Conference Realignment Thread

[Infield Infidel]

I still think the math doesn't work for 64 teams 4X16. Right now there are 68 BCS schools (counting ND and TCU).
After the ACC/Big East grab, and Big 12 last year, the conferences are too prepared with lawyers to go down easy, and no one is going to get Temple'd this time around.
I think we'll have 5 BCS conferences in one way or another, with between 12 and 16 football schools each.

I know that football makes (much) more money than basketball in general, but is an also-ran like USF really more lucrative than a UConn-level basketball program?

The main (perhaps only) positive with USF is having two schools in Florida, so you can tell Florida recruits that their parents can go to a game every year in Florida. This is a big plus for the ACC right now.

 

[canderson]

SEC to A&M: Come on down!

Baylor to SEC and the Big XII: Fuck you.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/09/07/texasam.sec/

A source said Baylor had broken ranks with the remaining Big 12 members, which decided last week to waive their right to legally challenge a move by Texas A&M. In a statement, Florida president Bernie Machen, the chair of the SEC's presidents group, said the SEC would not accept Texas A&M as a member until the potential legal roadblocks were cleared.

 

[TomRicardo]

Can you blame baylor? Shit they may not even get into the mwc when the big 12 blows up. Everyone else has a home.

The fact that no else objected means baylor is about to become very lonely.

 

[RingoOSU]

Yeah, they may kick and scream but eventually someone strikes a deal for them to get SOMETHING out of the collapse, but when the dust clears, they'll be hoping the Conference USA gives them a look.

 

[TomRicardo]

Yeah, they may kick and scream but eventually someone strikes a deal for them to get SOMETHING out of the collapse, but when the dust clears, they'll be hoping the Conference USA gives them a look.

Who the hell would take them in now? They are simply praying the Texas legislature will save them. It won't happen. If Baylor was smart, they would have kept their mouth quiet, let everyone run away and then grab the MWC and let them all into the Big 12 for a fee.

That way the MWC doesn't have to go through all the hassle of acquiring bowls. The network deal would be renegged but they could start building something off the rotting corpse of the Big 12

 

[TomRicardo]

I still think the math doesn't work for 64 teams 4X16. Right now there are 68 BCS schools (counting ND and TCU).

There is no such thing as a BCS school. Stop saying that. Every school in Division I-A is signed to the same BCS contract. A school can't bitch if they lose AQ status. It is in said contract.

 

[RingoOSU]

Who the hell would take them in now? They are simply praying the Texas legislature will save them. It won't happen. If Baylor was smart, they would have kept their mouth quiet, let everyone run away and then grab the MWC and let them all into the Big 12 for a fee.

That way the MWC doesn't have to go through all the hassle of acquiring bowls. The network deal would be renegged but they could start building something off the rotting corpse of the Big 12

That's probably Iowa State's thinking. They should call Baylor and let them in on the plan.

Edit: I may have spoke too soon, sounds like the cyclones might also make a fuss. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/09/iowa-state-legal-rights-texas-a38m-move-sec/1

 

[8slim]

There is no such thing as a BCS school. Stop saying that. Every school in Division I-A is signed to the same BCS contract. A school can't bitch if they lose AQ status. It is in said contract.

Well, hold on. The BCS doesn't distribute money equally. Obviously the AQ conferences get the lion's share of the money. So even a crappy program in an AQ conference makes a lot more from the BCS than a good program in a non-AQ conference (that doesn't make it into a BCS bowl).

I don't have any sympathy for the dreck in the Sun Belt or MAC, but it's not exactly a level playing field.

 

[8slim]

I would take this bet If there were anyway to realistically do it.

People are freaking about ACC losing AQ status...they only gained that recently to begin with. It's a basketball conference. That is what the ACC is. If you want to talk about the ACC becoming crappy in football - sure. The ACC will remain, may simply revert to what it always was and should be - championship-winning basketball conference that doesn't pretend to compete with SEC in football. Which it could never do given the academic standards at many (not all - these may be the ones that leave) of its institutions.

Ummm, the ACC expanded 8 years ago with the specific intent of becoming a "football conference", and they failed miserably (on the field).

If the ACC aspires to be a basketball conference then they will ultimately will have the worst TV deal of any major conference and get picked apart (they'll actually have that worst-contract honor within a year anyway, which is why they may be forced to expand).

 

[TomRicardo]

Well, hold on. The BCS doesn't distribute money equally. Obviously the AQ conferences get the lion's share of the money. So even a crappy program in an AQ conference makes a lot more from the BCS than a good program in a non-AQ conference (that doesn't make it into a BCS bowl).

I don't have any sympathy for the dreck in the Sun Belt or MAC, but it's not exactly a level playing field.

Sure isn't but everyone signed the same deal. BCS is not in trouble if Baylor is left out in the cold. Baylor can't touch the BCS.

Iowa St is an infinitely better position than Baylor. Iowa St. is a large public AAU University.

 

[Infield Infidel]

Sure isn't but everyone signed the same deal. BCS is not in trouble if Baylor is left out in the cold. Baylor can't touch the BCS.

Iowa St is an infinitely better position than Baylor. Iowa St. is a large public AAU University.

If they get any federal funding, they can sue on anti-trust or non-profit grounds. They can join the Utah AG, Playoff PAC, and anyone else suing them right now.

 

[TomRicardo]

If they get any federal funding, they can sue on anti-trust or non-profit grounds. They can join the Utah AG, Playoff PAC, and anyone else suing them right now.

Except they signed agreement saying that they can't sue. Utah AG can do what he wants he is not part of the BCS agreement.

 

[ethangl]

Reports now are that OU has agreed to stay in the Big 12 and that 1st/2nd tier revenue will be split evenly -- opening the door for A&M to leave. No legal rights will be waived but Baylor will not pursue any legal action.

 

[mauf]

I would take this bet If there were anyway to realistically do it.

People are freaking about ACC losing AQ status...they only gained that recently to begin with. It's a basketball conference. That is what the ACC is. If you want to talk about the ACC becoming crappy in football - sure. The ACC will remain, may simply revert to what it always was and should be - championship-winning basketball conference that doesn't pretend to compete with SEC in football. Which it could never do given the academic standards at many (not all - these may be the ones that leave) of its institutions.

This might be the view in Durham, and maybe in Charlottesville, but not anywhere else.

A BE/ACC merger (if it happens, which is no sure thing) would be structured as a reverse merger -- that is, the ACC might be the senior partner, but the Big East would be the "surviving" conference, if only to take advantage of that expiring TV deal. No one is going to leave money on the table to preserve the ACC's brand equity.

The bigger question is why everyone assumes the SEC and Big Ten want to expand. Sure, the SEC will grab Mizzou or Florida State to complement A&M, but further expansion is not likely to increase the conference's revenues enough to justify the dilution. Meanwhile, I believe the Big Ten will only expand if it can land Notre Dame or capture the northeast market (especially NYC), and there's no obvious path for them to do so. And if those two conference don't both expand, I agree the BE and ACC will stay separate, out of inertia if nothing else.

 

[Infield Infidel]

Except they signed agreement saying that they can't sue. Utah AG can do what he wants he is not part of the BCS agreement.

You know very well that those teams in non-AQ conferences signed the agreement because the majority of teams are in AQ conferences. if they didn't sign it, they wouldn't get anything.

Right now there are 68 teams automatic qualifiers, and starting next year there will 124 teams in FBS. If some current AQ teams are sent to non-AQ conferences, and the balance shifts to majority non-AQ, then when the BCS contract comes up again, AQ teams wouldn't have a majority. Which means the terms of the BCS would have to be drastically different in order for it to be signed by the all FBS teams.

 

[TomRicardo]

If you don't think the Big 10+ wouldn't be tempted by Maryland, Virginia, or Georgia Tech

 

[CSteinhardt]

If they go to 4 16-team conferences, the door opens up for a 16-team playoff. Take the top 4 teams in each conference and start it the first weekend of December.

I'd think the more likely scenario is that it's a defacto 8 team playoff that looks like a bowl system: conference championship games, two BCS bowls pitting conference champions, and a "+1" game pitting the two winners, while saving the rest of the bowl system.

 

[Sea Dog]

K-State in the Pac-16? That was quite a shock to read, even if it's still a long shot. According to columnist Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury ...

And if Oklahoma and OSU were to climb aboard in the next few days or weeks, then Scott would take the time to make sure Texas is off the table … and then he’d move on.

Without question, Kansas and Kansas State would be given serious consideration — and those schools would know they were receiving serious consideration, thus delaying a possible move to the Big East.

Guessing along with Scott is a risky, risky venture, but I think he thinks the Kansas basketball brand is strong enough to offset the weak football brand … and strong enough to haul KSU along with it.

 

[Kremlin Watcher]

Sheesh. Go on a three-day business trip and the world goes haywire.

Is there a conference on Mars that someone wants in on? Would make as much sense as what's going on right now. I sense an "everbody calm the fuck down" moment coming. It is apparent to me that fans, bloggers, message boarders and sports journalists are caught up in a frenzy and can't control what they say, regardless of its source. Yet with the exception of aggy continuing to bitch and moan about how unfair the world is, the power players are keeping cool.

As far as Texas goes, the only thing I would be pretty sure of is the admin's desire to keep the LHN intact. That is such a gold mine and brand builder it's hard to see them budging much on that. So maybe for the time being they stand pat. They can be successful in just about any configuration. A 12-0 or 11-1 Texas team is going to the BCS no matter what conference they're in.

And isn't the aggy drama delicious? Ha ha stupid aggy can't even join a conference with a unanimous vote!

 

[Clears Cleaver]

Kremlin - outside of keeping the big 12 intact, there doesn't appear to be a clear road to keeping TLN intact (big 10 and Pac 12 will not allow it) unless TX goes to the aCC (lol) or goes independent. How would you feel about being an independent? is it that bad? good? It hasn't done much for ND and the other 35 sports would need a home

 

[Dehere]

Here's a school that's really flying under the radar: Central Florida. I don't think they've been mentioned at all in this thread.

They have a massive enrollment. Among schools that play D1 athletics they have one of the five biggest enrollments in the country. Last year they finished the football season in the BCS top 25 and their basketball team was briefly ranked during their season as well. They're situated in a fairly big market. Academically they seem to getting better although they'd be at the bottom of the ACC if they wound up there. I think they're going to end up in a BCS AQ conference when it's all said and done.

 

[RingoOSU]

Reports now are that OU has agreed to stay in the Big 12 and that 1st/2nd tier revenue will be split evenly -- opening the door for A&M to leave. No legal rights will be waived but Baylor will not pursue any legal action.

I'm not buying it, this conference is dead. The bad blood between all the involved schools just gets worse with each news.
http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2011/09/07/big-12-football-baylor-ultimatum-could-backfire/

 

[Dave Stapleton]

I'm not buying it, this conference is dead. The bad blood between all the involved schools just gets worse with each news.
http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2011/09/07/big-12-football-baylor-ultimatum-could-backfire/

I didn't know this until this morning but the Baylor University President? Kenneth Starr. I'm sure he won't shy away from litigation.

 

[TomRicardo]

Baylor would be suing themselves to independence. Who the hell would accept Baylor into their league after this shit?

MWC and Conference USA going to avoid them like the plague.

WELCOME TO THE BIG WEST?

 

[Clears Cleaver]

Rumor is Baylor goes to the Big East. With Kansas, kstate and Iowa state. A poo poo platter of bad football

 

[Clears Cleaver]

The latest rumor has nd and Texas going to the big 10. Then Oklahoma and osu to PAC 12. Remnants of big 12 to big east. The Kansas and kstate, baylor, ttech, mizzou and isu have all been assured a spot in an aq conference. Not sure where they would all go. Then next question is what happens to BYU, Boise etc

 

[Kremlin Watcher]

Kremlin - outside of keeping the big 12 intact, there doesn't appear to be a clear road to keeping TLN intact (big 10 and Pac 12 will not allow it) unless TX goes to the aCC (lol) or goes independent. How would you feel about being an independent? is it that bad? good? It hasn't done much for ND and the other 35 sports would need a home

A fair question. I think this may happen in several stages. There seems to be some resistance to the idea of super-conferences at this point (at least until existing TV contracts are up), so maybe Texas keeps a weakened Big 12 together for a while. Then, assuming Mack brings the program all the way back (which I think he will) and the conference remains an AQ, then Texas is happy - double-digit win seasons, BCS bowls, and all the revenue from TLN. Or if OU bolts and the Big 12 fails, maybe Texas goes independent for x years while building TLN and finding the perfect conference fit. I don't think Texas would have problems finding opponents as an independent, and like I said, a 11- or 12-win Texas is going to a BCS bowl, no matter what conference it's in (at least until this BCS contract expires).

The point I was trying to make earlier is that nothing has to happen now - I think TRic made the point earlier that the expiration of current TV contracts may be the trigger to realignment. Absent renegotiation, current contracts will only end up paying less per school to expanded conferences. So maybe Texas goes independent, waits for 2014, and then lands in the right spot during a major realignment that anticipates the renegotiation of the BCS contract. I would be OK being independent for a few years. The college football landscape will be dramatically different come 2015, and my guess is that Texas doesn't want to anticipate that by too much and end up in a disadvantaged position, especially when they have TLN to exploit for now. The silence out of Austin on all these matters is deafening, and leads me to speculate that Texas is going to be leading from behind on this for a while.

 

[Kremlin Watcher]

Don't underestimate Baylor's desire to remain in an AQ conference. They have undertaken pretty substantial spending obligations to upgrade their sports programs, based almost entirely on the revenue from football, and in particular from football being in an AQ conference. Plus the whole Kenneth Starr thing - he's not going to give one inch on this until he gets what he wants.

 

[gopats84]

The latest rumor has nd and Texas going to the big 10. Then Oklahoma and osu to PAC 12. Remnants of big 12 to big east. The Kansas and kstate, baylor, ttech, mizzou and isu have all been assured a spot in an aq conference. Not sure where they would all go. Then next question is what happens to BYU, Boise etc

What a haul that would be for the Big 10 in the span of two years grabbing Nebraska, Notre Dame and Texas.

Would also set up any number of potential chain reaction moves.

 

[Infield Infidel]

The latest rumor has nd and Texas going to the big 10. Then Oklahoma and osu to PAC 12. Remnants of big 12 to big east. The Kansas and kstate, baylor, ttech, mizzou and isu have all been assured a spot in an aq conference. Not sure where they would all go. Then next question is what happens to BYU, Boise etc

This makes a lot of sense if the conferences are hesitant to go to 16. Going from 12 to 16 teams is such a big leap. Going to 14 is easier to imagine and has much less impact on the new TV contracts and scheduling

The Big East must be jumping for joy, since A) they're the only conference that has a contract coming up soon, and b) even if they lose WVU to the SEC or someone else to the ACC, they have ready replacements from the Big 12.

One thing about a 20-team Big East - I don't think the Big 12 North teams would like having to go to NYC every year. they would either have to alternate the B-Ball Conference Tourney between MSG and the Midwest, or they could have two ten-team tourneys, and then have the winners meet in a Conference Title game a week later. Imagine the buildup!

 

[RingoOSU]

So basically, if all the latest rumors happen, we have Nebraska sharing the big 10 with Texas, which was the last thing they wanted, and Colorado playing games in Stillwater, Norman, (Lubbock?), Provo... more often than in Los Angeles and Berkeley. Which is NOT what they signed up for at all. Now if there was some way for A&M to get screwed with their decision...

 

[TomRicardo]

One thing about a 20-team Big East - I don't think the Big 12 North teams would like having to go to NYC every year. they would either have to alternate the B-Ball Conference Tourney between MSG and the Midwest, or they could have two ten-team tourneys, and then have the winners meet in a Conference Title game a week later. Imagine the buildup!

Why wouldn't they want to come to NYC and play Madison Sq. Garden? Teams fight to get that as a neutral site before conference play starts. Who wouldn't want to play in the largest conference tournament? I would imagine in basketball that is the Big East's largest selling point.

You are fucking nuts if you think that is a negative. Every other conference would give their left nut for a tournament situation like that.

 

[Mr. Wednesday]

The latest rumor has nd and Texas going to the big 10.

The only source for this appears to be on the Integer side, coming from someone with connections to the Northwestern AD's office. Not a peep from the UT mouthpieces or from anybody ND. I wouldn't expect to hear anything on the ND side (Swarbrick is exceptional at keeping everyone quiet about what he's working on), but I see zero reason for ND to be pursuing this right now. While there's a fair bit of uncertainty, nothing has reached an apocalyptic stage with the Big East, and that's what it would take to make ND jump conference-wise.

 

[8slim]

Why wouldn't they want to come to NYC and play Madison Sq. Garden? Teams fight to get that as a neutral site before conference play starts. Who wouldn't want to play in the largest conference tournament? I would imagine in basketball that is the Big East's largest selling point.

You are fucking nuts if you think that is a negative. Every other conference would give their left nut for a tournament situation like that.

Seriously.

I mean the Big East is mocked 360 days a year, but those 5 days of the conference tournament at MSG is absolute magic.

 

[Royal Reader]

Possible Tejas indy schedule:

They've got OOCs with Wyoming, NM, and Ole Miss already booked. Assume they keep those.

How flexible is Notre Dame's schedule? You'd have to think UT'd want to slate the two other big indies (BYU). Takes us to five.

The Cotton Bowl date with OU isn't going anywhere. Six.

Kansas played ball over moving a conference game to LHN, so they're obviously willing to do business with UT. Seven.

An in-state game: Baylor given their recent behavior would probably be willing to shoot themselves in the foot, probably pissed at Aggie... Tech or TCU? Eight.

A&M going SEC would free up a date on Arkansas' OOC schedule. Would the Razorbacks be game? TV rights might be a dealbreaker- would they be able to put the game on LHN and Fox local affiliates in Arky? Ten.

Service academies would be pretty easy to schedule... probably manage to get one. Eleven.

Then a cupcake, someone like Tulsa or Houston. That's twelve.

That doesn't look too weak a schedule - you've got games of national interest in Arky, BYU, Notre Dame, and OU. Getting through those one-loss would be enough for a BCS bowl. Are any of those dates unrealistic?

 

[Mr. Wednesday]

I'm not sure how much of ND's schedule is already locked up in contracts, but one of our enduring problems these days is finding solid opponents to play in late October and November. It seems like everyone who's anyone is unwilling to fill late non-conference slots with anything but cupcakes. If UT wants to play ND in late October or November, I'd bet Swarbrick will be happy to take them up on it.

 

[TomRicardo]

If I was Texas I wouldn't count on anyone from the Big 12 even Oklahoma to give you a game.

 

[OCST]

One thing nobody is talking about is the travel for these (supposedly student-) athletes.

Fucking brutal, some of these travel schedules for some of these mega-conferences being proposed.

No big deal for football, I suppose, but are we really putting wrestling, golf, women's soccer, etc. on planes to this degree?

 

[mauf]

Possible Tejas indy schedule:

They've got OOCs with Wyoming, NM, and Ole Miss already booked. Assume they keep those.

How flexible is Notre Dame's schedule? You'd have to think UT'd want to slate the two other big indies (BYU). Takes us to five.

The Cotton Bowl date with OU isn't going anywhere. Six.

Kansas played ball over moving a conference game to LHN, so they're obviously willing to do business with UT. Seven.

An in-state game: Baylor given their recent behavior would probably be willing to shoot themselves in the foot, probably pissed at Aggie... Tech or TCU? Eight.

A&M going SEC would free up a date on Arkansas' OOC schedule. Would the Razorbacks be game? TV rights might be a dealbreaker- would they be able to put the game on LHN and Fox local affiliates in Arky? Ten.

Service academies would be pretty easy to schedule... probably manage to get one. Eleven.

Then a cupcake, someone like Tulsa or Houston. That's twelve.

That doesn't look too weak a schedule - you've got games of national interest in Arky, BYU, Notre Dame, and OU. Getting through those one-loss would be enough for a BCS bowl. Are any of those dates unrealistic?

Notre Dame generally plays a tougher schedule than this, and they've been in decline for 20 years (and their brand was MUCH stronger 20 years ago than UT's is now).

Texas can go to one of the big conferences and take the same deal as everyone else, or they can try to keep the Big 12 together. Going independent isn't a real option, though I agree they could do it for a few years if they need to buy time for the right conference situation to come through.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

I think this could be easily done, let A&M head to the SEC replace them with SMU (keeping Baylor happy with the whole preserve Texas football stuff). Convince ND to become a full member of the Big East by mentioning that its lucrative TV contracts won't be around forever if they keep finishing 7-5 or 6-6 or around that mark. SEC can then go and add another team to make the teams even. Problem is solved.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Notre Dame generally plays a tougher schedule than this, and they've been in decline for 20 years (and their brand was MUCH stronger 20 years ago than UT's is now).

Texas can go to one of the big conferences and take the same deal as everyone else, or they can try to keep the Big 12 together. Going independent isn't a real option, though I agree they could do it for a few years if they need to buy time for the right conference situation to come through.

I actually think that if one team was to try the independent thing for football it would be Texas.

1) They have the Longhorn Network now which will bring in record revenue (even though the revenue is shared by the conference, the Longhorns still get the most money out of it)

2) The State of Texas has a massive base of recruits to choose from

But no one should go that route anymore, it just doesn't work anymore.

 

[Kremlin Watcher]

BOOM. OU headed for the PAC. Round and round it goes, where it stops, nobody knows.

I guess Texas had been desperately trying to keep the Big 12 together through a weekend of furious meetings in Norman, but the OU BOR voted to opt out of the Big 12 and apply to the PAC. So no Sooner Network anytime soon. This ought to kill the Big 12 once and for all; I don't see Texas being able to recruit anyone of great merit into the conference. Should kill Baylor's threatened litigation as well, so aggy will be off the SEC after all. No idea where Texas lands. But the real danger is to Tech, Baylor and the rest of the Big 12 schools. Texas will end up being OK, but someone's going to be the odd man out here.

 

[mabrowndog]

BOOM. OU headed for the PAC. Round and round it goes, where it stops, nobody knows.

I guess Texas had been desperately trying to keep the Big 12 together through a weekend of furious meetings in Norman, but the OU BOR voted to opt out of the Big 12 and apply to the PAC. So no Sooner Network anytime soon. This ought to kill the Big 12 once and for all; I don't see Texas being able to recruit anyone of great merit into the conference. Should kill Baylor's threatened litigation as well, so aggy will be off the SEC after all. No idea where Texas lands. But the real danger is to Tech, Baylor and the rest of the Big 12 schools. Texas will end up being OK, but someone's going to be the odd man out here.

Not sure if "BOOM" is an apt descriptor. More like a whispering whimper. They're merely applying for membership at this stage, and I think we can all agree they ain't getting in unless OKST is in the rumble seat. Then you tack on all the litigation by remaining Big 12 schools, which like TAMU-->SEC will delay the Pac 12's potential acceptance of two new members.

The reported intent of OU to make a move now certainly gets other dominoes lined up, but I think it'll be awhile before we hear them all fall.

EDIT - Regarding the bold, why are you so sure this kills Baylor's litigation threats?

 

[TomRicardo]

Because if Baylor had any smarts whatsoever (this is not a safe bet) they would be calling Marinatto right now.

 

[mabrowndog]

Because if Baylor had any smarts whatsoever (this is not a safe bet) they would be calling Marinatto right now.

Agreed, but that still wouldn't preclude them pressing forward with legal action against their current conference foes. Baylor wants one of three things:

1) A safe spot in a competitive Big 12, even if members have to be retained through court action.
2) A landing spot in another conference, preferably the Big East.
3) Financial restitution if they get left behind with the Big 12 detritus when the giants depart.

 

[Kremlin Watcher]

Not sure if "BOOM" is an apt descriptor. More like a whispering whimper. They're merely applying for membership at this stage, and I think we can all agree they ain't getting in unless OKST is in the rumble seat. Then you tack on all the litigation by remaining Big 12 schools, which like TAMU-->SEC will delay the Pac 12's potential acceptance of two new members.

The reported intent of OU to make a move now certainly gets other dominoes lined up, but I think it'll be awhile before we hear them all fall.

EDIT - Regarding the bold, why are you so sure this kills Baylor's litigation threats?

Yeah, the "boom" was a play on words (Boomer Sooner).

But I think this is the sufficient condition for the Big 12 to fall apart. If that happens, the conference dissolves, and Baylor has no tortious interference claim against the SEC (well, not a good one) because there is no more conference. The Baylor litigation threat is based on the SEC getting A&M to break its legal obligations to the Big 12. No more Big 12, no more tort claim.

 

[Chemistry Schmemistry]

One thing nobody is talking about is the travel for these (supposedly student-) athletes.

Fucking brutal, some of these travel schedules for some of these mega-conferences being proposed.

No big deal for football, I suppose, but are we really putting wrestling, golf, women's soccer, etc. on planes to this degree?

How is the travel any more brutal than it is today? Just replace a six-hour bus ride with a six-hour trip that includes a plane ride. More expensive, absolutely. Only the major conferences can be mega-conferences, and this will strain the majors with lower budgets.

 

[Skeesix]

Clearly if Chip Brown says it, we should trust it.

 

[ethangl]

Clearly if Chip Brown says it, we should trust it.

Yeah, Chip is batting about .100 right now.

 

[Kremlin Watcher]

This guy seems to have some good information on Texas to the B1G.