Miz, Neb, Cuse, Pitt, Rutgers to Big 10 (Article inside)

[SMUstang]

I still think ND will join the Big Televen and that the Pac-10 will add Colorado and Utah and BYU will be added to the Big XII to replace Colorado. That will be the extent of this realignment. Don't know or care what the MWC will do but without BYU and Utah I think their possibilities are limited.

[Water Pony]

I still think ND will join the Big Televen and that the Pac-10 will add Colorado and Utah and BYU will be added to the Big XII to replace Colorado. That will be the extent of this realignment. Don't know or care what the MWC will do but without BYU and Utah I think their possibilities are limited.

Despite the fun of reorganizing Division 1A football conferences to maximize revenue for the Big Boys, I am moving toward this minimalist approach. The Big East in order to survive with FB needs to discard ND and push them into the arms of a welcoming Big Ten/11. If they don't, BE will be raided by a much more expansive Big 10 (14-16 teams) and the ACC. The Big XII is hit by three or more defections. The result is chaos, but more revenue for the resulting super conferences.

The minimalist approach may be more appealing to SMU and our prospects? Which is better for us, this approach or throwing a hand grenade into the structure?

[Water Pony]

Chicago Tribune: Big Ten Expansion Q&A. It covers a lot of ground and projects a bigger move by the Big Ten/11:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ch ... umn?page=1

[Water Pony]

Oklahoma/OSU at great risk, if Big Ten and SEC expand:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/3885 ... alignments

[EastStang]

Interesting take on this subject in the Chicago Tribune link. If, as reported there, the Big Ten wants TV sets in NYC, then ND clearly is not something they're really worried about. If they want to come they'll be room certainly, but that won't stop them from wooing the schools around NYC, Rutgers, UConn and Syracuse. I do think the PAC-10 wants to expand to add a championship game. They've been shafted due to the layoff between the end of the regular season and championship week in BCS bowl invites (ask USC and Oregon). So, I suspect they'll add two teams to have that championship. And adding two mountain time zone teams including the SLC and Denver markets would help their TV contract due to possible earlier start times for games and two decent markets. Also Utah helps their basketball RPI.

[Water Pony]

Here is a Detroit point of view. One unique scenario is the last one, eighteen teams in the Big Ten/18 (earthquake for BE, soon to be BB only?... when ACC takes the balance):

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100505 ... is-unknown

[Samurai Stang]

The minimalist approach may be more appealing to SMU and our prospects? Which is better for us, this approach or throwing a hand grenade into the structure?

In the event of chaos, it is impossible to predict SMU's future. In truth, there are simply far too many variables to be considered. Minimal expansion is easier to predict, but not necessarily preferable.

Consider the factors
1. Big 10 expansion (12, 14, or 16)
2. Big East responds (adds 3 or 7?)
3. Pac-10 expands (Colorado and Utah?)
4. Big 12 has holes to fill (1-3), or does Big 10 model of more than 12 lead other conferences to take the remaining Big 12 schools?
5. Will the number of BCS conferences increase, decrease, or remain the same?

One could easily arrive at as many scenarios in which there is a preferable outcomes for SMU as one could those that are negative. I do not believes less is necessarily greater, but I do believe it is attractive due to the predictability that comes with it.

[Water Pony]

Good recap, SS. This feels like a rubic's cube.

[Water Pony]

From South Carolina comes the SEC point of view. If needed, does the SEC go east into NC and/or west to Texas? TV makes the call?

http://southcarolina.scout.com/2/968203.html

[Samurai Stang]

From South Carolina comes the SEC point of view. If needed, does the SEC go east into NC and/or west to Texas? TV makes the call?

http://southcarolina.scout.com/2/968203.html

In all likelihood, if the SEC went to 16 it would want to add two schools from the west and two from the east. Texas and A&M are the obvious choices to the west.

Problematic for the SEC, however, could be the Pac-10 expanding to 16. By adding Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and A&M, the Pac-10 could create a conference that would dominate half of the United States. The benefit of Texas recruiting and media markets are of great value, while the Oklahoma schools bring tradition and regional rivalries.

It should be expected that Texas will have many suitors, whether or not the Big 12 is unstable.

[EastStang]

That's why initially, there was talk that the Big Ten was looking at UT because of the number of TV sets they would bring to the table. I suspect, UT told them, they'd want the moon and the stars. And the Big Ten said, okay, let's just fillet the Big XII. UT like ND may have such a high price tag that they might just be left behind. They don't care if they're in a reconstituted SWC with UT, A&M, TT, OU, OSU, KU, KSU, SMU, TCU, Tulsa, Rice and UH. In such a conference, they could dictate the terms of their TV money because the rest of the schools will just be happy to be there.

[Water Pony]

Whether the PAC10 wants to expand to 12, 14 or 16, the scenario from SS has the inherent value of bringing teams in as pairs, Texas/A&M, OK/OSU and UT/CO, which is their preferred approach and operating model, plus creating sufficient critical mass in the Central and Mountain Time Zones.

[HB Pony Dad]

Wannstedt: 'Zero' talks about expansion

[Samurai Stang]

Wannstedt: 'Zero' talks about expansion

Unfortunately, this provides no new insight. Either Pitt has not been contacted, or they have and their general is either unaware of it or is lying. Had they been contacted it would be incredibly stupid to reveal so before being formally invited.

Before a brilliant person begins something great, he must look foolish to the crowd.

[HB Pony Dad]

Wannstedt: 'Zero' talks about expansion

Unfortunately, this provides no new insight. Either Pitt has not been contacted, or they have and their general is either unaware of it or is lying. Had they been contacted it would be incredibly stupid to reveal so before being formally invited.

Before a brilliant person begins something great, he must look foolish to the crowd.

Interesting that the PA. football fans want Pitt and Penn State's longtime rivalry to resume and Paterno favors expanding the Big Televen from 11 to 14 teams.

Yet Wannstedt remains mum.

The Pac-10 coaches are also all mum on expansion plans:

Scott fills Pac-10 coaches in on expansion (or not) scenarios

The $$$$$ in expansion is going to further widen the gap between the "haves and have-nots" which is not a good thing for Ponyfans.