College Conference Shake up(s)

[TX_Kevin]

How about the Big 10 extending an invitation to Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Rutgers? Does this begin the domino effect bringing the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State to the SEC, and others to the PAC 10?

This really could be an interesting thing to watch. Sports Illustrated went so far as to say this could create a bunch of 16 team superconferences that no longer need the NCAA to function. Oh man, that means they could then go to a full scholarship for every athlete, and pay them a small salary as well. How then would the NCAA teams even contemplate competing with the new group?

[cabo390]

It's inevitable. The TV audience is where the money is, and making a bigger conference would increase the revenue for the schools and the stations. Bet it happens within 3 years.

[bdchorn]

Unless the SEC strengthens their academic standards and quits accepting partial qualifiers, there is no way Texas or ATM will join. That said, I cant wait to see how this all shakes out. Count me as one that is looking forward to the end of the Big 12.

[A&M 90]

Heard a rumor that A&M, Texas, OU, and Okl. St. may join the SEC sometime in the future to form the Megaconference.

Can't say it would be terribly disappointing if this happened.

[Jaspro]

I don't know if I see the SEC taking ATM. I could see TEch's style fitting in out there more than ATM's.

[Cable]

No way, Tech is way more Pac 10 ish than A&M! I hate the aggies and hope they take it to the SEC and get their brains beat in.

Sad thing is where do my Baylor Bears fit in? Hope they go with Kansas, KU, Tech, Colorado and Iowa St to the Pac 10 while the other four head off to the SEC. I wouldn't mind not playing UT ever again!

[DorothyNotKeegan]

I don't think K-State will go anywhere...

[CaptainDave]

I don't really see the mega conference thing happening right now.

However, a two team expansion in both the Big 10 and Pac 10 appears much more probable at the moment. Even this would shake up the Big 12. Iowa and Missouri would more than likely move out of the Big 12.

Honestly, I'm ready for a conference re-alignment. More than likely would help University of Houston or even TCU for that matter.

[Mark44]

as an Ohio State Buckeye fan I'm part of the conference causing all the troubles.... ;-)

two or three years ago the Big Ten formed the Big Ten Network, their own sports network to show all the football games ABC or ESPN didn't want, campus programming, basketball games, Olympic sports, coach's shows, etc.

people laughed. nowhere that will work, they said.

now, the BTN has turned a profit far sooner than anyone expected and Big Ten schools are making a mint off it. everyone knows Notre Dame has their own sweet deal with NBC. that deal pays them about $9 million a year.

Every school in the Big Ten picked up a check last year for $22 million.

think anybody wants to be a part of that conference? Nebraska and Mizzou are both itching to join.

Big 12 folks should know that Texas managed to finagle UNEVEN revenue sharing when the Big 12 formed up. that leaves a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths. the Big Ten is share and share alike. and it's shares are way more than anybody is making in the Big 12 or Big East.

lots of speculation about who the Big Ten will ask. Monday there were rumors that the Big Ten had asked Nebraska, Mizzou, Rutgers and maybe ND. of course, Nebraska promptly denied it and said they hadn't been asked. but all that could mean is that they haven't been "formally" invited. but the Big Ten isn't going to ask anybody formally until they have made sure that whoever they ask is coming on board.

The Big Ten meets in early June - we may get formal invites then. It will be interesting for sure...

[bdchorn]

as an Ohio State Buckeye fan I'm part of the conference causing all the troubles.... ;-)

two or three years ago the Big Ten formed the Big Ten Network, their own sports network to show all the football games ABC or ESPN didn't want, campus programming, basketball games, Olympic sports, coach's shows, etc.

people laughed. nowhere that will work, they said.

now, the BTN has turned a profit far sooner than anyone expected and Big Ten schools are making a mint off it. everyone knows Notre Dame has their own sweet deal with NBC. that deal pays them about $9 million a year.

Every school in the Big Ten picked up a check last year for $22 million.

think anybody wants to be a part of that conference? Nebraska and Mizzou are both itching to join.

Big 12 folks should know that Texas managed to finagle UNEVEN revenue sharing when the Big 12 formed up. that leaves a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths. the Big Ten is share and share alike. and it's shares are way more than anybody is making in the Big 12 or Big East.

lots of speculation about who the Big Ten will ask. Monday there were rumors that the Big Ten had asked Nebraska, Mizzou, Rutgers and maybe ND. of course, Nebraska promptly denied it and said they hadn't been asked. but all that could mean is that they haven't been "formally" invited. but the Big Ten isn't going to ask anybody formally until they have made sure that whoever they ask is coming on board.

The Big Ten meets in early June - we may get formal invites then. It will be interesting for sure...

This whole "uneven" revenue sharing is more hype than substance. Yes, it's true Texas refused to revenue share when the Big 12 was formed. However, the TV revenue $$ difference between the schools is negligible.

Bear in mind a few things here. Texas is responsible for a LOT more revenue incoming than any other school in the Big 12. Despite being the most profitable team in the entire country in profit last year (1 spot ahead of Ohio State) Texas made less TV money than Vanderbilt. Yes, Vanderbilt!!

So, as a Texas fan even though I understand the other schools complaint, the Big 12 financially speaking is a far worse deal for UT than it is any other team in the conference. Facts are FINANCIALLY speaking Texas carries the conference.

Realignment isn't about how good you are. It's about $$$$. The Big 12 has the single worst TV deal of all the BCS conferences because we are way too regionally based with 1/3 of the conference in Texas. Heck, Mizzou is the second largest TV audience in the conference. OU, as good as they are, has a small market share relative to many teams in the PAC 10 or Big 10.

It's a tough deal because inevitably some schools will be left worse off than before, but that's just the way it is.

[elhefe]

Totally agree with everything that Mark44 said, EXCEPT THE LOVE OF OHIO STATE!! Penn State tried and true here! ha. Look at the Big 10 record against the SEC, especially in Bowl games. If Nebraska and Mizzou join I believe the Big 10 will be the best conference, PERIOD. Now I will conceded that the best team in the Big 10 will not typically be as good as the best team in the SEC but the rest of the teams match up and lean in favor of the Big 10. Big 10 is resurging, bank on it.

[SabreKiller]

Baylor?...

They just need to go to Division II.

[hondo]

Big 10 is old boring football that does not translate to the highest competition. Lacking team speed and creativity on the offensive side creates osu getting blown out in the big game - TWICE IN A ROW! Heck, they didn't even deserve to be there.

God, is anything more boring than their marquee game, osu v mich? It's a conference wide problem. Like watching paint dry... Sounds like desperation to me.

[Sasquatch Ag 95]

They just need to go to Division II.

x2

[A&M 90]

They just need to go to Division II.

Ouch!