, to cheating. Putting these rules in place will just put cheating back behind the curtain.

[The Sultan]

Don't get me wrong, I love college sports, but all of this kind of points in the direction of one logical conclusion.

Sports don't belong in college under this "professional" type model. There is zero alignment, besides possible profit, between the educational mission of a school and sports.

We won't see sports removed from college, because too many people live and die by college athletics, but the reason all of this is hard and makes no sense, is that inherently, college sports don't make sense.

Well the other issue is that the conferences treat one another as rivals instead of as partners.

[muwarrior69]

So in 2033 it will be TCSC National Championship Tournament.

[WhiteTrash]

Well the other issue is that the conferences treat one another as rivals instead of as partners.

This is very true.

The Packers and the Bears only compete on the field, everywhere else they are partners. It's sorta working well for the NFL.

[The Sultan]

How bleak is it for the WAC?

Utah Valley has accepted an invitation to join the Big West, where it will be the only member outside of southern California. (Cal Baptist is making the same move.)

That means the WAC will be down to five schools, three in Texas and two in Utah. If I were one of those Texas schools, I would beg to go back to the Southland. Utah schools should probably just go back to D2.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

How bleak is it for the WAC?

Utah Valley has accepted an invitation to join the Big West, where it will be the only member outside of southern California. (Cal Baptist is making the same move.)

That means the WAC will be down to five schools, three in Texas and two in Utah. If I were one of those Texas schools, I would beg to go back to the Southland. Utah schools should probably just go back to D2.

The WAC has apparently been whacked.

[Billy Hoyle]

interesting. Memphis is being discussed as a football-only member of the Pac-12 and joining the Big East in all other sports. The Big East would have to be considered their "primary" conference:

https://x.com/munzly/status/1934420431315869921

[Uncle Rico]

interesting. Memphis is being discussed as a football-only member of the Pac-12 and joining the Big East in all other sports. The Big East would have to be considered their "primary" conference:

https://x.com/munzly/status/1934420431315869921

Huh. That's an interesting development

[TallTitan34]

Can the conference schedule be increased to 22 games and eliminate two bye games?  I like playing everyone home and away.

[Uncle Rico]

Can the conference schedule be increased to 22 games and eliminate two bye games?  I like playing everyone home and away.

It'll revolve around what TV wants if it happens.  A few conferences are moving away from less conference games to try and snag more marquee games.  I have my doubts the Big East move above 20 league games

[WhiteTrash]

No thanks.

I don't think it is awful, but splitting the TV pie by one more for a football school is not ideal.

[The Sultan]

It'll revolve around what TV wants if it happens.  A few conferences are moving away from less conference games to try and snag more marquee games.  I have my doubts the Big East move above 20 league games

And may use it as an excuse to move down to 18.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If we need to expand, Memphis may be the best possible addition for the BEast.

I don't think we need to expand at this point.

[Billy Hoyle]

No thanks.

I don't think it is awful, but splitting the TV pie by one more for a football school is not ideal.

Unless it expands the pie. I suspect Memphis may take a lesser distribution (similar to Call and Stanford with the ACC) as they're so desperate to get out of the AAC.

[GoldenWarrior11]

With eleven teams and a 20-game conference schedule, the Big East has 220 conference games per year.  If the league expanded by one, but went down to 18-games, that's still 216 conference games to sell, but that doesn't account for the added game in the BET and any non-conference games that the networks would seek to add with the new member.  At the end of the day, it is added inventory, so an increase in payouts would almost be required at that point. 

Does Memphis add value to the TV contract?  Strictly from a historical brand standpoint, I'd argue yes (but I'm guessing the Presidents very much enjoy the conference symmetry with institutional similarity).  Adding a second FBS-playing athletic department to the league would be yet another step closer to the mistakes made in the early 1990's that the original Big East made. 

[Hards Alumni]

Or they know UConn is gowne.

[MU82]

Wouldn't pay a Penny to add Memphis to the Big East.

Didn't the league already find out the Hardaway that it shouldn't include multiple football schools?