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

[TrackSuitAndTie]

To me, the lure of getting MWC schools is the fact that the PAC is gone. If there is no PAC and we get OSU/WSU then those MWC who have been waiting for a "Power" invite are going to quickly realize it's never happening now and they should probably find the best of the rest spot. If OSU/WSU are part of the AAC, we are without question the best of the rest. I think that would likely be enough for them to jump (after giving enough notice to drop the exit fee down)

This is where Mike Aresco earns his money as a man with a vision.

[TrackSuitAndTie]

If Cal and Stanford are off the table, then just stay with what we've got right now.

I'm skeptical of SMU leaving. I can't imagine they have enough value to not dilute the $$ going to schools in any conference they might move to.

It would be a pretty decent outcome, all things considered, if the AAC manages to hold it's membership firm through this round of realignment. Ideally we add programs that elevate the conference, but standing pat would be much better than getting gutted.

[Aargh]

It would be a pretty decent outcome, all things considered, if the AAC manages to hold it's membership firm through this round of realignment. Ideally we add programs that elevate the conference, but standing pat would be much better than getting gutted.

If the "11 AAC schools to the PAC" had any legs, you'd think some known writers would have picked it up by now.

[TrackSuitAndTie]

If the "11 AAC schools to the PAC" had any legs, you'd think some known writers would have picked it up by now.

The clickbait artists are out in full force

[rjl]

It's most likely just me...but if the Pac-10 is trying to rebuild with new members and sell the brand name (Pac10) with new schools out of the region...why is it so difficult for them to simply use the American Conference name and rebrand themselves using the American Conference name. Is it simply because the west coast is so far liberal left that by associating themselves with the America name would go against their beliefs? Are they that unpatriotic? Would there be riots in Berkeley? I mean the American name is cool....but again it's probably just me that thinks that.

This might be one of the dumbest things I've ever seen on here, and that's saying something for a forum where dofo has a post history.

[Stickboy46]

If Cal and Stanford are off the table, then just stay with what we've got right now.

I'm skeptical of SMU leaving. I can't imagine they have enough value to not dilute the $$ going to schools in any conference they might move to.

They have offered the ACC to not take any distribution for like 5+ years .. so the media deal for the ACC will go up and will be split across the existing schools.

[SHOCKvalue]

It feels like realignment has reached a critical mass where it has become distinctly non-sensical. It has been geographically and traditionally non-sensical for a decade or more, but with the current PAC 4 and ACC stuff it just jumped the shark into WTF land.

Schools like Rice and UTSA - neither of which even register on the pulse of the average college sports fan - are potentially future members of the PAC-whatever. Straight jumping from C-USA to AAC to P5-ish. Wait… what? No, come on now, let’s be serious. Is this an Onion or Babylon Bee article?

SMU, a school who has done nothing of any significance in college sports since middle-aged (at the time) boomers were complaining about the work ethic of their high school (at the time) GenX workers, is somehow going to be magically elevated to P5 status and ACC membership? In a conference that is literally in its entirety located roughly half a country away from DFW? For the few thousand people in Texas who care about SMU sports? So that SMU can go from mediocre conference performance to ACC doormat? Because how and why again?

Make it all make sense. Make college sports make sense again! MCSMSA! (Sorry the phonetics on that one.)

[DanielBryan]

This might be one of the dumbest things I've ever seen on here, and that's saying something for a forum where dofo has a post history.

it’s DOFO. I’m now Bryan Danielson

[shock]

it’s DOFO. I’m now Bryan Danielson

It’s been awhile. How is your goat?

[SubGod22]

It feels like realignment has reached a critical mass where it has become distinctly non-sensical. It has been geographically and traditionally non-sensical for a decade or more, but with the current PAC 4 and ACC stuff it just jumped the shark into WTF land.

Schools like Rice and UTSA - neither of which even register on the pulse of the average college sports fan - are potentially future members of the PAC-whatever. Straight jumping from C-USA to AAC to P5-ish. Wait… what? No, come on now, let’s be serious. Is this an Onion or Babylon Bee article?

SMU, a school who has done nothing of any significance in college sports since middle-aged (at the time) boomers were complaining about the work ethic of their high school (at the time) GenX workers, is somehow going to be magically elevated to P5 status and ACC membership? In a conference that is literally in its entirety located roughly half a country away from DFW? For the few thousand people in Texas who care about SMU sports? So that SMU can go from mediocre conference performance to ACC doormat? Because how and why again?

Make it all make sense. Make college sports make sense again! MCSMSA! (Sorry the phonetics on that one.)

I don't necessarily disagree, but Rice has pretty much always been considered during PAC and XII realignment. It's one of the best schools in the country and located in one of the biggest cities. All they had to do was commit to investing into athletics and just not completely suck.

UTSA is definitely a new kid on the block but quickly built a top 25 level football program and is located in a city that doesn't have a lot of competition. I'm not familiar with their academics but they're committed to building an athletic department and have a ton of upside, which is why the AAC really wanted them.

As much as people want to say academics don't matter, they do. SMU has long been just on the outside of expansion and there still potential in athletics. They've shown some flashes here and there in both major sports but haven't maintained. The ACC would also get into Texas which is a big deal for most any conference. Now, they don't really add much to any media deal and that's one of the things that holds them back. Especially for an ACC that is trying to play catch up to the B1G and SEC

[TrackSuitAndTie]

I don't necessarily disagree, but Rice has pretty much always been considered during PAC and XII realignment. It's one of the best schools in the country and located in one of the biggest cities. All they had to do was commit to investing into athletics and just not completely suck.

All they have to do is the thing they haven't done in *checks notes* almost ever

[SubGod22]

All they have to do is the thing they haven't done in *checks notes* almost ever

But it's also something they've recently committed to which got them into the American. Their football and basketball also hasn't been as bad as I expected in recent years. They're making the effort and with the potential of what the PAC might offer financially it would go a long way in helping them.

[1972Shocker]

Conference Realignment: Could a decision by the ACC on Cal and Stanford be coming soon?

https://www.si.com/college/georgiatech/football/conference-realignment-could-a-decision-by-the-acc-on-cal-and-stanford-be-coming-soon

Scheer is a reporter for 247Sports covering Arizona and has done a great job of covering conference realignment, so it is worth monitoring to see if things could be decided one way or the other tomorrow.

A report from Ralph Russo at the Associated Press, Stanford is trying hard to receive an invite from the ACC and might be willing to do so at a reduced revenue-sharing cost:

"Leaders from Stanford, California, Oregon State and Washington State spoke Thursday, and Stanford told its colleagues it had informed the ACC that it would be open to joining the conference at greatly reduced or even no media rights payout for several years, a person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press."

"Whether getting Stanford — and Northern California rival Cal — at a cut rate will be enough to convince the necessary 12 of 15 ACC schools to vote to expand remains unknown."

[Stickboy46]

Conference Realignment: Could a decision by the ACC on Cal and Stanford be coming soon?

https://www.si.com/college/georgiatech/football/conference-realignment-could-a-decision-by-the-acc-on-cal-and-stanford-be-coming-soon

Scheer is a reporter for 247Sports covering Arizona and has done a great job of covering conference realignment, so it is worth monitoring to see if things could be decided one way or the other tomorrow.

A report from Ralph Russo at the Associated Press, Stanford is trying hard to receive an invite from the ACC and might be willing to do so at a reduced revenue-sharing cost:

"Leaders from Stanford, California, Oregon State and Washington State spoke Thursday, and Stanford told its colleagues it had informed the ACC that it would be open to joining the conference at greatly reduced or even no media rights payout for several years, a person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press."

"Whether getting Stanford — and Northern California rival Cal — at a cut rate will be enough to convince the necessary 12 of 15 ACC schools to vote to expand remains unknown."

That tweet was yesterday at 1:47 pm .. so we have less than an hour to hit his timeline for news.

[Maizerunner08]

Every summer there is some topic keeping this board active. Last summer it was Boatsunk and this summer it's realligment.