(08-06-2017 06:43 PM)Underdog Wrote:  

(08-06-2017 01:52 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(08-05-2017 08:38 PM)Underdog Wrote:  

(07-11-2017 06:16 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  I haven't posted a crazy theory in a while and I've got the itch so I was thinking about this today...

I'm not trying to piggyback on the Dude here because I think he has no clue what he's talking about, but let's assume for a moment that the financial issues and distribution difficulties of the PAC do indeed lead to trouble on the West Coast.

I do NOT think the Big 12 is going to snag PAC schools. I think perhaps the geographical limitations will prevent the B1G or the SEC from doing so either. But let's think back to the last time 2 leagues with relative proximity were both having financial issues coupled with demographic shortfalls...the Big 8 and the SWC died off and the remnants reformed as the Big 12.

What if we see something akin to this happen again?

What if ESPN decides to go all in with the PAC once the contract is up in the early 2020s with this sort of scenario in mind?

PAC drops Washington State and Oregon State

Big 12 drops Kansas State, TCU, Baylor, and West Virginia

The remnants merge with an ESPN owned 3rd Tier network that combines the existing PACN with the LHN...

The Pacific Western Conference?

West: UCLA, USC, California, Stanford, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State

East: Utah, Colorado, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Iowa State

Let's also say...

SEC adds TCU and West Virginia

ACC adds Notre Dame and Cincinnati

B1G adds UConn and Colorado State

You've got 4 separate 16 team Power conferences. For ESPN, they now exclusively own 3/4 of the Power product and virtually every growth market in the nation.

Thoughts?

AllTideUp... When does the PAC 12's GOR expire? I tried a quick search online, but couldn’t find an answer.

I can't remember the exact year, but it's right around the time the Big 12's deal expires.

I’m AARP age, so I definitely don’t remember…. Anyway, by the time both GOR’s expire (PAC 12 and B12), the SEC and B1G should be making over $50+ mil per school in TV $$. The ACCN should propel the ACC past the PAC 12—which would become the bottom earning “Autonomous” conference by then. Nevertheless, it would be considered more valuable than the B12 by ESPN in my opinion. Consequently, I could see the PAC 12 selling ESPN a percentage of the PACN and forming the following:

The PAC 16 (it finally happens):

North: Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State

South: Houston*, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech

West: California, UCLA, USC, Stanford

Central: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah

OU and OSU would go to the SEC and KU to the B1G. Baylor, ISU, KSU, and WV raid the American and build the B16. The LHN is converted into the PAC 16 Lone Star Network, which explains my south division. Two semifinals games would be held before the PAC 16 CCG. The SEC would also hold two semifinals games before its CCG.

I did a little digging and the PAC signed a 12 year deal that began in 2012/2013 so I think the deal ends in the Summer of 2025.

I'm assuming the GOR is tied directly to the media contract. I don't see why it wouldn't be.