B1G Conference Realignment Rumors (Twitter)

Whatever the rumors or sources may be, I think it's fair to acknowledge that there's a strong gravitational pull towards the Big Ten and the SEC these days.  Both conferences have strong governance/membership, established and well-distributed conference networks and the greatest per school revenue potential.  They both also have 14 teams, so there's "room" for two more teams and the establishment of two 8-team divisions for football as well.

In contrast, you have a Big XII Conference which has had major upheavels memberhip and leadership these last few years, little or no prospect of a conference-wide television network and no really good prospects to expand itself into other geographic areas with name programs that will increase the earnings each school gets from television and other sources.  It's clear that there are restive members in the conference--just look at Oklahoma President David Boren's comments or Oklahoma State Head Football Coach Mike Gundy's discussion about how Texas's Longhorn Network has (1) been a failure and (2) needs to be dismantled for the Big XII to go forward.

The ACC is in somewhat better shape, but at this stage, it appears they'll be on outside looking in when it comes to establishing their own conference wide network and enjoying the same revenue streams that the Big Ten and SEC are looking at now and in the immediate future.  It also has 14 full time members with Notre Dame being a de facto 15th with most of its sports in the ACC and with the agreement to play 5 ACC teams per year in football into the next decade. 

The Pac 12 is also having problems with its television network in terms of distribution, revenue streams, etc.  While it might be the best overall sports conference, that hasn't translated into the money needed for some of their schools to really operate on a high level.  California, for example, had big budget issues.  Of course, we all know how close the  P10 came to becoming the P16 just a few years ago with the addition of Big XII schools from Texas and Oklahoma.  Could something like that happen again?

The one major brake on all this has been the Grant of Rights agreements that all the conferences except the SEC have in place with its membership.  Could those agreements be overturned in some way?  If the Big XII evaporates, would their GOR still be in place?

As far as the Big Ten is concerned, it's obvious that the additions of Maryland and Rutgers were based less on athletics (although I'd say MD is a mid-range B10 program athletically), but academics, geography and television rights.  So perhaps the better question is what two programs make the most sense to the conference's leadership (and fits the B1G's corporate culture) and is doable/realistic? 

Would it be something like Oklahoma/Kansas?  Admittedly, OU is a non-AAU school (as is Notre Dame), but as a football/men's basketball centric decision, it would make sense.  Admittedly, you wouldn't be looking at adding many households in terms of television, but a B1G West Football Division that has those two teams plus Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northwestern and Illinois would be attractive.  Play seven games within the division and two outside means each team in the conference plays one another at least once in football over a four year time frame.

I suppose the other possibility would be in the ACC's geographic footprint.  When Bluevod mentions the DC and Atlanta markets, then he's clearly indicating schools like Virginia and Georgia Tech.  Again, admittedly, not usually high profile athletically, but major academic assets for the conference and in areas with higher household numbers.  Add those two schools would mean putting Indiana in the Big Ten West for football and shitt the overall Big Ten Conference farther east.  UM would be playing Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, Maryland, Rutgers, Virginia and Georgia Tech in the Big Ten East's football division each year.

are mere foils for the real Stonecutters, the TV execs

FWIW, I know a former Florida football player who's still an active alum. We haven't discussed this, but I do know that the Gator nation is getting frustrated being a relatively clean program in the SEC.

It's kind of ironic that the American Association of Universities has two Canadian members. I guess the same can be said for the NHL though.

Oklahoma was seriously thinking of leaving the Big12. I wouldn't be surprised if it's Oklahoma and Or Kansas. Kansas could use the $$, Oklahoma could use the notoriety. The other one that's been floating around for a long time has been Georgia Tech. This seems very likely as the Big10 wants to get into the South Market sooner then later. VT and Georgia Tech would solve that over night. When I was in Florida for the UA Football Game I heard from the Rivals Guys more then once that the Big10 has talked w about 4-6 different schools about joining the conference, but the hold up has always been taking 2 schools that are tied together somehow. But who knows what they think these days.

Personally I think Oklahoma is in play for the Big10 or Pac12 in the near future.

Leave it alone!!! It was fine before you changed it the last time

 

 

University of Virginia- AAU

North Carolina- AAU

Duke- AAU

Georgia Tech- AAU

Notre Dame- not AAU, but gets a pass

and a last one (say Boston College), or Vanderbilt- AAU or Missouri-AAU 

 

South-West:

Notre Dame

Nebraska

Wisconsin

Iowa

Minnesota

Northwestern

Illinois

Georgia Tech

North Carolina

Duke

 

North-East:

Michigan

Ohio State

Penn State

Michigan State

Maryland

Virginia

Rutgers

Boston College

Purdue

Indiana

 

Told by a high up ESPN source? Grain of salt?

I think the other power conferences are waiting to see what the big twelve is going to pull before taking any more dramatic steps. The others are in stable positions and do not need to act anytime soon.