UCF to Big East...?

[ponyscott]

Thanks for explaining...you are a revolutionary thinker in the likes of Voltaire, Darwin, ect.

Good talk...

Thats funny...A+

[EastStang]

Any expansion is going to happen solely because TV networks bankroll it. Without TV money, nothing happens. So, the major players now seem to be ABC/ESPN, Fox/Little Foxes, CBS/CBSC. NBC/Comcast trying to stay relevant (with ND, Versus and Mountain). Big Ten also has its own network which puts $$$$ directly into schools pockets, but also has primary with ABC/ESPN. So, the question is not what the conferences want, its what do these media giants want. And how can we benefit from them measuring their sticks against one another. For example, the SEC has CBS as primary and ESPN as secondary. The ACC, Big XII, Pac 10 and BE have ABC/ESPN as primary. So, I unless ABC/ESPN see improved programming or saving a brand as something that needs to be done, nothing will be done. TCU got moved to the BE because destablizing the MWC was in ABC/ESPN's interest and helping the BE stay BCS was in their interest. The question is when the next round of negotiations occur between the BCS conference and ESPN/ABC whether Fox or CBS try to cherry pick a little bit. The SEC is the wildcard here. Obviously, they have the best brand and if they chose to destabilize an ESPN/ABC product they could do so by picking up for example Georgia Tech, Miami, Florida State and TAM. That would gut the ACC and the Big XII. Suddenly the ACC would be the old ACC plus VT and BC. Not a real strong conference football wise. To bolster the ACC, ESPN/ABC brokers a deal to merge it with the strong parts of the BE, or splits the BE up between the Big XII, Big Ten and the ACC. The BE only remains as a basketball conference with the non football teams. Still a good brand for ESPN with ND, Georgetown, DePaul, Marquette, St. John's, Providence, etc. That is the most likely scenario. How we fit in that scenario remains to be seen. I see it happening in about 2 years.

[RednBlue11]

Big 10 has 12 members-doubt they would consider adding anyone not named Notre Dame or Texas

My bet is Mizzou, Pitt, Syracuse as 13, 14, and 15. Then they'll press ND with the position that they have one spot remaining and the BE will be garbage without Pitt and Syracuse. If it works, BE loses badly and the Big 16 is born. ND may call the Big 10 + 2's bluff but there are quite a few good options for plan B.

Kansas I believe is the interesting wildcard in this whole deal. They're an AAU school with great resources and a decent bball team. The main problem Kansas has is little brother down the road, K-State. The Regents may not let them split. If they can split, then filling the last Big 16 spot is a real possibility (if ND declines). My personal hope is that they end up in the AAC. Other than some geographical challenges, Kansas is a real fit for the AAC. There was real solid speculation that Kansas was going to the Pac-10 (the spot Utah took) if the Big 12 dissolved--I guess Stanford was really pulling for Kansas for some reason. Kansas has to be careful though. If they think they'll lose the effort to split from K-State then it's likely off to the Big East (what's left of it) or MWC, which frankly is a death penalty for Kansas. In any case, with its central location I think it can be a "tipping point" school in this discussion.

Regardless, Big East as we know it today is on the Death Row. They can add a bunch of lessser teams in anticipation of "The Raid", but the remaining conference will be non-AQ once W Va leaves for greener pastures (IMO).

if they were adding mizzou they would have already...have you forgotten already about how all this got started last year?

[ReedFrawg]

if they were adding mizzou they would have already...have you forgotten already about how all this got started last year?

Oh I remember.

Mizzou was left out of the cut to 12, but the cut to 16 will be different. They're too good of a fit in terms of academics (AAU), location, and sports reputation. Trust me, I laughed my [deleted] off when they were left out of the first round.

I just don't see the need or wisdom for these 16 team conferences. 12 teams seems to be an easy number in terms of schedules, etc. Just because 1 conference moves to 16, I would not expect the others to just jump in right away. But money talks...

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

I'm just a caveman and your ways are strange to me. . .

Clearly, there are many people on this board with a much greater understanding of conferences and television contracts than I have.

Just keeping winning Ponies. TCU has proven that good things happen to those in large TV markets who win consistently.

[West Coast Johnny]

If I'm the Big 12 Norrth, I take seriously the Big East. Texas wnats independence, and A&M are always talking about the SEC....

The Big East is going to die a painful death when the Big 10 + 2 and AAC rip it apart during the next realignment. The Big 12 North schools understand this. The real question is what is TCU going to do now that they've burned their bridge with the MWC.

I think we'll find another conference to dominate. One that likes BCS bowl game revenues.

[West Coast Johnny]

[/quote]

I think we'll find another conference to dominate. One that likes BCS bowl game revenues.[/quote]

Pac-10? Nope. Big 12? Dead! Big 10? LOL! Big East? Dead! ACC? LOL!!

Hmmm...I'm going with Sunbelt...unless they can beg to get back into MWC.[/quote]
You won't be rooting for us to find a good conference. I've learned from reading this board that its good for SMU when TCU succeeds?

[stc9]

What no one has mentioned in all of this talk is that the Big East is dominated by smaller Catholic Schools - Providence, Georgetown, Villanova, St. John's, DePaul, Marquette, Seton Hall and ND (non-football member). If you look at this list, especially because ND football is not involved, they are all basketball schools. These schools don't really want to diminish the BE basketball brand, it would cost them millions. They also don't want the massive operating costs of a FBS Football program, because they don't have a state legislature paying their bills.

Long story short - these Catholic Schools always stick together in voting and they will determine the future of the BE. A little historical trivia... Penn St. didn't want to go to the Big Ten. They had a similar deal with the BE that ND currently has. When the Big Ten offered they went to the BE to become a full member and the BE rejected them. Villanova didn't want Penn St. and all of the Catholic schools (including Boston College) said OK. Penn State was rejected and joined the Big Ten.

[RednBlue11]

to your second point...no they dont, ND and depaul are from different orders of catholicism and i know for a fact that they do no communicate on matters like these or many others at all.

DePaul and Marquette are brand new to conference and barely have any political sway with the conference commissioner at this time compared w/ the old guard...who also make this for profit conf. a lot more money than the recent additions could hope too.

[EastStang]

It all depends on convenience and timing. They held their nose when they had to do so to admit Virginia Tech and Miami. They certainly pulled the trigger with TCU to keep their BCS status. The BE is trying to keep its football and hoops mates happy together because the hoops $$$$ drives the engine on dollars. Now after this year, if BE bubble teams get the Virginia Tech treatment you might see some disharmony there and some of the schools thinking that they might be better off as two conferences.