Big Ten and other Conference Expansion

[OSU_D/]

Dissapointed to hear Delany saying what he said on the previous page. If AtM goes, I would hope we would be all over OU, Okie State, Texas, & ND.

Misinformation is rampant.

 

[Buckeye737]

Obviously the commissioners are trying to add as many big fish to their conference as possible, but I think that may not be the best thing for the long-term stability of a league. What if the SEC was able to add FSU, Texas, A&M, and maybe VT? This won't happen, but what if? There are already rumblings that some SEC members feel the conference is already too competitive in the one sport that matters - football. If you add those 4 schools, there are going to be some good football programs struggling to make a bowl game, and some very good football programs going to crappy bowl games like the Liberty Bowl.

My point is this - for every Texas brought into a league, there needs to be an Iowa State to absorb the losses. The stronger a league is now, the less room there is for an elite program. The Big East & ACC could add a couple powerhouses without causing any problems, but the stronger leagues could cause themselves some future instability. I think the key is to be able to bring in a powerhouse team with value while being able to add a complimentary patsy that still has some value.

 

[DaveyBoy]

true points

but the system is getting set up for a national playoff in which the super-conferences get an auto qualifier for the tourney

8 teams
ACC (formed from the merger of ACC + BigEast)
SEC (16 teams...add FSU, aTm, VaTech, Miami)
B1G (16 teams...add Mizzou, ND, UVa, MD)
Pac16 (add Texas, OU, OState, BYU)
winner of MWC and WAC
Winner of CUSA and MAC
2 at larges

Obviously the commissioners are trying to add as many big fish to their conference as possible, but I think that may not be the best thing for the long-term stability of a league. What if the SEC was able to add FSU, Texas, A&M, and maybe VT? This won't happen, but what if? There are already rumblings that some SEC members feel the conference is already too competitive in the one sport that matters - football. If you add those 4 schools, there are going to be some good football programs struggling to make a bowl game, and some very good football programs going to crappy bowl games like the Liberty Bowl.

My point is this - for every Texas brought into a league, there needs to be an Iowa State to absorb the losses. The stronger a league is now, the less room there is for an elite program. The Big East & ACC could add a couple powerhouses without causing any problems, but the stronger leagues could cause themselves some future instability. I think the key is to be able to bring in a powerhouse team with value while being able to add a complimentary patsy that still has some value.

 

[sepia5]

I think the key is to be able to bring in a powerhouse team with value while being able to add a complimentary patsy that still has some value.

Indiana and Minnesota can produce a LOT of losses.

 

[LovelandBuckeye]

true points

but the system is getting set up for a national playoff in which the super-conferences get an auto qualifier for the tourney

8 teams
ACC (formed from the merger of ACC + BigEast)
SEC (16 teams...add FSU, aTm, VaTech, Miami)
B1G (16 teams...add Mizzou, ND, UVa, MD)
Pac16 (add Texas, OU, OState, BYU)
winner of MWC and WAC
Winner of CUSA and MAC
2 at larges

Interesting post. The only one adding teams that will take losses is B1G. Between MIZZOU, ND, UVA, and MD there are lots of losses to go around.

ACC + Big East is a clusterfuck of losses but one helluva BBall conference.

 

[Gatorubet]

If FSU is the other add on, I'd rather tell the Aggies to stuff it.

 

[Pheasant]

Texas A&M isn't an elite program. I can't imagine a scenario where a move by them is the catalyst for monumental change in the college football landscape. If Nebraska leaving the Big 12 for the Big 10 didn't cause a seismic shift I have a hard time believing the aggies will.

 

[rampageripster]

Texas A&M isn't an elite program. I can't imagine a scenario where a move by them is the catalyst for monumental change in the college football landscape. If Nebraska leaving the Big 12 for the Big 10 didn't cause a seismic shift I have a hard time believing the aggies will.

But TAMU leaving UT behind eliminates the idea that the Texas Legislature wants to keep the major Texas schools (UT, TAMU, TTU, Baylor) together... also, the SEC would have to add another school in order to have some sort of balance... if it is in the east, that is pillaging a conference yet to be pilfered from (the ACC)... that would change things

 

[scarletmike]

I think that would be the case only because that would make the demise of the Big 12 all but certain. I think Texas knows that if they have one more defection of a perceived major team (A&M is perceived as a major part of the conference, it seems), all bets are off and it all comes undone. But I don't think they care, either, as they can just go independent or have people salivating on having them in a conference. The worst case scenario (for Texas), I think, is that they end up bringing in a bunch of the mountain area cupcakes to make a whole conference. That last outcome doesn't result in much of a shakeup or change in terms of the super conference talk that would come with an overhaul of the Bowl/post-season, just forces some more realignment.

You know, I think that last outcome might be the most reasonable and likely of a lot of the speculation. I don't think there's a desire amongst the conference commissioners or ADs in the B1G/SEC/PAC to move all too quickly to the super conference model. Sometime within the next 20-25 years is certainly possible, but I don't see it happening within the next 5, or even 10 unless something really, really, REALLY drastic happens. You'll see it slowly move, and then it will finally take solid form about 11+ years down the road.

 

[Pheasant]

But TAMU leaving UT behind eliminates the idea that the Texas Legislature wants to keep the major Texas schools (UT, TAMU, TTU, Baylor) together... also, the SEC would have to add another school in order to have some sort of balance... if it is in the east, that is pillaging a conference yet to be pilfered from (the ACC)... that would change things

I agree that it would change things, just like Nebraska to the Big 10 changed things. I just don't think it would change things dramatically.

 

[Buckeyefrankmp]

Texas A&M isn't an elite program. I can't imagine a scenario where a move by them is the catalyst for monumental change in the college football landscape. If Nebraska leaving the Big 12 for the Big 10 didn't cause a seismic shift I have a hard time believing the aggies will.

How do you know we are not in the middle of that "seismic shift"? We have Nebraska and Colorado leaving the Big XII. If their leaving and the resulting ten team league is the reason that A&M is leaving for the SEC, then we are still in that process. The pieces are still falling into place. If A&M leaves that leaves a nine team conference with Texas the big bully. Missouri might lower it's sights of wanting to get into the B1G and try to get into the Big East.

 

[Oh8ch]

What is noteworthy in reading this thread is when folks talk about teams moving how often they talk in terms of TV networks as opposed to conferences.

And a kid can't sell his own [censored]ing jewelry.

The first time I hear a marching band playing the ESPN fight song I am throwing in my chips.

 

[Buckeye737]

Indiana and Minnesota can produce a LOT of losses.

Funny, but absolutely true. Indiana's value in being a BIG football patsy is underrated. It's great when the patsy can have strength in other sports to keep the BTN on basic cable in their region. Hoosier Bball has stunk recently, but their history is undeniable and I'm sure they'll be back soon enough.

Here are some other pretty good patsies:

Virginia - great academics, should get BTN on basic in VA, good talent base for the conference, and can lose a lot of football games.
Maryland - same as UVA with not quite as much academic prestige and possibly a larger propensity to win football games.
Kansas - gets BTN on basic and adds to BTN national demand with their Bball prestige.

 

[MaxBuck]

1. Tejas will not be independent.

2. Duke and Tarheels are more likely to be invited to the B1G than Mizzou.

 

[TexasBuck]

The first time I hear a marching band playing the ESPN fight song I am throwing in my chips.

We are getting close that point. If A&M does in fact leave, ESPIN will have done what they has always dreamed about doing: Actually create the news instead of report it. (ESPIN's Longhorn Network being the last nail in the Big 12 coffin)