NCAA Conference Realignment Thread

[Big Sexy]

It seems like every day now there's talk of teams moving conferences so instead of having a new thread every time a team makes a move or is rumored to make a move, it would be easier to keep it all in one spot. This thread can also be used for general discussion on the state of certain conferences and college sports as a whole because of these moves.

One of the newer stories is that Rick Pitino is lobbying for the Big East to add Temple and Memphis. Temple would be a great addition for both basketball and football. Their basketball program has been strong for a while and they are one of the elite schools in the A-10. With Syracuse and Pitt both leaving the Big East for the ACC the Big East could really use Temple. Temple also has a growing football program that seems to get better every year. They recently joined the MAC in football but if they make the move in basketball I could see the same being done for football.

Memphis is another basketball program that could really help ease the loss of Cuse and Pitt. Even without Calipari they have a solid basketball program and are still getting some great talent every year. Memphis and Temple certainly aren't better the Syracuse and Pitt but they would be great additions to help try and replace them.

 

[Shocky]

I have a vested interest in realignment, since the school I cheer for looks to be one of the potential big losers once this thing is all done. It's nearly impossible to follow, and there are so many damn theories out there it's nearly impossible to keep track of.

From what you can figure out so far, this is certain. The SEC, Pac Whatever, and B1G are the top dogs of the college world. No one will Poach from these conferences. Beneath them are the ACC and Big 12. Beneath them is the Big East. Beneath them are the Mountain West and CUSA, and beneath that are the bottom feeders of FBS football and FCS. Shit rolls down hill. If the SEC makes a move, there will be repercussions all across the landscape. If CUSA makes a move, it's minimal at best.

There are misconceptions about this whole mess. Make no mistake about it, all of these moves are motivated by Television and the money new contracts bring in. At some point, conferences will not grow, because of the Law of Diminishing returns. If the teams being added don't add more to the pie, then a conference will not expand. More mouths to feed with the same amount of food doesn't work. This is not a fantasy league. The top conferences make moves out of money, the Big East will make moves out of survival to retain their AQ. That is the trickle down.

4-16 team Conferences is not the end goal.
It will be a by product of realignment by accident, not by choice. All of this realignment is being done for another reason, well two, Notre Dame and Texas. Those two schools are the end goal for many conferences.

The Pac wants Oklahoma and Texas. They will go to 16 only because Oklahoma State is attached to Oklahoma, and Texas has a Tech problem. The only way this will happen is if Texas gives up it's Longhorn Network, so this will never happen.

The B1G will only expand for two teams, Notre Dame and Texas. Oklahoma and Okie State have already pitched themselves to the Big 10, and they were met with a thanks but not thanks, same with Mizzou. The B1G will only expand if Texas and Notre Dame join. Not Rutgers, Not Mizzou, Not UConn, only Texas and Notre Dame, and neither of those teams seem interested.

The SEC will take Mizzou, and settle at 14. The SEC did not want to expand, but Texas A&M fell into their laps. The SEC would be extremely foolish to let A&M slip through their fingers to the Pac. Too many televisions, too many rich boosters, and too many recruits in Texas not to jump on. Mizzou is the lucky person to get the invite. There is a "gentleman's agreement" amongst the SEC school, no schools from existing states. Yes, it makes sense to us to add Clemson, Florida State or Georgia Tech, but they add no new markets (remember this is all TV motivated). The SEC could possibly go to 16, but you would be looking at a North Carolina school (NC State most likely, but unlikely) Va. Tech (but they are content in the ACC), or West Virginia (who is begging to get in, but their academics are too bad even for SEC standards). SEC will stop at 14.

I'll post the rest later.