Conference Shake Up 2.0

[Rlh04d]

And more rumors of Clemson joining Florida State in a move to the XII. If this really goes down, it's going to create another round of chaos for a number of conferences. I'd suspect if this happens, the XII would be looking to move to 14 by adding Louisville and someone else. I used to think it would be Cincy, but that doesn't seem to be a popular thought anymore with others. BYU is still thrown around and I've heard rumblings here and there about Tulane. I've even heard UConn mentioned in the past.

If they do move to 14, and all at once, we could see the BE and ACC poaching from CUSA and others. The way the BE has been, they may add the University of Frankfurt...

FWIW:

I've been hearing about a possible jump for FSU/Clemson to the B12 for a while now. Both schools set up exploratory committees regarding a move last year when everything was going down. There was talk that the Syracuse/Pitt move was to either keep them or to prepare for their departure (the ESPN TV contract being renegotiated with the addition possibly bringing in enough to keep them, and making sure they have at least 12 to keep the title game either way).

Originally, I had heard that FSU was requiring Miami to be included in the move. I still think Miami would be a good addition as well, as I think the Miami area alone in recruiting is better than most entire states, and they're going to be good again in a few years. But supposedly that requirement has changed to a preference as things have moved on.

Still ... I think FSU/Clemson/Miami/Louisville would be a very strong eastern expansion to capture new media/recruiting markets and expand outwards toward WVU. And give a B12 TV network a lot more interest outside of Texas, which already has it's own network anyway.

Most of this seems to be based on the ACC's terrible TV contract, which has every ACC school locked into roughly $13-14M a year, including Tier 3 TV rights, for another 10-15 years. Meanwhile the B12, with Tier 3 rights going to a B12 network, value added for teams coming in, and a championship game not on the books yet, could reach close to $30M a year. FSU especially has been hit hard by the economic downturn in Florida. Meanwhile, most ACC schools are very rich private universities, and their interests regarding TV rights have been for maximum exposure over revenue. Thus ... completely at odds with FSU, who has plenty of exposure already, but a budget shortfall.

And to make it actually relevant to this board, it could be a surprisingly important move for FSU/Clemson in basketball, if it goes down. Currently in the ACC, Clemson and FSU rank #11 and #12 in basketball revenue, respectively. When Syracuse/Pitt join, they fall to #13 and #14. Interestingly, they would be around 4/5 in the B12. I don't know that it would guarantee anything, but theorteically both teams would be more competitive in basketball with more comparable revenue. And that's with FSU winning the ACC conference tournament while being dead last in revenue. I've got tons of respect for Coach Hamilton for what he's done with FSU's basketball program despite the lack of support from the university and fanbase.

There is also a lot of fear in the ACC that Maryland and possibly Georgia Tech are actively wanting a spot in the B1G, and Virginia Tech wants into the SEC. Neither of those would likely happen any time soon, but the ACC's future as a viable football conference is definitely in danger.

FSU/Clemson seem to be linked together on this deal either way. It's either a both go or both stay put situation.

I don't know how much faith I put in that Clemson blog, though. I don't know that things are as wrapped up as they make it sound by any means. I think going to the B12 is a possibility, and they are talking about it. But I don't think it's a done deal in the slightest.

Update: Apparently the renegotiated ACC TV deal is done. Amazingly, it barely got better. It now comes out to $16 million per team, including the conference championship game, and including Tier 3 rights. The B12 contract starts out at $20 million per team, with Tier 3 rights not included, no championship game, etc. The benefits to jumping to the B12 are still definitely there, as I'd estimate the value of the B12 contract to be $25-30 million per team with all of that. Not sure if it'll happen, but I don't think the new ACC deal does anything to alleviate the problem FSU has in the ACC. An extra $2-3 million on an already terrible contract, which now goes even longer, through 2027. Ugh.

[SubGod22]

App State has had talks with CUSA

Idaho in talks with Big Sky

[NCAABound]

Good article about realignment trickling down to basketball schools/conferences. Notice the one conference they don't mention?

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7916050/a-look-realiignment-perspective-smaller-basketball-conferences-college-basketball

[SubGod22]

Good article about realignment trickling down to basketball schools/conferences. Notice the one conference they don't mention?

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bask...ege-basketball

That's because there's few options for us. I still think expansion now would be a good thing for the MVC to help create more stability when one member leaves in the future.

[NCAABound]

That's because there's few options for us. I still think expansion now would be a good thing for the MVC to help create more stability when one member leaves in the future.

I agree. I'm seeing all of these teams moving to new conferences. If Creighton or another team from the MVC bolts, will there even be any quality teams left to replace them? Being reactionary could be our downfall over the next 2-3 years.

[SubGod22]

I agree. I'm seeing all of these teams moving to new conferences. If Creighton or another team from the MVC bolts, will there even be any quality teams left to replace them? Being reactionary could be our downfall over the next 2-3 years.

That's my biggest fear. Right behind us sitting on our hands and not doing something ourselves.

I've seen a number of people elsewhere mention that Denver could be an attractive option. They're supposedly improving basketball but make their money in hockey and don't participate in a number of sports that the MVC offers.

I've seen some think that Little Rock could do more in a better conference. I'm not sold.

I'd target Milwaukee if we wanted to move to 12 now. They've been a fairly solid program.

Wright State is another to consider. Both would be more likely of getting in since they're closer to the poor sisters than a Denver.

Oral Roberts is always an option. Especially if you needed one in the east and one in the west to balance out an East/West divide

If New Mexico State doesn't find a home it'd be worth considering. Or if they only find a home for football but nothing else.

Back to east/west though. We already have a decent 5/5 split so adding one to each side would make some sense. Otherwise you have to get a little creative. Bradley and ISU would want to stay together because of that rivalry. So if two were added to the East, we'd probably have SIU shifted to the west.

East
Illinois State
Bradley
Indiana State
Evansville
Milwaukee
Wright State

West
Wichita
Creighton
Missouri State
Drake
Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois

No matter what happens, the west would appear stronger right now at least. ISU and Bradley could eventually make the east strong. You'd hope any new additions could at least compete in the upper level. Maybe not right away, but soon.

[ShockTalk]

Some really interesting stuff in that article: "What's different about these changes is that many now directly involve basketball. Remember those frantic weeks when the Big 12 was crumbling and Kansas looked like it might be without a home? Charlotte athletic director Judy Rose admitted she convinced her chancellor to add football because she knew it offered stability. "When Kansas was just sitting there,'' she said, "that was a real eye opener and very scary.""

I though that was particularly funny given that KU HAS football.

Then there is this: "In fact, no one thinks that this second wave of realignment is anywhere near the finish line. Benson only took over the Sun Belt in March and estimates that no less than 90 percent of his workload has been dedicated to realignment, whether that be trying to entice new members or (ineffectively) convinces others such as FIU and North Texas to stay. The other 10 percent he's devoted to finding a 12th member and figuring out what potential geographic divisions could look like."

Gee, I wonder how much time Elgin spends on this? I believe you are right @NCAABound:, WSU needs to be proactive, not reactonary.

[1979Shocker]

That's my biggest fear. Right behind us sitting on our hands and not doing something ourselves.

I've seen a number of people elsewhere mention that Denver could be an attractive option. They're supposedly improving basketball but make their money in hockey and don't participate in a number of sports that the MVC offers.

I've seen some think that Little Rock could do more in a better conference. I'm not sold.

I'd target Milwaukee if we wanted to move to 12 now. They've been a fairly solid program.

Wright State is another to consider. Both would be more likely of getting in since they're closer to the poor sisters than a Denver.

Oral Roberts is always an option. Especially if you needed one in the east and one in the west to balance out an East/West divide

If New Mexico State doesn't find a home it'd be worth considering. Or if they only find a home for football but nothing else.

Back to east/west though. We already have a decent 5/5 split so adding one to each side would make some sense. Otherwise you have to get a little creative. Bradley and ISU would want to stay together because of that rivalry. So if two were added to the East, we'd probably have SIU shifted to the west.

East
Illinois State
Bradley
Indiana State
Evansville
Milwaukee
Wright State

West
Wichita
Creighton
Missouri State
Drake
Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois

No matter what happens, the west would appear stronger right now at least. ISU and Bradley could eventually make the east strong. You'd hope any new additions could at least compete in the upper level. Maybe not right away, but soon.

Do we need 2 WSU's in the same league? I guess we could have WSU East and WSU West.

What are Wright State's colors?

[SubGod22]

What are Wright State's colors?

Green and Gold

[SubGod22]

Lots of rumors swirling. Mason AD has come out and said they're not going anywhere. ODU is on the fence. Some speculate the Big East is in turmoil and a split is likely to occur. The basketball schools would then pick teams from the CAA/A10/whatever to fill out their conference. Mason may not want to go to the A10 for fear of it falling apart if the BE split happens. They'd rather stay in the CAA, which is a very solid conference right now. IF ODU, Mason and VCU stay, the CAA still has power. Maybe they're hoping the BE raids the A10 if there's a split and they can pick off the rest of the A10 into the CAA. Or at least the ones worth having.

[ShockTalk]

If there is a split in the Big East of the basketball only schools, no doubt some CAA schools would be back in the running to join them. Nevertheless, if we can't go west or south (I'd prefer being a basketball only MWC member), here's a nice dream:

East: Villanova, St. John's, Seton Hall, Providence, VCU, George Mason, ODU, and Richmond.

West: Marquette, DePaul, Butler, Xavier, Dayton, St. Louis, Creighton, and Wichita State.

Jettison the rest, but feel free to make substitutions.

[WstateU]

[SubGod22]

If there is a split in the Big East of the basketball only schools, no doubt some CAA schools would be back in the running to join them. Nevertheless, if we can't go west or south (I'd prefer being a basketball only MWC member), here's a nice dream:

East: Villanova, St. John's, Seton Hall, Providence, VCU, George Mason, ODU, and Richmond.

West: Marquette, DePaul, Butler, Xavier, Dayton, St. Louis, Creighton, and Wichita State.

Jettison the rest, but feel free to make substitutions.

I'd be ok with that. I'm not a big fan of SLU, but everybody needs a bottom feeder and it has market size. It'd be dominated by privates, but at least there are a few publics involved.

That'd make a pretty good conference.

[SubGod22]

Liberty University is looking to make the jump to FBS and looking for a conference. There's some speculation that the WAC may be looking at mass invites to eastern FCS schools wanting to move up. This would be a life line to NMSU and Idaho.

VCU will be leaving the CAA for the A10 according to CBS

[rrshock]

Caa may be in trouble now. The A-10 will be considered a power conference in the next couple of years if their new additions can maintain their success.