The shock goes away … proper? Or perhaps the Trojans and Bruins are preparing for the Massive Midday video games (9 am PT!) Will nonetheless must get used to.
The weekend of July 4th is close to, so we’ll assume that the realignment takes us a couple of days off. We’d like her. USC and UCLA want him. They want time to purchase a parka, rent tutors for a five-hour aircraft journey, and develop a style for cottage cheese. That is the persistent influence of the 2 West Coast icons dealing with the Massive Ten.
Now’s the time to think about the following steps.
Notre Dame is a subject of dialogue till it’s determined that it isn’t. His ongoing dance with membership within the convention dates again nearly a century. Pac-12 is already registered as aggressively pursuing growth. Massive 12 didn’t disclose a plan, if any. It could possibly be left at 12 prepared to depart in 2025 or, as business consultants recommend, select what number of faculties Pac-12 is financially clever and presumably ship Pac-12 to the trash of historical past.
Then there’s the ACC, which till a brand new order, appears to be like increasingly more weak. If all this sounds ruthless, we should always get used to it by now. The shock ought to go away … proper?
Listed below are the newest realignment trenches …
Nothing occurs till Notre Dame decides
Pac-12 presidents and athletics administrators met on Friday by telephone, however does Pac-12 have a robust place? Till Notre Dame decides on its future, it most likely does not exist. Sources instructed CBS Sports activities that the Massive Ten has been accomplished “for now”, till Combating Irish decides whether or not they need to attempt to be a part of the convention.
To entice Notre Dame to leap to the Massive Ten, a supply steered that Stanford could possibly be invited as a type of “rivalry” accomplice. The 2 faculties have met 24 occasions within the final 25 years, the sequence interrupted solely by the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.
On this state of affairs, Notre Dame would have no less than 5 conventional rivals (Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Stanford, USC) as Massive Ten convention companions. With a lovely convention program plus three annual video games with out conferences, the Irish might simply proceed their “Shamrock Collection” of distinctive video games throughout the nation.
The Massive Ten might cease there at 18 or transfer on, relying on the SEC’s intentions. There’s a rising feeling that a mixture of Clemson, Florida State and Miami might migrate to the SEC. Because of this any of the three would convey professional rata (equal worth) to groups already within the league. That is $ 80-100 million a yr in media charges.
Infringement of ACC rights could require a big eight-digit exit price, assuming that the contract is just not efficiently challenged in courtroom. Nonetheless, such a penalty could possibly be funded over a interval of a number of years, whereas new faculties reap an annual acquire.
Does it pressure the large ten to take an in depth take a look at individuals like North Carolina and Virginia? Each have been on the radar of then-Commissioner Jim Delany years in the past, earlier than the league lastly added Maryland and Rutgers.
With or with out Notre Dame, an business supply doubted it could be of worth to the Massive Ten to ask Oregon and / or Washington. That supply went as far as to name the 2 faculties “tweeners,” not sufficiently big to justify annual common tuition charges of $ 80-100 million, however clearly higher than different faculties. Pac-12.
Consider Oregon and Washington as extra engaging to the Massive 12 if the Pac-12 does not keep collectively. By the way in which…
Trying down
No matter Notre Dame’s resolution, the following step in realignment could possibly be a raid on the Massive 12 or Pac-12 by the opposite convention.
An business supply stated that the Pac-12 (with out USC and UCLA) and Massive 12 (with out Texas and Oklahoma) in comparison with “Mountain West or AAC-plus”.
Making an attempt to poach groups from the opposite league is the plain reply to bettering these labels and the accompanying charges. A raid could not change the monetary math an excessive amount of, however it could imply the survival of 1 convention and a possible dissolution of the opposite.
An business supply described the Massive 12 choices as if the realignment was a buffet.
- Take faculties from Arizona (add Phoenix Market)
- Take Arizona and Mountain Faculties (Colorado and Utah)
- Strive nearly an entire merger with Pac-12 by including Arizona faculties, mountain faculties, Oregon and Washington
The 12 huge ones should act quick. On the West Coast, a supply stated there have been quite a lot of calls amongst Pac-12 directors on loyalty and sticking … however nothing like “a blood oath.” Why would there be everybody who takes care of their very own pursuits?
“You’ll be able to’t belief anybody,” stated a Pac-12 supply within the school soccer local weather. “It is over.”
The choice of mutual destruction
There may be an choice that will make sure the frequent extermination of each conferences, however would guarantee stability for the survivors: make the highest faculties in Massive 12 and Pac-12 agree that the formation of a brand new convention is of their curiosity.
It’d look one thing like this:
There may be some spice if Utah and BYU might reconnect at a convention. Pac-12 faculties have entry to recruitment in Texas and are increasing their attain into the central time zone. The 12 giant faculties have entry to recruitment in California, whereas including the Phoenix, Denver and Seattle media markets.
That hybrid convention might look higher than something a league might take by taking a couple of groups from one another. And if the thought is to get as shut as doable by way of SEC and Massive Ten revenues, it could possibly be the perfect vary.
After all, it could additionally imply that the next applications are ignored within the chilly: Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Oregon State, Washington State, West Virginia.
Energy Two
As I discussed on Thursdaythe 32 mixed groups of Massive Ten and SEC might arrange a reputable playoff on their very own once they have the ultimate configurations (for now) each established by 2025.
Media rights consultants who just lately spoke with CBS Sports activities added some depth that implies that the thought has not solely been thought of, however is maybe a giant motive why Massive Ten has made a daring transfer.
- Take the highest 4 finishers from every convention and place them in a area of eight groups.
- The quarterfinals and semifinals are performed in bowl video games (as proposed within the 12-team playoff group final yr).
Utilizing CFP’s first eight years as a reference, solely 5 groups that certified on the sphere wouldn’t have an opportunity to return: Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida State, Notre Dame and Washington.
If Clemson and FSU have been to hitch the SEC – and if Notre Dame have been to hitch the Massive Ten – solely Cincinnati and Washington can be aberrant values. Would that be quite a lot of rejection?
