Conference Shake Up 2.0

[SubGod22]

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.

I am curious to see what happens. Sounds like ODU still has a CUSA offer on the table. Some think Mason may be staying thinking that they can dominate the conference with the loss of ODU/VCU. Many think Coastal Carolina will be added to the conference when all of this plays out.

[SubGod22]

Rumors are fun! Now I'm seeing rumors from an 0U board that the XII is in discussions with five high major schools about joining. They believe that two will be brought in before the summer is out. I'm guessing before July 1 which seems to be the magic date. The list includes Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State and Maryland. They're even willing to bring ND in for everything but football and pair that with BYU for football only. GT is hesitant due to academic reputations between the ACC and XII. Rumor says ND is interested due to the money guarantee that the XII now has with their new TV deal. Apparently the ACC is also talking to ND.

Who knows if any of this is accurate or not, but I'd be surprised if the XII doesn't add two more in the near future. ND would be the prize of all prizes. If it comes out that ND would have a better shot in the new playoff system that's being constructed to replace the BcS, then they may very well join the XII. A year ago people were thinking they were on their death bed and it's possible that they could very well secure their hold on a spot at the table.

Will be interesting to follow

[SubGod22]

VCU will be joining the A10 THIS FALL!!! Apparently the CAA wasn't going to let them participate in the conference tournament and recieve an auto bid. For us at least, it should mean an even stronger RPI/SOS for VCU as the A10 is definitely stronger than the CAA

[SubGod22]

Official VCU release on joining the A10

[Rlh04d]

Rumors are fun! Now I'm seeing rumors from an 0U board that the XII is in discussions with five high major schools about joining. They believe that two will be brought in before the summer is out. I'm guessing before July 1 which seems to be the magic date. The list includes Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State and Maryland. They're even willing to bring ND in for everything but football and pair that with BYU for football only. GT is hesitant due to academic reputations between the ACC and XII. Rumor says ND is interested due to the money guarantee that the XII now has with their new TV deal. Apparently the ACC is also talking to ND.

Who knows if any of this is accurate or not, but I'd be surprised if the XII doesn't add two more in the near future. ND would be the prize of all prizes. If it comes out that ND would have a better shot in the new playoff system that's being constructed to replace the BcS, then they may very well join the XII. A year ago people were thinking they were on their death bed and it's possible that they could very well secure their hold on a spot at the table.

Will be interesting to follow

The most interesting thing that the B12 has done in my eyes doesn't seem to get much attention: all schools are giving a grant of rights for Tier 1 and Tier 2 television programming to the B12 for the length of the deal (13 years). That means if Texas wanted to leave tomorrow, the B12 would still broadcast (almost) all of their games for 13 years. They're now the single most stable conference in college athletics. $20million exit fees are chump change compared to that. Maybe a team could leave 12 years down the line, and forgo a single season of revenue. But for the next 12 years, absolutely no one will leave that conference.

Notre Dame is still viewed as a longshot. It's unlikely that the new BCS contract will feature a conference champs only rule that would essentially leave ND out, and that's their only major motivator to make a move. The B12 is likely leading the ACC as the most likely spot for ND now, though ... the freedom to shop their Tier 3 rights is a huge bonus that the B12 has over the ACC (in the ballpark of $5-10 million annually for Notre Dame).

FSU's role in this has been interesting to see so far. I can't tell if our administration is trying to keep their head down and work it secretly or if our role in this is entirely being fueled by the fans. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees came out and blasted the ACC (interestingly, with a lot of incorrect information), and said the Board was unanimous in wanting to talk to the B12. Then the President of the university came out, called out the Chairman for his facts being wrong, and then started sending out a form letter to alumni detailing a "pro/con" list for the ACC/B12 ... which, again, was almost completely factually inaccurate. Oh, and he insulted the B12's academics, which, when combined with the Chairman attacking the ACC, means we're essentially insulting everyone now.

Clemson has managed to drop completely off the radar thanks to FSU's media blunders. Which is interesting, since by all accounts Clemson is more determined to join the B12 than we are. Louisville and BYU are also desperate for invites. Maryland and GT are longshots.

[SubGod22]

More fun rumors. And this one I really enjoy. This info supposedly came from someone inside the Big West. Apparently, they're telling the Big East to invite Fresno for football so that SDSU, Fresno and Boise can all join the Big West together. If this doesn't happen, there are some threats that SDSU and Boise will back out of the Big East and go back to the MWC. You know the MWC would absolutely love that to happen. Would strengthen both their football and basketball. I'm pulling for this one to be true and for the BE to NOT invite Fresno.

[shockerfan34]

I would have never guessed the Big West would hold the cards against the Big East in all this realignment business

[SubGod22]

Not sure if they really do or not, but it's fun to consider. Boise is wanting to badly get into the Big West and SDSU wants them there. However, the BW is nothing but California schools and aren't big on letting BSU in. There are also reports that the BW is considering BSU depending on how much BSU is willing to pay to get in. So the BW may also be after some BE money in all of this. Smart play if true.

There's also been a little chatter about Boise and SDSU (maybe Fresno) going back to the WAC to bring it back to life if something goes wrong with the BE. There are so many crazy ideas out there that it gets confusing. And much of it probably isn't true. But I enjoy the speculation.

I'm going to try and start a Milwaukee to the MVC rumor and see if it catches on. Maybe if it gets enough run, Elgin will actually do it... I can dream can't I?

[Ta town]

There isn't a team out there that the Valley could attract that adds value on their own. Now if CU bolts or even say an ISUr for football reasons, then Milwaukee would be one of the schools I would like to see considered.

EDIT: I just checked out Milwaukee's finances on that usatoday link. They have lost money 6 years running. Wowzer!

[SubGod22]

I've never checked the finances of any school.

From a basketball standpoint, we're not going to add a team that can compete at the top from the start. We're looking at mid-level type programs with potential to move up.

If CU leaves, we automatically become less desirable to a lot of schools. That's my worry. I'd rather add a couple of teams with potential and give them time to up their game with the backing of the MVC before we lose CU or ISU gets an FBS invite. The Valley needs to work from a position of strength, not of weakness. Sadly, we're going to wait until we're weakened before we act and it's going to be too late.

Due to our location and not having football, I think we may end up stuck in the Valley.

[SubGod22]

ODU to CUSA

[SubGod22]

So, apparently the ODU AD said on the radio yesterday that the WAC has been trying to put together an eastern division of FCS teams that want to move up and may have been talking to ODU, James Madison, Charlotte, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Delaware and others. A couple of those are off the table. But there are reports that Idaho and NMSU are working both sides of the country to put together a WAC with an east and west. I know Illinois State has looked into moving up but I'm not sure they're in a position to do so just yet. They'd take a step back as far as a basketball conference but it would open up more possibilities down the road if they somehow get included in this if it goes down. Of the MVC football schools, I think they're the most likely to jump in the not too distant future. Also not sure they'd be included in this round anyway.

I do think the WAC is going to attempt this, but you won't hear anything certain until they get at least 6 eastern teams agreed to. I would guess James Madison, Liberty, Delaware, Georgia Southern and Appy State will be involved. If Delaware does want to move up. I haven't seen much on their desire. The other four have been talked about quite a bit. ISU may be too far west for that group if they can find someone closer. I'm less familiar with the west. I've seen lots of people hoping to draw in Montana and Montana State.

[Ta town]

NDSU would probably be a good candidate to move up for the WAC.

[SubGod22]

I have seen talk of them wanting to make a move as well.

Idaho, NMSU, NDSU, Montana and Montana State would make a decent start. The Montana's seem like long shots right now. Talk of Grand Canyon wanting to move up. I forget the others out west that have been mentioned.

[SubGod22]

Delaware studying move to FBS

Sounds like the MAC may be talking to them. Some rumblings about CUSA moving to 16...