The Pacific 12 and Big Ten conferences, Rose Bowl partners since 1947, have major plans to strengthen their business relationship.
The leagues Wednesday jointly announced a massive collaboration that will increase athletic competition across multiple platforms for all 24 schools.
Plans include a preseason game at the Rose Bowl, possibly as soon as 2013 or 2014, involving schools from each conference.
Perhaps the PAC-12 B1G are hedging their bet on the future of the BCS scenario while strengthening their TV footprint.
There is also a strong possibility that the current BCS system of pairing the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in a title game will no longer exist after the current contract expires in two years.
I'm sure the Big East likes this comment...
"Who knows," Delany said. "You could have the Rose Bowl one year and Soldier Field the next."
Yankee Stadium and Wrigley Field are other possibilities.
They are talking about it being like the old Kickoff Classic. From what I can gather though, they are saying it would just be the first week of the season, not an extra game like those used to be.
The B1G-PAC games will be scheduled for weeks 2 and 3, but they would take the marquee matchup out of those each year and stick it on the first Saturday instead.
Big 10 and Pac 12 collaboration or alliance creates major media options in all sports, perhaps the strongest media offering imaginable. SEC will remain the best FB conference, but the Big 10/Pac 12 combo is broader and more sustainable for the entire academic terms, year after year.
Big East and ACC will be strong in BB, but could be enhanced in other sports. Big XII looks isolated and with the loss of NE, MO, CO and A&M will be less attractive outside of Texas.
What collaboration options do you see beyond the Big 10 and Pac 12 combo?
