The Official Conference Realignment Rumors Thread

[ccbird]

Football is the cash cow and I'm still afraid FSU, VT, Clemson slip out the back door to another conference. If that happens the ACC is left holding their you know what.


I will say though that the thought of going back to two 8 team divisions with the old ACC teams and the Big East schools in each divison sounds exciting for basketball. You can go back to playing a home and home series with the teams in your divison plus play either 4 or even all 8 of the teams in the other divison once a year. That puts your schedule at 20 or 24 games and you can fill the other spots up with out of conference teams.

[Birds of B'more]

Football is the cash cow and I'm still afraid FSU, VT, Clemson slip out the back door to another conference. If that happens the ACC is left holding their you know what.


I will say though that the thought of going back to two 8 team divisions with the old ACC teams and the Big East schools in each divison sounds exciting for basketball. You can go back to playing a home and home series with the teams in your divison plus play either 4 or even all 8 of the teams in the other divison once a year. That puts your schedule at 20 or 24 games and you can fill the other spots up with out of conference teams.

If that happens, the ACC will be a total of $60 million richer. Which is why I don't think it does.

[Remember The Alomar]

Football is the cash cow and I'm still afraid FSU, VT, Clemson slip out the back door to another conference. If that happens the ACC is left holding their you know what.


I will say though that the thought of going back to two 8 team divisions with the old ACC teams and the Big East schools in each divison sounds exciting for basketball. You can go back to playing a home and home series with the teams in your divison plus play either 4 or even all 8 of the teams in the other divison once a year. That puts your schedule at 20 or 24 games and you can fill the other spots up with out of conference teams.

The ACC presidents recently unanimously voted to raise the exit fee from 12 to 20 million. Unless the SEC goes absolutely insane tries to become a 32 team megatron conference there's no way any of the ACC schools will be leaving. Swofford played the game intelligently and insured the ACC's survival.

[DuffMan]

I'm equally impressed with how ACC Lacrosse will be upgraded with Syracuse.

This. The ACC was already the best conference as far as Lacrosse goes and now they're adding Syracuse to the mix.

[PrivateO]

From Mark Blaudschun of the Boston Globe:
we think Beast basketball only schools are ready to bolt. We think Xavier, dayton, Butler and St.Joes should stay near the phone

The Big East basketball-only schools had a teleconference today to discuss their options. Not sure if ND was included.

The Irish have a lot of choices, which they probably love. They could go ACC, B1G, stick with the Catholics for basketball and non-revenue (remaining indy in football), or try and become a non-football members of a revamped Big XII.

Should be a fun, crazy week.

[Birds of B'more]

From Mark Blaudschun of the Boston Globe:
we think Beast basketball only schools are ready to bolt. We think Xavier, dayton, Butler and St.Joes should stay near the phone

The Big East basketball-only schools had a teleconference today to discuss their options. Not sure if ND was included.

The Irish have a lot of choices, which they probably love. They could go ACC, B1G, stick with the Catholics for basketball and non-revenue (remaining indy in football), or try and become a non-football members of a revamped Big XII.

Should be a fun, crazy week.

Makes sense. Like many others in this mess, I'm sure the basketball schools want stability and unity, and since football is not part of the equation for them then there is no need to stick with the other BE schools to deal with the drama. The only problem for them will be getting a good enough TV deal that will come close to the revenue they were getting in the BE...I don't think they can. But regular season college basketball really doesn't bring in much TV money anyway. The money is in March Madness, and the NCAA controls and distributes that.

As for Notre Dame, I can see them sticking with the BE Catholic schools for now. The only way they will go to a conference as a full member (e.g. including football) is if the superconferences revamp the BCS or come up with a playoff system and do not include ND as an independent, as they do in the current BCS. That will be the one thing that forces their hand into giving up independence.

[PrivateO]

Makes sense. Like many others in this mess, I'm sure the basketball schools want stability and unity, and since football is not part of the equation for them then there is no need to stick with the other BE schools to deal with the drama. The only problem for them will be getting a good enough TV deal that will come close to the revenue they were getting in the BE...I don't think they can. But regular season college basketball really doesn't bring in much TV money anyway. The money is in March Madness, and the NCAA controls and distributes that.

As for Notre Dame, I can see them sticking with the BE Catholic schools for now. The only way they will go to a conference as a full member (e.g. including football) is if the superconferences revamp the BCS or come up with a playoff system and do not include ND as an independent, as they do in the current BCS. That will be the one thing that forces their hand into giving up independence.

Agree with this. I'm not sure how DePaul, Providence, or Seton Hall would do without that TV revenue. The interesting thing is that the Big East basketball schools' teleconference call included the 7 non-football schools. Notre Dame plays football, but is the 8th Catholic school. Does this mean they were not included and have decided to look at other conference options? Or am I just wearing tinfoil on my head?

[Birds of B'more]

Agree with this. I'm not sure how DePaul, Providence, or Seton Hall would do without that TV revenue. The interesting thing is that the Big East basketball schools' teleconference call included the 7 non-football schools. Notre Dame plays football, but is the 8th Catholic school. Does this mean they were not included and have decided to look at other conference options? Or am I just wearing tinfoil on my head?

I think they are just taking a wait-and-see approach and letting things play out. Like you said, they will have many options. And if that means joining a conference, then they'd probably have their choice of several and would be able to take their time and weigh the offers....either the Big Ten, ACC or potential Big East/Big XII hybrid will keep a spot open for them if they want to be a full member. If they insist on keeping their football independence then their options are more limited. Perhaps a Big East/Big XII combo will let them stay as a non-football member, and I think the Catholic schools would definitely take them....even though ND is a football school, having them in other sports might help a bit in getting more TV money. But again, if they can't negotiate BCS/playoff access as a football independent, I think then they'll swallow hard and join a conference as a full member, the Big Ten most likely.

[JamesI]

I really hope UConn jumps to the ACC, then the ACC adds a really good football school to get to 16.

Its odd now having to think about what's best for the ACC.

I'm so looking forward to the drive to Syracuse to see Duke or UNC there.

[Birds of B'more]

NY Times Blog

For those who are sports & TV geeks like me, this is an awesome read. It basically breaks down the number and percentage of college football fans in each TV market. Since it's the Times, it also focuses on the NYC market. It verifies what many have always suspected....NYC is not a big college football market. But despite that, thanks to its sheer size, NYC still has the largest overall number of college football fans in the country. It's also evidence as to why Rutgers would be an attractive addition to the ACC. Even though they are not a top performer in any of the revenue sports, they are still the most-followed team in the NYC market.

[Birds of B'more]

Two quickies now up on CBSsports.com:

- Oklahoma regents gave their president the go-ahead to seek conference realignment (just a formality, but an important one)
- The AP learns Big East and Big XII are exploring a merger should Texas and OU leave

[PrivateO]

@DanWolken Just hearing it's not their preference RT @Xhoopsmaven:@DanWolken what's your evidence Nova and G'Town are not interested in a Cath league?

Sad for the X, if true.

[BaltimoreTerp]

You want a super conference? C-USA and the Mountain West have your [bleep]ing SUPERCONFERENCE right here!

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports...ing-on-merger/

Twenty-two teams from Hawaii to North Carolina. Sweet sassy molassy.

[Pedro Cerrano]

You want a super conference? C-USA and the Mountain West have your [bleep]ing SUPERCONFERENCE right here!

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports...ing-on-merger/

Twenty-two teams from Hawaii to North Carolina. Sweet sassy molassy.

You can throw out the record books when East Carolina and Hawaii meet in field hockey!

[BaltimoreTerp]

You can throw out the record books when East Carolina and Hawaii meet in field hockey!

As Stewart Mandel said on Twitter today, all of this TV money is going to pay for charter flights for the tennis team, and athletic departments are still going to complain about not being able to cover their budgets.