****The official NEW new conference realignment thread.****

[Saul Good]

the second thread has been pronounced dead.

[theelusiveeightrop]

4 conf. With 16 teams each is where we seem to be headed.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by theelusiveeightrop

4 conf. With 16 teams each is where we seem to be headed.

... in the dreams of a lot of internet posters.

The PAC 12 will not expand, and you cant make them. The Big 12 is extremely unlikely to ever go beyond 12.

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by alnorth

... in the dreams of a lot of internet posters.

The PAC 12 will not expand, and you cant make them. The Big 12 is extremely unlikely to ever go beyond 12.

I can see that. So eventually you might see an SEC with 16, a B1G with 16, a Pac 12 and a Big 12. Same premise, four conferences that drive the bus, just with a few less teams.

I could see the remains of the ACC and the Big East combining to form a basketball first type conference. So you would have four major conferences in football, but five in basketball.

If Maryland does go, and the ACC goes on life support, wouldn't it suck to be Pitt and Syracuse? Pay a bunch of money and wind up no better.

West Virginia and TCU are looking good with its move to the Big 12 though. They gambled that moving into the B12 would stabilize that conference and be profitable for them, and it looks like their gamble was a much better one than the one Pitt and Syracuse made.

[Saul Good]

I wouldn't call the ACC dead just yet even if Rutgers and Maryland leave. Notre Dame just got a really sweet deal that let them remain independent in football (keep their deal with NBC) while having a home for their other sports and giving them guaranteed match ups for several football games.

I can think of another behemoth with their own network deal that might like to get in on that action.

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by HolyHandgernade

Well, that's not so much what I was going at. Both schools are AAU, they venture into the demographics that the commish said he wanted to get into (the south and southwest for population growth), and the population of both those states offer bountiful returns for their network.

I'm sure you'll eventually go there.

[ILChief]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

I think UNC is the SEC's white whale at this point, but UVA doesn't strike me as a great fit for the SEC. UVA is almost an Ivy at this point and is not as focused on athletics as SEC schools are (minus Vandy). Va Tech has a huge enrollment, strong football, and would provide an entry into the DC market.

It's going to be hard to get UNC to leave their rivalry with Duke

[HolyHandgernade]

Originally Posted by ILChief

It's going to be hard to get UNC to leave their rivalry with Duke

Yes, but I think it will be harder for UNC to give up on what is clearly a better economic choice if the conference begins to fall apart. They can always schedule Duke twice for the season if that's what they want to do.

[HolyHandgernade]

Originally Posted by Saul Too

I wouldn't call the ACC dead just yet even if Rutgers and Maryland leave. Notre Dame just got a really sweet deal that let them remain independent in football (keep their deal with NBC) while having a home for their other sports and giving them guaranteed match ups for several football games.

I can think of another behemoth with their own network deal that might like to get in on that action.

You're right, perhaps UConn is enough to patch the ACC and nobody leaves. I still don't think "14" is where these conferences want to be, and the lure of the NC-VA market is too tempting when your network revenues are driven by subscription rates. I think this is how the B12 would like to see it fall out:

Maryland leaves and only has to pay around 10 million to do so.

FSU sees its opportunity and bolts to the B12.

VT and NC ST see the writing on the wall and go to the SEC.

UNC and UVA decide there is not much hope for the ACC and look to greener pastures as the last two members of the B1G

ND gets the hint, sees its options limited as an independent and goes full in on the B12

B12 has its pick to fill the final four slots, it it wants to from Miami, GTech, Clemson, Louisville, Duke, Pitt and Syracuse

The remnants cobble together with the BEAST to strike a more basketball centric NBC contract.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by HolyHandgernade

You're right, perhaps UConn is enough to patch the ACC and nobody leaves. I still don't think "14" is where these conferences want to be, and the lure of the NC-VA market is too tempting when your network revenues are driven by subscription rates. I think this is how the B12 would like to see it fall out:

Maryland leaves and only has to pay around 10 million to do so.

FSU sees its opportunity and bolts to the B12.

VT and NC ST see the writing on the wall and go to the SEC.

UNC and UVA decide there is not much hope for the ACC and look to greener pastures as the last two members of the B1G

ND gets the hint, sees its options limited as an independent and goes full in on the B12

B12 has its pick to fill the final four slots, it it wants to from Miami, GTech, Clemson, Louisville, Duke, Pitt and Syracuse

The remnants cobble together with the BEAST to strike a more basketball centric NBC contract.

Actually, I think those Notre Dame retards are dead-set on independence forever as long as there's a theoretical chance of making the playoffs. The other day, their AD even acknowledged that ND would have a very big disadvantage since the committee will give a lot of weight to conference champions.

[HolyHandgernade]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Actually, I think those Notre Dame retards are dead-set on independence forever as long as there's a theoretical chance of making the playoffs. The other day, their AD even acknowledged the other day that ND would have a very big disadvantage since the committee will give a lot of weight to conference champions.

I think you may be right. I mean, if if the above scenario begins to unfold that way, ND may look at that new BEAST-ACC conference with its NBC contract and say, let's keep our football independent and park our other sports there. We have enough money and we don't need the guaranteed bowl tie in. That's probably an even more likely scenario, I was just painting the B12's best hope.

[alnorth]

The Under Armour CEO (Maryland alum) who was rumored to be paying the bill for MD apparently cashed in $65MM of stock last week. I'm guessing he's been talking to Maryland for a while and finally got the word of "the Big 10 wants us but we cant afford it, if you give us money, we'll go".

[KChiefs1]

UNC & Florida State are the big prizes left.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by theelusiveeightrop

4 conf. With 16 teams each is where we seem to be headed.

I agree...it only makes sense.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

UNC & Florida State are the big prizes left.

Ya and the Big 12, I mean Texas and OU refused to add Clemson and FSU last time because it would cause the per team income to go down a miniscule amt. Dumbest conference ever

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by HolyHandgernade

You're right, perhaps UConn is enough to patch the ACC and nobody leaves. I still don't think "14" is where these conferences want to be, and the lure of the NC-VA market is too tempting when your network revenues are driven by subscription rates. I think this is how the B12 would like to see it fall out:

Maryland leaves and only has to pay around 10 million to do so.

FSU sees its opportunity and bolts to the B12.

VT and NC ST see the writing on the wall and go to the SEC.

UNC and UVA decide there is not much hope for the ACC and look to greener pastures as the last two members of the B1G

ND gets the hint, sees its options limited as an independent and goes full in on the B12

B12 has its pick to fill the final four slots, it it wants to from Miami, GTech, Clemson, Louisville, Duke, Pitt and Syracuse

The remnants cobble together with the BEAST to strike a more basketball centric NBC contract.

Wow. None of this makes any sense. I really love the part where you imply