(08-04-2022 04:32 PM)NotoriousOne Wrote:  

(08-04-2022 01:08 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(08-03-2022 04:26 PM)ColKurtz Wrote:  “After the anxiety caused last week regarding further Big Ten expansion, industry sources have indicated the Big Ten is no longer as interested in adding California, Oregon, Stanford and Washington. Rightsholders were balking at paying the same amount for those schools as the 16 Big Ten schools going forward ($80 million-$100 million).”

"No one has ever gone in and gutted a conference," Benson added [OP note: I guess he doesn’t remember the Big East] "If the Big Ten gutted a conference and took Washington and Oregon, if I was Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff, I might pursue antitrust action there."

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...oned-well/

There's a better article out there which aptly points out that the liability would be in collusion, not antitrust. If the B1G moved in concert with 4 more PAC schools it could look like the 5 entities conspired to end the PAC. So they'll back off, let things simmer down, and move piecemeal.

Good point JRsec. I also think the slow roll could be a tip of the cap to Notre Dame. Had the BIG grabbed 6-7 PAC schools at once, ND would have been under a lot of scrutiny to act quickly. They now have the time they deserve to decide what to do without it seeming like they were forced into anything. If we should have learned anything it is that Notre Dame will not be forced into a conference. Maybe this is the BIG’s way of giving ND some cover while negotiations continue.

BTW…I am not convinced Notre Dame gives up independence. I’m simply stating the BIG may be courting with this approach…

That's possible. What if Notre Dame is simply waiting on the ACC's disposition to be determined? Then if something happens which permits movement they are out for free. Money is money. And should N.D. shake loose, they could join the Big 10 or do something which fans don't anticipate at all, like become a partial in both the SEC and B1G, keep a form of independence and draw half a check from each and use whichever at large slot to the playoffs is available splitting the shares with the conference whose slot was utilized. This would make the upper tier breakaway a 49 member organization.

As to Stanford, Oregon, Washington and California, 1 year of waiting means no contract, no GOR, no exit fees, and no risk.