Michael Silver’s tweet about the Big 12 possibly looking at Stanford and Cal again got me thinking about this again. I think that Stanford and Cal make a lot of sense as the fifth and sixth schools in a BIG Pacific division. Any chance this happens in your mind? If ESPN is on the hook for $72 million to add Cal, Stanford and SMU to the ACC would they pay $70-$80 million for an after dark package to cover this and get back in with the BIG? Does NBC have an interest in helping facilitate this either as a favor to Notre Dame or as a way to get another Notre Dame game (away games at Stanford and/or Cal)?

Stanford now belongs in the Big Ten, not as a favor, but to connect the west coast 4.

(08-26-2023 07:01 PM)cubucks Wrote:  Stanford now belongs in the Big Ten, not as a favor, but to connect the west coast 4.

Stanford along with Notre Dame caps the conference at 20 unless they can eventually grab Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, and Miami (North to South).

I think you just outlined a very attractive alternative for a BIG at 24 teams. I still think we need more than five out west for non-football scheduling though.

Initially during last fall, I thought Stanford & Cal were soon to be announced (July 2023) as part of deal along with Oregon & Washington to B1G. I listened very closely to everything that I could find B1G, and Warren seemed to indicate that those 4 schools together were available for $100 million or less; he brought it up several times along with saying we have to be mindful along with that inference. My take was that it was in regards to tortious interference plus not wanting to be viewed negatively as PAC unraveled.

So with hindsight 20/20 , the math matches Apple deal plus statements from UCBOR about B1G not biting on deal for the 4 schools to "settle" UCLA to B1G. This made it ssem pretty clear to me that putting a bow on things for the 4 schools as a package was not happening any time soon.

ESPN seeing the west coast options becoming more limited, explored hedging moves. Imo this pushed things to move along in Big 12 + 4C, and Oregon & Washington along to B1G.

I think there's a strong reason that the P5? conferences plus ND have media/TV people leading them, as they know better than anyone where the money is located or often times not. When I looked at tv ratings historically for Stanford (at their best) & Cal, they didn't move the needle relative to any options already available in conference.

In a world where NIL and likely pay4play are the future, I sadly see no place for them until next contract and then only as a plus 1 type move. By the way, I love the Bay area, so my conclusion is not what I prefer.

(08-27-2023 04:22 PM)Strut Wrote:  Initially during last fall, I thought Stanford & Cal were soon to be announced (July 2023) as part of deal along with Oregon & Washington to B1G. I listened very closely to everything that I could find B1G, and Warren seemed to indicate that those 4 schools together were available for $100 million or less; he brought it up several times along with saying we have to be mindful along with that inference. My take was that it was in regards to tortious interference plus not wanting to be viewed negatively as PAC unraveled.

So with hindsight 20/20 , the math matches Apple deal plus statements from UCBOR about B1G not biting on deal for the 4 schools to "settle" UCLA to B1G. This made it ssem pretty clear to me that putting a bow on things for the 4 schools as a package was not happening any time soon.

ESPN seeing the west coast options becoming more limited, explored hedging moves. Imo this pushed things to move along in Big 12 + 4C, and Oregon & Washington along to B1G.

I think there's a strong reason that the P5? conferences plus ND have media/TV people leading them, as they know better than anyone where the money is located or often times not. When I looked at tv ratings historically for Stanford (at their best) & Cal, they didn't move the needle relative to any options already available in conference.

In a world where NIL and likely pay4play are the future, I sadly see no place for them until next contact and then only as a plus 1 type move. By the way, I love the Bay area, so my conclusion is not what I prefer.

Strut, no argument from me. You hit the nail on the head, it would seem. I do still worry that a four team western contingent is going to be extremely difficult for non-football sports though. I also am pretty surprised that there isn’t one more TV deal for a Friday primetime game or a late night Saturday game with Apple TV, Amazon, ESPN or ABC worth $60-$80 million a year.

(08-27-2023 04:35 PM)NotoriousOne Wrote:  

(08-27-2023 04:22 PM)Strut Wrote:  Initially during last fall, I thought Stanford & Cal were soon to be announced (July 2023) as part of deal along with Oregon & Washington to B1G. I listened very closely to everything that I could find B1G, and Warren seemed to indicate that those 4 schools together were available for $100 million or less; he brought it up several times along with saying we have to be mindful along with that inference. My take was that it was in regards to tortious interference plus not wanting to be viewed negatively as PAC unraveled.

So with hindsight 20/20 , the math matches Apple deal plus statements from UCBOR about B1G not biting on deal for the 4 schools to "settle" UCLA to B1G. This made it ssem pretty clear to me that putting a bow on things for the 4 schools as a package was not happening any time soon.

ESPN seeing the west coast options becoming more limited, explored hedging moves. Imo this pushed things to move along in Big 12 + 4C, and Oregon & Washington along to B1G.

I think there's a strong reason that the P5? conferences plus ND have media/TV people leading them, as they know better than anyone where the money is located or often times not. When I looked at tv ratings historically for Stanford (at their best) & Cal, they didn't move the needle relative to any options already available in conference.

In a world where NIL and likely pay4play are the future, I sadly see no place for them until next contact and then only as a plus 1 type move. By the way, I love the Bay area, so my conclusion is not what I prefer.

Strut, no argument from me. You hit the nail on the head, it would seem. I do still worry that a four team western contingent is going to be extremely difficult for non-football sports though. I also am pretty surprised that there isn’t one more TV deal for a Friday primetime game or a late night Saturday game with Apple TV, Amazon, ESPN or ABC worth $60-$80 million a year.

I agree with you NotoriousOne, and think those Friday and Saturday night games will come eventually.

I really think the size and speed of recent moves caught people off guard. People like us have our ear to the ground as best we can and at least have a sense of potential moves, delving into what if scenarios etc. People that don't are still reeling in complete shock.

Tbh I'm still a bit shocked that from the first time I heard rumor of 4 corner schools moving, and how now that has come to pass is surprising.

I'm looking forward to embracing the future, especially since I don't really have a choice.

I'm going to do my best to enjoy every minute of this season!

Good luck except against a certain team wearing green and white

(08-27-2023 08:52 PM)Strut Wrote:  

(08-27-2023 04:35 PM)NotoriousOne Wrote:  

(08-27-2023 04:22 PM)Strut Wrote:  Initially during last fall, I thought Stanford & Cal were soon to be announced (July 2023) as part of deal along with Oregon & Washington to B1G. I listened very closely to everything that I could find B1G, and Warren seemed to indicate that those 4 schools together were available for $100 million or less; he brought it up several times along with saying we have to be mindful along with that inference. My take was that it was in regards to tortious interference plus not wanting to be viewed negatively as PAC unraveled.

So with hindsight 20/20 , the math matches Apple deal plus statements from UCBOR about B1G not biting on deal for the 4 schools to "settle" UCLA to B1G. This made it ssem pretty clear to me that putting a bow on things for the 4 schools as a package was not happening any time soon.

ESPN seeing the west coast options becoming more limited, explored hedging moves. Imo this pushed things to move along in Big 12 + 4C, and Oregon & Washington along to B1G.

I think there's a strong reason that the P5? conferences plus ND have media/TV people leading them, as they know better than anyone where the money is located or often times not. When I looked at tv ratings historically for Stanford (at their best) & Cal, they didn't move the needle relative to any options already available in conference.

In a world where NIL and likely pay4play are the future, I sadly see no place for them until next contact and then only as a plus 1 type move. By the way, I love the Bay area, so my conclusion is not what I prefer.

Strut, no argument from me. You hit the nail on the head, it would seem. I do still worry that a four team western contingent is going to be extremely difficult for non-football sports though. I also am pretty surprised that there isn’t one more TV deal for a Friday primetime game or a late night Saturday game with Apple TV, Amazon, ESPN or ABC worth $60-$80 million a year.

I agree with you NotoriousOne, and think those Friday and Saturday night games will come eventually.

I really think the size and speed of recent moves caught people off guard. People like us have our ear to the ground as best we can and at least have a sense of potential moves, delving into what if scenarios etc. People that don't are still reeling in complete shock.

Tbh I'm still a bit shocked that from the first time I heard rumor of 4 corner schools moving, and how now that has come to pass is surprising.

I'm looking forward to embracing the future, especially since I don't really have a choice.

I'm going to do my best to enjoy every minute of this season!

Good luck except against a certain team wearing green and white

Yes, I could see several scenarios where Stanford and Cal end up in the BIG. But I think they all would be based on a provision to get ND, or to go to 24 schools. Otherwise, I don't see where they bring the value that the new schools have to bring to increase revenue for the rest of the conference.

I'm surprised the Big Ten didn't scoop up both Stanford and Cal at the last minute but am not disappointed that those 2 schools found a home elsewhere. Good luck to them. But I think the ACC's doomsday clock has started.

(09-01-2023 05:10 PM)NJ2MDTerp Wrote:  I'm surprised the Big Ten didn't scoop up both Stanford and Cal at the last minute but am not disappointed that those 2 schools found a home elsewhere. Good luck to them. But I think the ACC's doomsday clock has started.

I was surprised too. I agree with both of you other statements too. I wonder if the BIG presidents wanted Stanford and Cal to go ACC to given the time to ramp up the west tern schools and if and when the ACC explodes they will grab those two schools with the others.