More conference realignment talk

[ATL MU Warrior]

Or they know UConn is gowne.

where is the dislike button?

[79Warrior]

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.

Not sure the Presidents would support Memphis in the league.

[The Sultan]

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. 

God I hope they aren't basing these decisions on the status of conference realignment 30+ years ago.

[DFW HOYA]

Tis the season for writers to pick up some late June clicks. Does anyone remember the annual Gonzaga articles that went nowhere?

I'm half expecting the NY Post to go into overdrive when a certain 73 year old coach proclaims that St. John's should be in a power conference.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Tis the season for writers to pick up some late June clicks. Does anyone remember the annual Gonzaga articles that went nowhere?

I'm half expecting the NY Post to go into overdrive when a certain 73 year old coach proclaims that St. John's should be in a power conference.

Remember when people said this about the annual UConn articles?

There's always realignment conversations happening. Most go nowhere. That didn't mean the conversations didn't happen.

[MU82]

I'm half expecting the NY Post to go into overdrive when a certain 73 year old coach proclaims that St. John's should be in a power conference.

Luckily for him, it already is!

[brewcity77]

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.

The Big East does not have 220 conference games per year. Each game has to have two teams, which gives us 110 games. So going to a 12-team league and 18 games would be 108, not 216 games. Each team would play 7 teams twice and 4 teams once.

[Uncle Rico]

The Big East does not have 220 conference games per year. Each game has to have two teams, which gives us 110 games. So going to a 12-team league and 18 games would be 108, not 216 games. Each team would play 7 teams twice and 4 teams once.

What about the gap?

[DFW HOYA]

Luckily for him, it already is!

You never know with Rick. One aside to Zach Braziller and we'll hear how the Big 12 now wants a team in New York.

[MU82]

What about the gap?

In general, their clothes are too expensive given the mediocre quality.

[tower912]

Never forgave them for the swing dance commercial.

[barfolomew]

Never forgave them for the swing dance commercial.

This Brian Setzer Orchestra slander will not stand.

[MarquetteMike1977]

Sacramento State to join Big West in all sports but football as a full member starting with the 2026-27 academic year.

[WhiteTrash]

Sacramento Stare to join Big West in all sports but football as a full member starting with the 2026-27 academic year.

That stings.

[brewcity77]

Sacramento Stare to join Big West in all sports but football as a full member starting with the 2026-27 academic year.

It's a harsh look.

[The Sultan]

This is 100% football related. Sacramento State was lobbying for a Mountain West or Pac 12 membership but got neither. They took this route and applied to be an FBS independent, but that waiver will likely get denied meaning they will likley end up an FCS independent. Really poor decision honestly. They have been OK at football, but the Big Sky is one of two powerhouse conferences in football at that level. If they didn't get an invite from a desperate Pac 12 or MWC this go around, I can't see how they will after this.

The interesting thing is to see what the Big Sky does now. With the WAC down to four members (three football) starting next year, they can decide to be pretty picky because all three would be likely desperate for a call here. (Southern Utah, Utah Tech and Tarleton State)  Southern Utah left under pretty bad terms a couple years ago.

[MarquetteMike1977]

That stings.

Lol Hornets I like it

[Billy Hoyle]

The interesting thing is to see what the Big Sky does now. With the WAC down to four members (three football) starting next year, they can decide to be pretty picky because all three would be likely desperate for a call here. (Southern Utah, Utah Tech and Tarleton State)  Southern Utah left under pretty bad terms a couple years ago.

and here we go - a possible home for Sac State and the official death of the WAC:

Extra Points publisher Matt Brown reports Southern Utah and Utah Tech will move from the WAC to the Big Sky, with Yahoo's Ross Dellenger adding: "Per sources, the ASUN & WAC are forming an 'alliance,' where 5 FB-playing ASUN members will move in 2026 into the WAC, which will then rebrand as United Athletic Conference. [...] The departure of the Utah schools + addition of 5 ASUN schools brings the United Athletic Conference in 2026 to 8 members, seven of them playing football: Tarleton, Abilene Christian, UT-Arlington, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas & West Georgia. The ASUN will be left with seven more like-minded basketball-centric schools. Those members include Bellarmine, Lipscomb, Queens, Jacksonville U, North Florida, Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast. The two conferences - the ASUN & UAC - will remain separate, hold individual championships & each retain their NCAA AQ, but will work together to leverage their collective assets such as a unified media package and a built-in scheduling agreement."

[The Sultan]

and here we go - a possible home for Sac State and the official death of the WAC:

Extra Points publisher Matt Brown reports Southern Utah and Utah Tech will move from the WAC to the Big Sky, with Yahoo's Ross Dellenger adding: "Per sources, the ASUN & WAC are forming an 'alliance,' where 5 FB-playing ASUN members will move in 2026 into the WAC, which will then rebrand as United Athletic Conference. [...] The departure of the Utah schools + addition of 5 ASUN schools brings the United Athletic Conference in 2026 to 8 members, seven of them playing football: Tarleton, Abilene Christian, UT-Arlington, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas & West Georgia. The ASUN will be left with seven more like-minded basketball-centric schools. Those members include Bellarmine, Lipscomb, Queens, Jacksonville U, North Florida, Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast. The two conferences - the ASUN & UAC - will remain separate, hold individual championships & each retain their NCAA AQ, but will work together to leverage their collective assets such as a unified media package and a built-in scheduling agreement."

That ASUN / United (WAC) alliance is a well thought out way to manage what could have been one conference just devastating another one. It also leave the ASUN plenty of space for future expansion. (Wonder if they should consider a merge with the Big South.)