PAC 12 Dissolution


How can anyone seriously think that Easy Transfer/NIL/conference realignment is good for college football?! For college sports, in general?! I'm a proud Capitalist, but this nonsense has gone way too far.
Most of us don't think it's good. We're just sort of rolling with it and accepting it, and happy Minnesota is in the "in club" as it stands now.

I personally have a sense of gloom that times may not get better than they are right now for Gopher football, similar to my feelings about the world at large.

A lot of very capitalist forces arrayed against the Gophers (and a lot of similar schools) right now, and this program simply doesn't have the donor power, local recruiting base, or sheer interest in college football to win a no-holds-barred arms race.
 


How on any planet is Georgia Tech (or Virginia) a bigger fish than Stanford? At anything?

People are deeply underselling how awesome Stanford was in football just a few years ago. It's the best all-sports program in the NCAA by a good and shockingly consistent margin (26 of 29 years). And it's the most prestigious academic school in America that plays FBS football.

If we're going to zoom in on the last few years like we seem to be doing with Stanford, Georgia Tech is a couple rungs below the Gophers.

As an alum of Minnesota, the academic institution, I would be deeply disappointed if our regents considered any of these schools, bar possibly Notre Dame, as a bigger get than Stanford.
Don't want to speak for the poster you replied to but I'm guessing they're talking $$$ to the B1G and not athletic/academic performance strictly. GT brings the Atlanta area and Virginia brings in whatever is in that area lol. They're not bad academic schools by any means either. B1G already got their foot in the CA door with USC/UCLA, does Stanford do much for revenue?

I'm not advocating for UVA/GT, just can see it positioned. With the same rationale, I would think UNC might be a target for the Charlotte area.

Who knows lol
 

See the ESPN article this morning for the argument that the the conference moves to 20 teams and has two divisions…..the big10 and the pac 10. Rose bowl is the conference championship game.
 


Fish bigger than Stanford and cal:

North Carolina
Virginia
Georgia tech
Notre Dame

Fish probably bigger than Stanford IMO
Florida state
Clemson


Finish possibly bigger than stanford but I don’t think so
Virginia tech
Louisville
NC State
Miami
Pitt
Kansas
Arizona state
Utah
Colorado

I think those first 6 I mentioned are biggest targets.
i think Stanford probably gets the call over anyone in that bottom group although if dissolving the ACC is necessary those in the bottom group could jump them as part of a group.
Stanford has more NCAA championships than any other school.
 

Don't want to speak for the poster you replied to but I'm guessing they're talking $$$ to the B1G and not athletic/academic performance strictly. GT brings the Atlanta area and Virginia brings in whatever is in that area lol. They're not bad academic schools by any means either. B1G already got their foot in the CA door with USC/UCLA, does Stanford do much for revenue?

I'm not advocating for UVA/GT, just can see it positioned. With the same rationale, I would think UNC might be a target for the Charlotte area.

Who knows lol
There are a lot of B1G alumni in the Atlanta area. Every time the Billds go down to visit friends and family of course there's the SEC t-shirts being worn but B1G fans sport their wares too. GT is in the heart of that market...which the B1G has to be looking at...and those fans sport their logos too.

As a program GT is about where we were when Brewster left...they've had to replace the HC after 3 years and they are hoping their new coaching staff will bring Kill-like results for them.

Their fans are impassioned and again like Minnesota almost 30 years ago, the GT regents, Prez, and AD are moving to re-emphasize revenue sports after a long period of disinterest.

Unfortunately the GT powers at be should have jumped at the chance to join the Big 10 in 2012 when being offered. In retrospect, that was a huge mistake.
 

I understand there is no going back and further expansion is inevitable, but it saddens me to see the PAC 10/12 go away as we knew it. Was a great, fun conference and I always enjoyed the late afternoon/night after Gophers were over.
 

How on any planet is Georgia Tech (or Virginia) a bigger fish than Stanford? At anything?
Admittedly, Georgia Tech’s football and basketball programs are down right now, but Georgia Tech has some cards to play in the realignment game that others do not. It is a massive media market. It has a plethora of Big10 alumni living in the Atlanta area footprint. It’s relatively easy travel because of the proximity to Hartsfield, which I’m sure is a factor, though perhaps a small one, when evaluating additions. The Big10 has actually extended them an invite in the past, which few can say save ND. The last card Tech is holding is a significant one if you ask me. The state of Georgia is top 5 in talent where football recruiting is concerned. Can you imagine the importance, not to mention the FU factor, of planting a Big10 banner, with all that local alumni, in the de facto capital of the SEC that is Atlanta? All of those Big10 brands getting to play in the SEC’s backyard in all sports would be significant to me.

I actually like Tech much better than Stanford or Cal. Let’s assume the ACC were to find a way to fracture. Let’s also assume ND stays independent. The SEC is gonna grab 4 teams. They will take FSU, Clemson, NC and Duke. That leaves Virginia, Miami, Tech, Stanford and Cal. I’d much rather go south and take Miami and Tech, but that’s just me.
 



Admittedly, Georgia Tech’s football and basketball programs are down right now, but Georgia Tech has some cards to play in the realignment game that others do not. It is a massive media market. It has a plethora of Big10 alumni living in the Atlanta area footprint. It’s relatively easy travel because of the proximity to Hartsfield, which I’m sure is a factor, though perhaps a small one, when evaluating additions. The Big10 has actually extended them an invite in the past, which few can say save ND. The last card Tech is holding is a significant one if you ask me. The state of Georgia is top 5 in talent where football recruiting is concerned. Can you imagine the importance, not to mention the FU factor, of planting a Big10 banner, with all that local alumni, in the de facto capital of the SEC that is Atlanta?

I actually like Tech much better than Stanford or Cal. Let’s assume the ACC were to find a way to fracture. Let’s also assume ND stays independent. The SEC is gonna grab 4 teams. They will take FSU, Clemson, NC and Duke. That leaves Virginia, Miami, Tech, Stanford and Cal. I’d much rather go south and take Miami and Tech, but that’s just me.
Duke is toast. UNC is a Big Ten school culturally.
 

as far as the 4 remaining Pac-12 teams, I have seen a few suggestions that Stanford could try to go the independent route for a few years to see how all of the changes shake out long-term.

OSU, WSU and Cal - looks like their best option might be the Mountain West, both in terms of geography and relative strength of competition.

but the reduction in TV money would mean some difficult financial decisions for those athletic departments. it stinks for those schools, but they lost the game of musical chairs.
 

Stanford has more NCAA championships than any other school.
Stanford averages less than 30k a game and doesn’t draw big tv ratings

You’re right though, they kick ass at fencing
 

How on any planet is Georgia Tech (or Virginia) a bigger fish than Stanford? At anything?

People are deeply underselling how awesome Stanford was in football just a few years ago. It's the best all-sports program in the NCAA by a good and shockingly consistent margin (26 of 29 years). And it's the most prestigious academic school in America that plays FBS football.

If we're going to zoom in on the last few years like we seem to be doing with Stanford, Georgia Tech is a couple rungs below the Gophers.

As an alum of Minnesota, the academic institution, I would be deeply disappointed if our regents considered any of these schools, bar possibly Notre Dame, as a bigger get than Stanford.
Disagree on Stanford
I don’t like any of them joining.
There is one major reason Georgia tech would make sense.
They are an AAU school in Atlanta, Georgia.

I hope the big ten adds nobody else and kicks out everyone but the original 10
 




Plus, as an academic institution, runs laps around the others listed.
Yup, Stanford is elite. With the way everything has gone down...they should be in the Big Ten vs joining the Mountain West or Big 12.
Then add Notre Dame and make some schedules.
 

Until we (B1G 10) get Notre Dame the rest is just window dressing.
 

Plus, as an academic institution, runs laps around the others listed.
I do think Stanford adds value individually more than some of those schools.

Another reason that the ACC schools make more sense is because the way to get out of their contract is for the conference to go away.
If the conference goes away, that causes notre dame to lose 5 games a year. And usually those are 5 of their best 8 games.


For the next stage of expansion it is either going to be one or two things IMO:
Notre Dame + 1 (could be anyone, Stanford a good bet).

Or

A huge chunk of ACC teams. Stanford and notre dame could be thrown into it or not.
 

as far as the 4 remaining Pac-12 teams, I have seen a few suggestions that Stanford could try to go the independent route for a few years to see how all of the changes shake out long-term.

OSU, WSU and Cal - looks like their best option might be the Mountain West, both in terms of geography and relative strength of competition.

but the reduction in TV money would mean some difficult financial decisions for those athletic departments. it stinks for those schools, but they lost the game of musical chairs.

It's really hard to be an independent in non-revenue sports. I believe BYU was an independent in football but all other teams were in the WCC before moving to the Big 12 this year. If Stanford doesn't make it into the BIG or Big 12, I'm guessing they move to a lesser conference for non-revenue sports and go independent for football until things stabilize. No idea what would happen to basketball.

Cal is screwed.
 

Disagree on Stanford
I don’t like any of them joining.
There is one major reason Georgia tech would make sense.
They are an AAU school in Atlanta, Georgia.

I hope the big ten adds nobody else and kicks out everyone but the original 10

We might end up with an original Big 10 division the way things are going. I would love that!
 


Both Stanford and Cal will be in the B1G, anyone who thinks institutions with their prestige academically and financially are going to the Mountain West are delusional.
 
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Then add Notre Dame and make some schedules.
They are not joining the Big10. They are not joining any conference ever, until the powers that be threaten to cut them out of the playoff. As long as they still have that pathway, they will continue to be independent. Why? Simply clinging to their independent status as a badge of honor is a deflection. They don’t want in the Big10 because of what would happen. They won’t be at the level of Ohio State, USC, Michigan etc if they have to play a FULL Big10 schedule. They would be on the level of Bucky, Iowa, Michigan State and Minnesota. They are a perpetual 7-9 win team here. Same as if they were forced to join one day and picked the SEC instead. They would be Miss State, Ole Miss or Kentucky down there. They couldn’t handle it. That’s why they play a partial ACC schedule rather than a partial Big10 schedule. The “gold domers” know the truth. They remain independent so they can schedule as best they can to win 10-11 every year to try and remain relevant.
 


I do think Stanford adds value individually more than some of those schools.

Another reason that the ACC schools make more sense is because the way to get out of their contract is for the conference to go away.
If the conference goes away, that causes notre dame to lose 5 games a year. And usually those are 5 of their best 8 games.


For the next stage of expansion it is either going to be one or two things IMO:
Notre Dame + 1 (could be anyone, Stanford a good bet).

Or

A huge chunk of ACC teams. Stanford and notre dame could be thrown into it or not.
Correct.
 


For whatever teams remain in the Pac12, it would be smart to retain the Pac12 name and merge with other Western teams in the MWC etc. The name still has branding power. Sort of like what happened with the Big East.
 

You will be wrong, just watch. At 35x the endowment of Oregon and beloved by Presidents across Academia Stanford is an easy add.
Stanford maybe if Norte Dame wants it.

Cal, no way. They don't offer accretive revenue. They'd be a leech.

The name of the games is re revenue growth not academic prestige.
 

Fish bigger than Stanford and cal:

North Carolina
Virginia
Georgia tech
Notre Dame

Fish probably bigger than Stanford IMO
Florida state
Clemson


Finish possibly bigger than stanford but I don’t think so
Virginia tech
Louisville
NC State
Miami
Pitt
Kansas
Arizona state
Utah
Colorado

I think those first 6 I mentioned are biggest targets.
i think Stanford probably gets the call over anyone in that bottom group although if dissolving the ACC is necessary those in the bottom group could jump them as part of a group.
Congrats!
You have topped yourself for "worst take in GH history!"
 

For whatever teams remain in the Pac12, it would be smart to retain the Pac12 name and merge with other Western teams in the MWC etc. The name still has branding power. Sort of like what happened with the Big East.
If the mountain west all joins the pac 4
They maintain the pac ten bowl contracts until they expire. They also could invite most but not all of the current mountain west…
Would anyone be left behind

If the pac 4 joins the mountain west they at least have the framework of a tv deal.
 

How on any planet is Georgia Tech (or Virginia) a bigger fish than Stanford? At anything?

People are deeply underselling how awesome Stanford was in football just a few years ago. It's the best all-sports program in the NCAA by a good and shockingly consistent margin (26 of 29 years). And it's the most prestigious academic school in America that plays FBS football.

If we're going to zoom in on the last few years like we seem to be doing with Stanford, Georgia Tech is a couple rungs below the Gophers.

As an alum of Minnesota, the academic institution, I would be deeply disappointed if our regents considered any of these schools, bar possibly Notre Dame, as a bigger get than Stanford.
It isn't about who was good at what and when anymore. What's been leaked over the last few days is that while Cal and Stanford are in a big market, are well regarded academic institutions and have had a modicum of success athleticslly, no one in the Bay area turns on their television sets to watch them. Do any of the southeast schools mentioned by Some guy fair better? Beats me but it's telling that two schools in the sixth largest market in the county are orphans at this point. If Oregon and Washington are coming in at 1/2 shares, what is the value of a Cal or Stanford? I personally would prefer Stanford in the Big 10 over most, if not all, of the potential southeast schools but in this world, the conferences and television folks say they aren't worth it (but again, no one knows at this point if any of those SE schools are, either).
 




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