Buckeye Scoop has always appeared very legitimate to me. On top of that, they carry a lot of trust with Ohio media figures and even tOSU football alumni and coaches. They've never taken the lead in spreading unrealistic rumors. That's my two pennies on them.

ESPN vs. FOX. How far will one push the other? Again, I hate all of this!

I hope ~90% of the people commenting about conference realignment are not important in whatever their field is in real life. Common sense doesn't exist much with this topic.

(07-24-2021 11:48 AM)cubucks Wrote:  I hope ~90% of the people commenting about conference realignment are not important in whatever their field is in real life. Common sense doesn't exist much with this topic.

I'm not referring to this thread or forum in general, just the internet as a whole and what I've read. Wanted to clarify that.

Expanding west does nothing for me. Southern Cal, Oregon, Washington, and maybe UCLA are about all I'd stomach but not be happy with. The problem is that the PAC schools aren't valuable enough collectively or else they would be paid more already. Does dropping Washington State, Oregon State, and maybe a couple others really make the rest that much more valuable? Does pairing the elites of the PAC with the Big Ten bring them up or bring us down? All I know is that the sports following has consistently declined out west and the recruiting outside of California is lacking.

I think Clemson and Florida State are going to be in a tough spot with their in-state rivals making double the media revenue they will. The Big Ten should jump on them. The drop in value of the ACC may be enough for UNC to leave and bringing UVA with them is the southern wing needed to make all four most comfortable.

(07-24-2021 12:18 PM)GE and MTS Wrote:  Expanding west does nothing for me. Southern Cal, Oregon, Washington, and maybe UCLA are about all I'd stomach but not be happy with. The problem is that the PAC schools aren't valuable enough collectively or else they would be paid more already. Does dropping Washington State, Oregon State, and maybe a couple others really make the rest that much more valuable? Does pairing the elites of the PAC with the Big Ten bring them up or bring us down? All I know is that the sports following has consistently declined out west and the recruiting outside of California is lacking.

I think Clemson and Florida State are going to be in a tough spot with their in-state rivals making double the media revenue they will. The Big Ten should jump on them. The drop in value of the ACC may be enough for UNC to leave and bringing UVA with them is the southern wing needed to make all four most comfortable.

This is correct strategy. Go for FSU and even if they don't come the SEC will get involved ESPN will use them to protect that property, the devaluation forces ND, UNC, and Duke / UVa to look at options and that cracks the door for the B10.

Agree on the West. I keep data pinned to the top of the SEC page on WSJ valuations, attendance, gross total revenue and viewership (when I can find that one). PAC schools as a whole are below B10 schools in all areas. Take UW and USC and decapitate PAC earnings. You could make those 2 work. But adding a West Coast division would be a value drain. I invite all to explore the data. I would assume that there are many more B10 alums in the Northern Mid Atlantic.

If Fox Sports is driving this then I could see this going all the way to 24 teams, adding members from the rump B12 and PAC. They'd probably go with four divisions of six to make the geography work. AAU won't be as important this go around if it happens. It'll be motivated by money and safety in numbers.

Mega B1G/Fox 24
Washington, Oregon, Stanford, Cal, UCLA, USC
Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Iowa
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana
Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Maryland, Rutgers

(07-24-2021 07:17 PM)Transic_nyc Wrote:  If Fox Sports is driving this then I could see this going all the way to 24 teams, adding members from the rump B12 and PAC. They'd probably go with four divisions of six to make the geography work. AAU won't be as important this go around if it happens. It'll be motivated by money and safety in numbers.

Mega B1G/Fox 24
Washington, Oregon, Stanford, Cal, UCLA, USC
Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Iowa
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana
Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Maryland, Rutgers

I would replace Iowa State and Oklahoma State with Arizona and Arizona State.

Maybe do a 3x8 instead of a 4x6.

Pacific: Washington, Oregon, Stanford, Cal, UCLA, USC, Arizona, Arizona State
Central/Mountain: Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois
Eastern: Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Maryland, Rutgers

Here is the most unconventional idea of all.

Rice

An AAU member. One of a very few AAU members that is D1 and is not in a P5 or the Ivy League.

Situated in the middle of Houston, 4th largest city in the nation, so a huge market.

Situated in the middle of prime Houston and Texas recruiting area, teeming with outstanding high school athletes.

Huge endowment (5-6 billion dollars)

(07-25-2021 03:01 PM)Ranger Wrote:  Here is the most unconventional idea of all.

Rice

An AAU member. One of a very few AAU members that is D1 and is not in a P5 or the Ivy League.

Situated in the middle of Houston, 4th largest city in the nation, so a huge market.

Situated in the middle of prime Houston and Texas recruiting area, teeming with outstanding high school athletes.

Huge endowment (5-6 billion dollars)

Rice has no brand or following. It doesn't matter where they are located because nobody watches them. They have like 3,000 undergrads, the people most likely to be future fans and donors, so they aren't likely to get any better any time soon. They aren't even good at sports. All that money and they aren't even competitive in football or basketball. I guess it would help recruiting a little if they were added but I think all the recruits in Texas would be more impressed over the additions of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC than Rice to the Big Ten. In fact, they'd probably just laugh at the Big Ten.

Rice is an excellent school but a terrible expansion candidate.

(07-26-2021 05:38 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(07-25-2021 03:01 PM)Ranger Wrote:  Here is the most unconventional idea of all.

Rice

An AAU member. One of a very few AAU members that is D1 and is not in a P5 or the Ivy League.

Situated in the middle of Houston, 4th largest city in the nation, so a huge market.

Situated in the middle of prime Houston and Texas recruiting area, teeming with outstanding high school athletes.

Huge endowment (5-6 billion dollars)

Rice has no brand or following. It doesn't matter where they are located because nobody watches them. They have like 3,000 undergrads, the people most likely to be future fans and donors, so they aren't likely to get any better any time soon. They aren't even good at sports. All that money and they aren't even competitive in football or basketball. I guess it would help recruiting a little if they were added but I think all the recruits in Texas would be more impressed over the additions of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC than Rice to the Big Ten. In fact, they'd probably just laugh at the Big Ten.

Rice is an excellent school but a terrible expansion candidate.

You are correct to point out that Rice has its weaknesses, but it also has its strengths.


If the B1G wants to admit only AAU schools (as has been its practice in the past), its choices are:

Poach from another P5 - possible
Poach from the Ivy League - not likely
Pick a D3 school
Pick a school like UCSB which is D1 but currently does not play football
Pick a Canadian school (Toronto or McGill)
Pick from the eight remaining schools:
Kansas, Iowa State, Rice, Tulane, Buffalo, Stony Brook, UC Irvine, UC Davis

Only Rice, Tulane and UCI offer large markets and only Rice offers easier access to the fertile Texas recruitment areas.

Something must give. Either the requirement for AAU status is waived, you successfully poach a P5, or you pick from the 8 remaining AAU schools.

One thing I know. Neither you nor I will decide. It comes down to how much the B1G wants an all AAU conference. I suspect university presidents are going to want to retain AAU status.

Rice would have to be more like Stanford to be given serious consideration.

(07-26-2021 12:43 PM)Ranger Wrote:  

(07-26-2021 05:38 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(07-25-2021 03:01 PM)Ranger Wrote:  Here is the most unconventional idea of all.

Rice

An AAU member. One of a very few AAU members that is D1 and is not in a P5 or the Ivy League.

Situated in the middle of Houston, 4th largest city in the nation, so a huge market.

Situated in the middle of prime Houston and Texas recruiting area, teeming with outstanding high school athletes.

Huge endowment (5-6 billion dollars)

Rice has no brand or following. It doesn't matter where they are located because nobody watches them. They have like 3,000 undergrads, the people most likely to be future fans and donors, so they aren't likely to get any better any time soon. They aren't even good at sports. All that money and they aren't even competitive in football or basketball. I guess it would help recruiting a little if they were added but I think all the recruits in Texas would be more impressed over the additions of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC than Rice to the Big Ten. In fact, they'd probably just laugh at the Big Ten.

Rice is an excellent school but a terrible expansion candidate.

You are correct to point out that Rice has its weaknesses, but it also has its strengths.


If the B1G wants to admit only AAU schools (as has been its practice in the past), its choices are:

Poach from another P5 - possible
Poach from the Ivy League - not likely
Pick a D3 school
Pick a school like UCSB which is D1 but currently does not play football
Pick a Canadian school (Toronto or McGill)
Pick from the eight remaining schools:
Kansas, Iowa State, Rice, Tulane, Buffalo, Stony Brook, UC Irvine, UC Davis

Only Rice, Tulane and UCI offer large markets and only Rice offers easier access to the fertile Texas recruitment areas.

Something must give. Either the requirement for AAU status is waived, you successfully poach a P5, or you pick from the 8 remaining AAU schools.

One thing I know. Neither you nor I will decide. It comes down to how much the B1G wants an all AAU conference. I suspect university presidents are going to want to retain AAU status.

You're very focused on this AAU stuff for some reason. Notre Dame has a standing invite and they aren't AAU. Nebraska was added knowing that they were imminently going to lose AAU status; heck, the Big Ten voted them out of the AAU. The Big Ten will add schools whether or not they have AAU status.

Rice doesn't provide any benefit to the Big Ten. The conference won't add a non-P5 school. They don't have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find someone who may want to join. If there aren't candidates that will increase the per school payout of the conference, they won't add anyone. It's pretty simple. Rice has phenomenal academics but that doesn't make everyone else money, especially in athletic competition. I don't care what market Rice is in (or anyone else for that matter) if nobody watches them on the broadcasts or in person. Rice could be anywhere but if nobody watches, who cares. Maybe it's easier to say that despite Rice's awesome location, they've never so much as done well.

I read that Iowa State and Kansas have made overtures to the Big Ten.

The dream scenario is to merge with the ACC to counteract the SEC superconference.

(07-27-2021 07:23 PM)wetsu Wrote:  I read that Iowa State and Kansas have made overtures to the Big Ten.

The dream scenario is to merge with the ACC to counteract the SEC superconference.

I think it takes at least 11 affirmative votes to dissolve the ACC.

Hopefully Fox has taken complete control of the BIG's interests, Warren is an imbecile. I think it says a lot with how Gene Smith called him out the other day.

Inform Florida, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M they have open offers with the guarantee of staying financially "whole" with the move.

The SEC schools are probably a no, but the offer is there.

To hell with the AAU talk, it could just be a bluff leaked to throw others off!?!?!

FSU, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia, NC, Duke, Syracuse, Pitt, Kansas and Iowa state.

If we can get Texas A&M, another Texas school should be invited, i'm all for Texas Tech. Texas A&M is bluffing with their all in vote with Texas to the SEC. They just want to make sure the Longhorns are fully invested in he SEC before they bolt for the BIG, lol!

Once complete, the geographical footprint resembles a hand doing the "horns down". Texas A&M couldn't be happier.

(07-29-2021 06:32 PM)cubucks Wrote:  Hopefully Fox has taken complete control of the BIG's interests, Warren is an imbecile. I think it says a lot with how Gene Smith called him out the other day.

Inform Florida, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M they have open offers with the guarantee of staying financially "whole" with the move.

The SEC schools are probably a no, but the offer is there.

To hell with the AAU talk, it could just be a bluff leaked to throw others off!?!?!

FSU, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia, NC, Duke, Syracuse, Pitt, Kansas and Iowa state.

If we can get Texas A&M, another Texas school should be invited, i'm all for Texas Tech. Texas A&M is bluffing with their all in vote with Texas to the SEC. They just want to make sure the Longhorns are fully invested in he SEC before they bolt for the BIG, lol!

Once complete, the geographical footprint resembles a hand doing the "horns down". Texas A&M couldn't be happier.

Hey you Buckeyes would fit the SEC quite well. Pickup Penn State, N.D., and FSU and make it 20!

(07-28-2021 10:32 PM)NJ2MDTerp Wrote:  

(07-27-2021 07:23 PM)wetsu Wrote:  I read that Iowa State and Kansas have made overtures to the Big Ten.

The dream scenario is to merge with the ACC to counteract the SEC superconference.

I think it takes at least 11 affirmative votes to dissolve the ACC.

Although I wasn't aware of the exact provision it has certainly occurred to me that the attitude of the ACC would likely (and understandably) be that they have no reason whatsoever to defer to the Big Ten and the Big Ten would also bristle at the notion of being in the "ACC superconference."

It seems like there needs to be a mix of bad blood and financial interest in order to pull it off. I can understand why people were/are fed up with UT and OU hijinks but I am not informed enough to know whether similar feelings exist within the ACC.

(07-29-2021 06:32 PM)cubucks Wrote:  Hopefully Fox has taken complete control of the BIG's interests, Warren is an imbecile. I think it says a lot with how Gene Smith called him out the other day.

Inform Florida, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M they have open offers with the guarantee of staying financially "whole" with the move.

The SEC schools are probably a no, but the offer is there.

To hell with the AAU talk, it could just be a bluff leaked to throw others off!?!?!

FSU, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia, NC, Duke, Syracuse, Pitt, Kansas and Iowa state.

If we can get Texas A&M, another Texas school should be invited, i'm all for Texas Tech. Texas A&M is bluffing with their all in vote with Texas to the SEC. They just want to make sure the Longhorns are fully invested in he SEC before they bolt for the BIG, lol!

Once complete, the geographical footprint resembles a hand doing the "horns down". Texas A&M couldn't be happier.

I know your post is in jest but I would hate to have Vanderbilt in the Big Ten. They seem closer to giving up on sports than they do trying to compete.

But I agree with the idea to throw out the AAU mandate. I used to care but don't anymore. I just don't see why athletic competitions have anything to do with academics and the more that college sports unravel from the amateur level to semi-pro/full pro, the less academics matter.

Give me Clemson, Florida State, Notre Dame, UNC, and perhaps Georgia Tech, Miami, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and/or Duke (non-football).

I still think academics are important. I don't know if AAU is essential or not being AAU is a deal breaker. I would take most top 100 USN&WR schools. I also want good demographic catches. A school like Oklahoma is great when they are winning. What happens when they are mediocre? They're Nebraska. Another school that could be Oklahoma? Clemson. Even worse, what if Clemson is mediocre and South Carolina is great? Then they're Auburn without the Iron Bowl rivalry to keep them relevant. Florida State isn't good now but at least they get you into Florida. Someone on the main board suggested either Houston or UCF to the Big Ten. I wouldn't go that far but getting into either Texas or Florida would be huge for the Big Ten and Florida State is the only major top academic state school (Miami is a private school) left for the Big Ten. The SEC will eventually have the Texas-Texas A&M double and no one else in Texas is worth taking. If they get Florida State, they will have the top two Florida schools as well and will control both Texas and Florida (not that they don't now but it will be worse).

North Carolina/Virginia is also the next battleground in the battle with the SEC. If the SEC gets the two flagships, they will have more ammunition to lure northern schools or at the very least have more of a presence in the Northeast (Virginia and/or Virginia Tech gives them a presence in DC). If the Big Ten gets them, they probably won't be able to lure Georgia or Florida away from the SEC but Georgia Tech and Florida State become more viable to the Big Ten. I do love the ACC and part of me wishes they stay together (with the exception of Pittsburgh and Notre Dame in the Big Ten). But if they break up, I want the Big Ten to gain most of the big pieces and not the SEC.