Look we can speculate all day long, but the reality is no one knows for sure. There are tons of options but when it’s all said and done I feel the most likely scenario is a 5-6 power conferences with aprox 100+ teams (got to feed the bowls and Holiday TV): PAC-ish, B1G, SEC, C-TBA, C-USA/MWC merger & B12/ACC hybrid . Now before everyone freaks, for all I know some remnant of the ACC might swallow the B12. Regardless, this structure will not last forever, the population centers are swinging to the west and southwest and eventually the markets and values of those schools will rise. (SDSU, UTEP & Nev schools for example)

Hell freezes over before UNC joins the SEC. I can see them joining the B1G, but their snobbery is never going to allow them to lower themselves to join the SEC. It's not happening.

(03-28-2013 02:40 AM)allthatyoucantleavebehind Wrote:  I've been preaching a UNC/Duke package to the Big Ten for a while now...I'm not sure the Big Ten would want UNC alone and I KNOW they wouldn't want Duke alone. That said, if the Big Ten doesn't want to explode in size or if UNC really cherishes its Southern identity that much, I suppose UNC and Duke in the SEC makes a ton of sense. The SEC could certainly use the basketball help, the academic help, and the football cream puff.

If the Big 12 is serious about Miami, it's only because FSU is a top candidate for the Big Ten and/or SEC. I think both are possible. I think adding Clemson with Miami makes far more sense than USF or UCF simply because of their "Florida geography." (Nebraska to the Big Ten showed us that "brand" matters more than geography alone).

This silence is just deafening though...it's been a long time now since we've had a substantial move or even substantial RUMOR from the power players...the calm before the storm???

When Slive sends up smoke signals it's almost always in the form of 1 sentence in a press release that seems a bit out of place. Last week when he said that the details on the SECN would be announced in mid April that one dangling sentence was, "And, it will detail substantial content enhancements." At the time I thought that could well mean another addition after Machen's remarks. It could mean more. But truly I didn't expect news from the East as much as from the West. It would be interesting to know where the SEC jet has been and which other commissioners Slive has been on the phone with these past two weeks.

If Slive lands UNC, Duke will be in the package. But I think Delaney and Slive are working together on this one if anything happens in the near future. They will split up the cream in the ACC.

Delaney isn't going to want Duke without UNC. I don't buy that for a second. Duke gives them nothing alone. All the rivalries would be dead.

I think the Big 12 ends up with Miami. If they want others, they will be looking at the USF's and UCF's of the world. Nobody else in a power 5 is going to join that conference. I could see Miami and UC/Pitt in a package. Or Miami, UC/Pitt, and USF/UCF. That makes sense.

East: TCU, WVU, Miami, UC/Pitt, Baylor, UCF, USF
West: UT, OU, OSU, TTech, Kansas, KSU, ISU

That's a solid conference, and bridges WVU a bit. However, I DO NOT believe the Big 12 takes the USF/UCF package. UC or Pitt and Miami for 12.

So then the remainder. Who does Delaney take if he loses on the UNC/Duke sweep stakes? He settles for UVA and GT. But I can't imagine he'd be satisfied with that. He is going to want some brands in there. That means FSU is probably going to the B1G. In fact, it may be FSU and GTech alone. I don't think UVA offsets any of those two programs. How's this "Leaders" division?

East: RU, PSU, OSU, GTech, FSU, Maryland, Indiana, Purdue

The OSU/Michi game is protected as a cross game. More importantly, the divisions are balanced with Michigan in the other half.

So what becomes of UVa and Va Tech? They could end up in a package if the B1G or SEC want to go to 18. NCSU is also still out there as is Clemson, so the SEC could take both Va Tech and NCSU for 18 teams. Clemson could also be in that mix. The B1G will want into Carolina. They can take NCSU and UVa. The SEC could take Va Tech and Clemson. But those 8 clubs (FSU, GTech, UNC, Duke, Clemson, NCSU, UVa, Va Tech) will eventually be split between the B1G and SEC.

The remainder at least temporarily:

ACC: UL, USF, UCF, Cuse, UConn, UC/Pitt, BC, WF

Potential adds: Memphis, ECU, Tulane, Houston.

UCF and USF to the Big XII is HILARIOUS.

I can't help but notice that minus Texas in the last year no other conference has expressed an interest in getting any of the Big 12 schools. And that's because minus Texas the Big 12 is almost on equal footing with MWC, NYNC (Not Yet Named), and CUSA. All the other conferences can lose a major team and still survive and thrive without one addition and have a Conference Championship game.

I just don't believe that there are any teams in the other top four conferences desperate to haul their program to the cornfields and plains of the Mid West. Just ask Nebraska & Colorado!

(03-28-2013 07:54 AM)BleedsGreen33 Wrote:  UCF and USF to the Big XII is HILARIOUS.

But it is the only way the B12 gets into Florida.

(03-28-2013 08:02 AM)Rabonchild Wrote:  I can't help but notice that minus Texas in the last year no other conference has expressed an interest in getting any of the Big 12 schools. And that's because minus Texas the Big 12 is almost on equal footing with MWC, NYNC (Not Yet Named), and CUSA. All the other conferences can lose a major team and still survive and thrive without one addition and have a Conference Championship game.

I just don't believe that there are any teams in the other top four conferences desperate to haul their program to the cornfields and plains of the Mid West. Just ask Nebraska & Colorado!

Well, you're wrong about that. OU and Kansas are top programs. They carry some baggage with in state rivalries, but that "baggage" is also potential top 10 on given years, as both OSU and KSU have been in contention for BCS titles in the past couple of years. Even without OU and Texas, we end up with some re-imagined SWC that still is far and away ahead of any CUSA or Metro league.

(03-28-2013 06:10 AM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(03-28-2013 02:40 AM)allthatyoucantleavebehind Wrote:  I've been preaching a UNC/Duke package to the Big Ten for a while now...I'm not sure the Big Ten would want UNC alone and I KNOW they wouldn't want Duke alone. That said, if the Big Ten doesn't want to explode in size or if UNC really cherishes its Southern identity that much, I suppose UNC and Duke in the SEC makes a ton of sense. The SEC could certainly use the basketball help, the academic help, and the football cream puff.

If the Big 12 is serious about Miami, it's only because FSU is a top candidate for the Big Ten and/or SEC. I think both are possible. I think adding Clemson with Miami makes far more sense than USF or UCF simply because of their "Florida geography." (Nebraska to the Big Ten showed us that "brand" matters more than geography alone).

This silence is just deafening though...it's been a long time now since we've had a substantial move or even substantial RUMOR from the power players...the calm before the storm???

No you dont KNOW it, you just feel really strong about it. If UNC ends up picking the SEC then the Big Ten would absolutely go with Duke by themselves because they wouldn't have a choice.

Duke's basketball brand is top notch, which is very attractive. But, and I know you know this, HEINOUS, this is about BTN subscriber-ship as much as anything. Duke probably does as much to get Duke on basic cable in NYC as it does to get Duke on basic cable in the growing state of NC. (Someone around here cited a survey of NC fans...about 1/3 of the state likes UNC while only 10% claims Duke as #1...and with historically inferior football, that draw for Duke is even less.)

Duke/UNC is not another Texas/TAMU situation. Both of those were excellent, large state universities with strong football programs and huge instate followings and great academics. Alone they will be fine.

Duke/UNC, without the same football power individually, stands most strongly as a sports draw because of their rivalry together. If anything, TAMU fans seemed excited to say "screw you, we're leaving" to Texas when they joined the SEC. I don't see that attitude at all for Duke or UNC.

(03-28-2013 08:14 AM)RUScarlets Wrote:  

(03-28-2013 08:02 AM)Rabonchild Wrote:  I can't help but notice that minus Texas in the last year no other conference has expressed an interest in getting any of the Big 12 schools. And that's because minus Texas the Big 12 is almost on equal footing with MWC, NYNC (Not Yet Named), and CUSA. All the other conferences can lose a major team and still survive and thrive without one addition and have a Conference Championship game.

I just don't believe that there are any teams in the other top four conferences desperate to haul their program to the cornfields and plains of the Mid West. Just ask Nebraska & Colorado!

Well, you're wrong about that. OU and Kansas are top programs. They carry some baggage with in state rivalries, but that "baggage" is also potential top 10 on given years, as both OSU and KSU have been in contention for BCS titles in the past couple of years. Even without OU and Texas, we end up with some re-imagined SWC that still is far and away ahead of any CUSA or Metro league.

"Far and away" may be true in reality...but in the eyes of East Coast population and media...it may not be true. I'm not sure if the average fan in New England cares more about OkSt against Iowa State or Memphis against Cincinnati. You and I know that OkSt and Iowa State do have better football...but the proximity of Cincy/Memphis may cause East Coasters to be biased during their Saturday football viewing.

Superior yes...but not by much without Kansas, OU, Texas.

A 3 page thread on a tweet from Tuxedo Yoda...some1 who is NEVER right...McMurphy I can see....TY...ok...lol

(03-28-2013 08:02 AM)Rabonchild Wrote:  I can't help but notice that minus Texas in the last year no other conference has expressed an interest in getting any of the Big 12 schools. And that's because minus Texas the Big 12 is almost on equal footing with MWC, NYNC (Not Yet Named), and CUSA. All the other conferences can lose a major team and still survive and thrive without one addition and have a Conference Championship game.

I just don't believe that there are any teams in the other top four conferences desperate to haul their program to the cornfields and plains of the Mid West. Just ask Nebraska & Colorado!

Wishful thinking - I'd like to think this as well but I don't see it. bigxii minus Texas still has oklahoma, oklahoma state (much less the "tag along" than some speculate), baylor and texas tech. Those four plus ANY other 8 fbs teams places that conference ahead of any of the Go5 conferences. Throw in wvu and tcu and the distance is even greater.

No, Charlotte, it's ludicrous for the no-namers to think they're better than either the MWC or C-USA, but it's just as ludicrous to think the bigxii minus texas would suddenly convert the Go5 into the Go6.

(03-28-2013 07:54 AM)BleedsGreen33 Wrote:  UCF and USF to the Big XII is HILARIOUS.

Yup. Just as hilarious as Rutgers and Maryland to the B1G was. Or as Boise State and SDSU to the Big East was.

As silly as it sounds, I don't think you can rule any rumored move out.

I think he needs a new lightsaber. The move not mentioned is the big 10, if they move with acc school's than its probably an open market but not before they pick off school's. Well, maybe i could see miami to the big 12 as solo move but that's a longshot. I do see a slight risk for miami to be left out if the acc got raided, so if the big 12 offered a solo invite, they might consider it before others left the acc. That's not a bad move by the big 12 to just offer miami either to get to 11. The big 12 would land a big name/market + open the door for the acc to lose more members. Travel really isn't an issue, miami airpot has lots of flights, do it matter if the canes fly to charlotte or dallas? Yet, no way unc jumps to the sec pre big 10 raid on the acc. Also, can't see usf or ucf in the big 12.

I also love how none of these pseudonym bloggers who post these wild rumors ever have anything to say about the moves in the lower conferences. Where were these guys in talking about Tulsa, Appalachian State, or even Idaho and NMSU? You would think these guys having such a large reach into conferences they really have no business having insider knowledge about would also be postulating these other minor moves.

(03-28-2013 08:25 AM)Maize Wrote:  A 3 page thread on a tweet from Tuxedo Yoda...some1 who is NEVER right...McMurphy I can see....TY...ok...lol

Everybody is just bored and this is bait with which to run. I doubt there is anything here but the threads are stale and this is yet another avenue to vent and speculate.

(03-28-2013 08:39 AM)bluesox Wrote:  I think he needs a new lightsaber. The move not mentioned is the big 10, if they move with acc school's than its probably an open market but not before they pick off school's. Well, maybe i could see miami to the big 12 as solo move but that's a longshot. I do see a slight risk for miami to be left out if the acc got raided, so if the big 12 offered a solo invite, they might consider it before others left the acc. That's not a bad move by the big 12 to just offer miami either to get to 11. The big 12 would land a big name/market + open the door for the acc to lose more members. Travel really isn't an issue, miami airpot has lots of flights, do it matter if the canes fly to charlotte or dallas? Yet, no way unc jumps to the sec pre big 10 raid on the acc. Also, can't see usf or ucf in the big 12.

Fox wants Florida schools for B12
First choice are FSU and Miami
The second choice UCF and USF

(03-28-2013 12:13 AM)CommuterBob Wrote:  

(03-27-2013 11:39 PM)domer1978 Wrote:  Waiting for confirmation from the Dude or Mhver3. Until that happens it is just a rumor.

I know you're just being sarcastic, but here's what MHver3 tweeted today:

Quote:ACC is floating settlement numbers but MD wants to pay no mor than 20. Could be Swoffie stalling. He's good at that.

Here's the game changer: espn has told ACC that they can keep 100% of their current contract with up to 4 defections as long as those (cont)

...isn't FSU, Clemson, Miami, or UNC. The schools can split the money 11 ways instead of 15. Gives them incentive to not add teams.

Now if the ACC loses four then what about a Ccg?? That's where the Big12 alliance comes into play.

I've been preaching it [XII] not poaching it [ACC] for over a week now though.

The Dude has been discussing the Maryland/ACC lawsuit and how Maryland has filed motions (and this is backed up by the court records) to subpoena records from Louisville, FSU, BC, UVA, and Miami.

The Dude weighing in on this this morning:

Quote:UNC could easily go to the SEC but there are considerations.

While the factors favor the B1G over the SEC - at least for UNC, I wouldn't be surprised one bit if UNC went SEC.

Except for the fact that UNC doesn't value football.

TY is right on Miami. Clemson would be the match if FSU goes B1G.

I agree with Bob, I love UNC to join the SEC....but I'll believe it when they hoist the baby blue banner in Birmingham

(03-28-2013 08:39 AM)bluesox Wrote:  I think he needs a new lightsaber. The move not mentioned is the big 10, if they move with acc school's than its probably an open market but not before they pick off school's. Well, maybe i could see miami to the big 12 as solo move but that's a longshot. I do see a slight risk for miami to be left out if the acc got raided, so if the big 12 offered a solo invite, they might consider it before others left the acc. That's not a bad move by the big 12 to just offer miami either to get to 11. The big 12 would land a big name/market + open the door for the acc to lose more members. Travel really isn't an issue, miami airpot has lots of flights, do it matter if the canes fly to charlotte or dallas? Yet, no way unc jumps to the sec pre big 10 raid on the acc. Also, can't see usf or ucf in the big 12.

You think the Big 12 adds Miami and plays the waiting game on the rest of the field for 12? Who do you see them taking for 12? I don't think any original ACC school will join that conference, so I think the Big 12 would be looking at former Big East or current Metro Conference teams.