JRsec
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RE: I Know Nobody Thinks So, But What If Texas Decided the SEC Was Best for Them?
(03-03-2015 10:01 PM)Soobahk40050 Wrote: (03-03-2015 08:13 PM)JRsec Wrote: (03-03-2015 07:35 PM)Soobahk40050 Wrote: (03-03-2015 05:44 PM)JRsec Wrote: (03-02-2015 07:54 AM)jhawkmvp Wrote: No doubt the networks are the big driver on this. I think the networks give the conferences the schools they are willing to pay for and the conferences for the most part work on landing the schools they want on that list. BC's AD basically said ESPN told the ACC who to take from the Big East. The B12 admitted the networks pushed TCU and WVU as the adds they would pay for. That is why the PAC is really screwed. They have no network in their corner. I think if they seriously want to get more than the leftovers of expansion they need to swing ESPN or FOX a share of their network.
Hopefully, whatever happens, all the B12 schools find homes. The B12 is probably more valuable parted out to the other conferences than it currently is whole.
I agree with you that the networks provide the menu and the conferences select the entrees. One of the bigger questions I have with this rumor is whether 16 really is the magic number, or not? Just stop and think for a moment about the issues solved here by going to 18.
1. Oklahoma could be accommodated.
2. Vanderbilt stays put.
3. Regions become more of the mini conference they are today.
4. Balance between stronger and weaker regions are accounted for by the 4th slot for a conference playoff going to the best overall school that doesn't win one of the three divisions. Which keeps more of the 18 fan bases energized later into the season than a 4 division model.
Let the SEC go for Texas and Kansas, but let them also pick up an Oklahoma school, and a school of Texas's choice. Let the ACC land Notre Dame, complete their footprint with West Virginia, but also be free to choose either or both of Cincinnati and Connecticut. The PAC could still take Kansas State, T.C.U. and Texas Tech to go with B.Y.U., or Rice. If the Sooners should choose to opt with Texas for the SEC in that scenario then Oklahoma State would be available to the PAC as well. But for now let's assume that FOX insists upon the Sooners going to the Big 10. The result would be better divisions for the SEC and ACC, the top 68 schools within more than a reasonable doubt being included, and a possible set up like this:
SEC:
West: Arkansas, Baylor, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas
Central: Alabama, Auburn, Louisiana State, Mississippi, Mississippi St., Texas A&M
East: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
ACC:
North: Boston College, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse
Atlantic: Duke, Louisville, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia
South: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami, N.C. State, Wake Forest
(With 3 divisions of 6 you can play 5 divisional games, 2 rotating games from each of the other two divisions, and 3 out of conference P5 games which could include in conference rivals as a non conference game to solve a few residual situations created by the rotation.)
Big 10:
Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska, Oklahoma
Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, Wisconsin
Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State
Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State Rutgers
PAC:
Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State
California, U.C.L.A., U.S.C., Stanford
Arizona, Arizona State, B.Y.U., Utah
Colorado, Kansas State, T.C.U., Texas Tech
Whether 16 or 18 is the final number, getting it done would be a good thing for the game. I just think 18 cleans up the landscape in a more politically feasible way for the ACC and SEC. 16 makes for a stronger tighter conference, but 18 makes for better divisions and the at large conference playoff bid makes for better races near season's end. These 68 schools truly help to create a more definitive separation between the G5 and what would be a reasonably solid P4. Thoughts?
Most realignment scenarios I see have a PAC problem. We think the PAC will take leftovers or lower quality teams in order to keep up with the Jones of the SEC/Big 10. Perhaps more likely is they perform a ninja Swofford move and grab someone like Kansas first (I bet Kansas would prefer the PAC to the SEC if the Big 10 isn't calling). Texas Tech and TCU probably aren't worth it to the PAC without Texas.
The same thing for Iowa State to the Big 10. Why, except as an add on to grab a bigger school or to even out the league? In fact Kansas/Iowa St would fit better in the PAC AAU school league with new markets rather than the SEC/ Big 10, if the PAC can't get Texas.
What this means for the SEC is that we are most likely to wind up with Ok St/WVU/Baylor type schools rather than the big wigs of Kansas/Texas.
The rumor started from a poster on the Orangebloods and Shaggybevo Texas sites. He claimed to have a business friend who had strong ties to ESPN who said they were pushing the Texas and Kansas to the SEC rumor. It was predicated upon ESPN's interest and heavy investment in Texas's LHN and in their T3 program with Kansas. Reportedly ESPN wants the pair in one of their conferences and the SEC has the most to offer geographically and with former members of the SWC and Big 12. You do know that it was ESPN that strongly suggested Missouri? Texas has been an SEC target in the past (1991 most recently) but Kansas? The issue here is that the Big 10 is under FOX influence and the PAC is independent of network affiliation as they lease their product to both FOX and ESPN who have no stake in it. That leaves the ACC and the SEC who are mostly or totally ESPN controlled. That arrangement led to Mizzou so why wouldn't it possibly lead to Kansas? If it were left up to me we would have snagged F.S.U. and Clemson and called it a day. But that would devalue ESPN's investment in the ACC and might well have led to its dissolution. Plus they are needed now as ESPN woos Notre Dame. North Carolina and Virginia/VaTech would have been okay, but the Heels and Hoos are needed for lacrosse attraction to the Irish. VaTech and N.C. State would have done, but U.N.C. doesn't want Texas and OU, and Kansas would be on an island. So in that regard ESPN's desire to plant those properties in the SEC carries the weight of legitimacy. OU is more of a FOX property so I assume that is why they aren't part of the rumor. It's a slow time but rumors are heating up. It doesn't mean much, but it gives us something to discuss.
Fair enough. As a Fox vs. ESPN game this scenario makes more sense, however I am still not convinced Big 10 settles with ISU. Bigger fish.
If we make the moves with the Big 12 schools within the 3 year time frame originally discussed in the rumor then there will have to be compromise all the way around. Eight, but likely all of the Big 12 schools will need to be placed. Should the Big 10 land OU then ISU might well be the price. That's also why Baylor may come into play for the SEC. If we land two brands in Texas and Kansas there may be a price tag for us where one of the little brothers is concerned. We'll just have to wait and see.
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