The New Magnolia League

[EastStang]

SMU, TCU, Baylor, Rice, Tulsa, BYU, AFA, Tulane, Memphis, ISU, KSU, Boise, UNM/UTEP, CSU/Wyo/HI, Cincy and Louisville. Private division/ Public Division. I have a feeling that's what we'll be looking at. Not great, but could be worse.

[smupony94]

uggghhhh

[StallionsModelT]

If TCU finds itself in that conference they would scream bloody murder. Won't happen though. I sincerely believe SMU is doing their best to try and put some kind of Big East leftover/Big 12 leftover/MWC/CUSA conference together and convince TCU to jump off the sinking ship that is the Big East. You could have something like this:

Mountain Pod:

Air Force
Boise State
Nevada
Colorado State

Southwest Pod:

SMU
TCU
Houston
Baylor

Midwest Pod:

Iowa State
Kansas State
Cincinnati
Louisville

Southeast Pod:

Central Florida
South Florida
Southern Mississippi
East Carolina

[Dutch]

SMU, TCU, Baylor, Rice, Tulsa, BYU, AFA, Tulane, Memphis, ISU, KSU, Boise, UNM/UTEP, CSU/Wyo/HI, Cincy and Louisville. Private division/ Public Division. I have a feeling that's what we'll be looking at. Not great, but could be worse.

hey, look, it's everyone TCU has been trying to get away from for the past decade from WAC, CUSA & MTN.

[smupony94]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ivy

[GRGB]

If TCU finds itself in that conference they would scream bloody murder. Won't happen though. I sincerely believe SMU is doing their best to try and put some kind of Big East leftover/Big 12 leftover/MWC/CUSA conference together and convince TCU to jump off the sinking ship that is the Big East. You could have something like this:

Mountain Pod:

Air Force
Boise State
Nevada
Colorado State

Southwest Pod:

SMU
TCU
Houston
Baylor

Midwest Pod:

Iowa State
Kansas State
Cincinnati
Louisville

Southeast Pod:

Central Florida
South Florida
Southern Mississippi
East Carolina

Yep. No KU Here, I assume they are in the Big10 then.

Might sub Wyo for Nevada to keep the regional rivalries together ... or go with UNLV / Nev pair over CSU.

AFA is a nice draw, but they probably would rather be regional with CSU Wyo. So might have to be those three or no afa.

[ponyinNC]

the real question is what happens with the Big 12 and Big East leftovers. Does each conference poach CUSA, MWC, MAC teams? Or do they band together? If each league attempts to survive, we have a great shot. If they band together and form the 5th superconference, we most likely get left out b/c that is too many quality programs fighting for only a few open slots.

If Baylor, Kansas or any other remaining Big 12 school flees to the Big LEast, you have your answer and I think we are screwed. I would be paying very close attention to that Baptist school to the south. I think what they do will determine a lot. Never thought Baylor would be the center of the realignmnet world, but right now I think they are (for us anyway).

My $.02

[EastStang]

Don't disagree. The conspiracy theory in me sees this in part as an ESPN/ABC power play. The ACC raided the BE which just signed with Fox. ESPN needs to save the Longhorn network, the ACC is a willing patsy for that, but the Whorns eyes are on the Pacific. So, if this is network driven, then Baylor brings nothing to the table TV wise, but helps perhaps keep a conference an auto bid conference. SMU/TCU/Houston/Rice are in urban areas which happen to be Top 10 TV markets, and despite not driving the TV market, do provide some TV inroads to those markets. ND and BYU have a religious angle unique to the NCAA. AFA brings a solid national following as well. So, the question is what do the TV suits foresee in all of this. Add in that CBS has the SEC contract along with ESPN. Fox has Big XII back up, PAC 12 back-up, and CUSA. The Big Ten is an ESPN/ABC house conference. I suspect they will take on a team or two to help with that effort. ESPN in my view is as much behind this as any other group and brokering some deals.

[ponyinNC]

i used to love espn, but i now see them for the devil they truly are. they no longer just report the news, they are the driving force in making the news. they control college football more than the ncaa.

[GRGB]

Blame Fred jacoby and his allegiance to raycom