Realignment Carousel Spins Up again (USC and UCLA to Big 10)

[WuShock Reaper]

Anyone know what are estimated total "Exit Fees" would be for leaving the AAC?

[BostonWu]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5763994/2024/09/13/pac-12-mountain-west-basketball-realignment?source=user-shared-article

[Topshock]

The football ship has sailed, and this is where we should be.

[SubGod22]

One thought for WSU: Brigham Young's soccer team plays in the UPSL which is part of the US soccer pyramid, instead of playing in the NCAA. So they have a full on semi-pro soccer team without any of the NCAA restrictions. That might be where WSU should head for men's soccer, while keeping women's soccer in the NCAA for Title IX purposes.

As a UPSL team they could qualify for the US Open cup where they could play against MLS teams. As an example, BYU qualified for the Open Cup and played the Seattle Sounders in 2007 (USL first division right below MLS on the pyramid). That'd be freaking crazy watching WSU take on Sporting KC in the future. LOL

I didn't know that was a thing/option. It would be a good way to add men's soccer and try to grow that even outside of the NCAA.

[Kung Wu]

Independent football isn't an easy place to be. Even Notre Dame has practically given that up with their ACC deal. Technically still independent but something like half of their games have to be against the ACC. There's a reason there are so few independent schools now. I think only Notre Dame, UMass, and UCon are out there. And I thought UMass was joining the MAC next year because of that. UCon is desperately trying to get into the XII or ACC so their football can have a home.

I've said before that if we brought back football we could eventually move up to FBS as an Indy if the AAC would at least work with us in scheduling and then allowing us to transition into the conference for football once we have things established.

One thought for WSU: Brigham Young's soccer team plays in the UPSL which is part of the US soccer pyramid, instead of playing in the NCAA. So they have a full on semi-pro soccer team without any of the NCAA restrictions. That might be where WSU should head for men's soccer, while keeping women's soccer in the NCAA for Title IX purposes.

As a UPSL team they could qualify for the US Open cup where they could play against MLS teams. As an example, BYU qualified for the Open Cup and played the Seattle Sounders in 2007 (USL first division right below MLS on the pyramid). That'd be freaking crazy watching WSU take on Sporting KC in the future. LOL

[SubGod22]

If Temple thinks so highly of their football that they wouldn't go to the Big East, the Big East could easily grab the next best A-10.

Independent football isn't an easy place to be. Even Notre Dame has practically given that up with their ACC deal. Technically still independent but something like half of their games have to be against the ACC. There's a reason there are so few independent schools now. I think only Notre Dame, UMass, and UCon are out there. And I thought UMass was joining the MAC next year because of that. UCon is desperately trying to get into the XII or ACC so their football can have a home.

I've said before that if we brought back football we could eventually move up to FBS as an Indy if the AAC would at least work with us in scheduling and then allowing us to transition into the conference for football once we have things established.

[WuShock16]

Memphis wouldn’t go for it? Try the Big Priest not going for it. Those guys would laugh at Memphis academic standards.

[ShockTalk]

Memphis would absolutely be a hard "no" to do that. St Louis maybe??

If Temple thinks so highly of their football that they wouldn't go to the Big East, the Big East could easily grab the next best A-10.

[WuShock Reaper]

[Atxshoxfan]

I don't want WSU to be in a West Coast conference, but if these guys start poaching the top programs from the AAC I would hope ADKS can get us in there (perhaps as a basketball-only partner to Gonzaga).

I don't disagree, but a two hour time lapse would be grueling for the players and fans. That could mean 10PM starts at times.

[BostonWu]

It would take one of the whales to directly lead the charge with an obscene investment to make it a reality. Until then it's the same pie in the sky fluff that's been bantered about for the past 30 years.

[Walker]

Cold's on the right track, but it needs to be doubled to $100MM to get things rolling. I know, hard to believe for some, but it's available in this community... just need the right plan.

I think it could definitely work with the right people being involved and if they properly invested in it. Seeing how Charlotte did it, makes me believe we can do it.

[WuShock Reaper]

Explaining Pac-12 expansion: How it started, what are the financial ramifications, what's next?

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/41230791/pac-12-conference-expansion-adding-four-teams-mountain-west

Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff Writer
Sep 12, 2024, 03:22 PM ET

"...Who else will the Pac-12 target?
It will likely aim high and move down the list. Cal and Stanford are the dream acquisitions, but making that happen would be extremely complicated given they just went to the ACC, which is a party in four lawsuits relating to the potential departures of Clemson and Florida State. It's worth wondering, though, if Cal and Stanford might have any remorse about their decisions to join the ACC given they are receiving just a 30% share of the league's media rights distributions over the next seven years (in 2022-23, the ACC distributed an average of $44.8 million per school). While the ACC schools are closer academic peers than what the revamped Pac-12 will look like, how much that really matters in the big picture is up for debate.

The more realistic targets are Tulane and Memphis. But those two will need a much clearer understanding of the financial picture to leave the AAC than the threshold used by the four MWC schools. There would be appeal in building the top football league outside the Power 4, but it would still have to make financial sense. UTSA's location makes it a good fit.

Among the remaining MWC schools, UNLV is still viewed as a likely candidate to also move. It checks all the boxes, but that it wasn't in this first wave is telling. The MWC's position is much weaker today than it was yesterday, and that could be used as leverage to bring in UNLV -- or other MWC schools -- at smaller yearly distribution rates, a la Cal and Stanford in the ACC. Air Force figures to be the other MWC school that has the most appeal.

What's next for the Mountain West?
As things stand, its membership will be at eight in two years: Air Force, Hawai'i, Nevada, New Mexico, San José State, UNLV, Utah State and Wyoming. One more defection would take the conference below the required NCAA minimum for which it -- like the Pac-12 has now -- would get a two-year grace period to grow back to at least eight.

There had been previous speculation that members could try to dissolve the conference -- a process that requires a 75% vote -- in order to avoid exit fees to join the Pac-12, but that would mean nine teams would have had to be on board. It's even less likely now given the departing members are not expected to be able to vote.

The money from the Pac-12 raid could help the conference rebuild -- using the Pac-12 blueprint -- but it's still too early to say what it will look like long term."

[Maizerunner08]

If the AAC gets raided again, I would actually be interested in the A10. I’m probably alone in that though.

[WstateU]

Is it possible that the common perception that title IX constraints and football being too costly to start up and maintain will change to the perception that it will be too costly to not have football? I know it's not the answer to all of this but it feels like like we'd have a bit more leverage in controlling the destiny of the university in these realignment shakeups.

Cold's on the right track, but it needs to be doubled to $100MM to get things rolling. I know, hard to believe for some, but it's available in this community... just need the right plan.