Conference Realignment: What Next?

[Demon22]

Track record for this twitter account isn't 100%, but it's pretty good...

https://twitter.com/MarcFiscHoops/statu ... 4410327042

[butlerguy03]

Apparently it's UCLA & USC to the Big Ten...

Jon Wilner
@wilnerhotline
Source: USC and UCLA are planning to leave for the Big Ten as early as 2024. Move *has not been finalized* at the highest levels of power.
1:23 PM · Jun 30, 2022

Perhaps a little too abstract of a thought, but think about Knute Rockne and ND travelling by train to play USC in LA and vice versa. That is now approaching 100 years ago. Think about the exposure for both schools back then. Move the "tape" forward to today and you have this announcement.

This is massive for all parties, but I have to believe that the B1G snagging Los Angeles as a viewing market, playing more games in the Rose Bowl, the new stadiums that are out there now - all of it will be accretive to that conference.

It is a rather extraordinary response to the SEC's Texas and OU acquisition, especially considering when you compare Norman, OK to Los Angeles, CA. Granted, the SEC also picks up Austin, TX and the massive following of the Longhorns, while the B1G literally locks into only one market with the two schools announced, but the population of greater LA is 12.5 million versus Austin, TX at 2.3 million and Norman, OK at 1.4 million.

You can argue different levels of passion, etc., but the POTENTIAL of this move is staggering.

Market size doesn't matter. Eyeballs do. Texas is worth more than Oklahoma, USC, and UCLA combined in football. Even sucking. However, the BIG got the only two eyeball-important college football programs on the west coast. That sort of puts up a wall against the SEC possibly bridging to the west coast through AZ, AZ St, UCLA and USC.

Makes you wonder if the BIG will consider bridging with 2 of Kansas/Colorado/Arizona/Utah.

The Big East needs to be talking to every mid-tier football, high-tier basketball program in the country right now. Kansas, Duke, Houston, Memphis, etc., maybe even Vanderbilt and Northwestern if they start to get queasy with the power of the athletic departments.

[Wizard of Westroads]

Track record for this twitter account isn't 100%, but it's pretty good...

https://twitter.com/MarcFiscHoops/statu ... 4410327042

Gtmo's been pounding the table on this one for months. The man's a savant!

[Jet915]

Need the PAC-12 to poach the BigXII asap and leave Kansas high and dry....

[GreatDaneAttorney]

Track record for this twitter account isn't 100%, but it's pretty good...

https://twitter.com/MarcFiscHoops/statu ... 4410327042

I see this as a strong possibility. KU football ain't going to elevate this program. The "clearance rate" required for B1G/SEC membership is too high. Better to cling to the best available option.

[Xudash]

Need the PAC-12 to poach the BigXII asap and leave Kansas high and dry....

But wait, that would "hurt" the University of Cincinnati! Oh, never mind.

[Omaha1]

WTF IS HAPPENING?

[kayako]

Need the PAC-12 to poach the BigXII asap and leave Kansas high and dry....

If it's just USC and UCLA, yeah, and I do expect Kansas to be poached as well. But if Oregon and Washington follow them to the B10? I don't know if PAC12 is in position to poach from the B12 anymore. This thing is just getting started.

[Jet915]

https://twitter.com/SSN_BigEast/status/1542639540338311172

[Django]

Gonzaga to the Big East makes a lot more sense now