Conference Realignment Updates

[short ornery norwegian]

Couldn't find the original Conference realignment thread.

for what it's worth, I'm hearing some rumblings from various online types, podcasters and You Tube people that there might be developments in the ACC saga in July.

IF FSU, Clemson or other ACC schools are somehow able to break free, the big question remains where they would end up. there are differing reports/opinions on whether the B1G would take 2 more teams, or whether schools like FSU would meet the B1G's academic requirements. but, it's something to think about while we wait for Fall practice to begin.

a quick recap:

As of May 2024, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Florida State University (FSU) and Clemson University are involved in multiple lawsuits over a grant of rights agreement that keeps ACC schools in a TV contract through 2036:

• FSU vs ACC
  FSU filed a lawsuit in Florida state court to prevent the ACC from leaving the conference. The ACC countersued in North Carolina court, arguing that FSU's acceptance of revenue payments under the agreement for years prevents it from challenging the validity of the withdrawal fee, which is around $572 million. The core issue of the lawsuit is whether the exit fees are so high that they are illegally anti-competitive or unconscionable.
• Clemson vs ACC
  Clemson filed a lawsuit in South Carolina state court on March 19, 2024, echoing FSU's claims. Clemson is seeking a declaration from the court that the ACC does not own the right to produce and distribute Clemson games if it leaves the conference. The ACC countersued in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, arguing that it owns Clemson's media rights until 2036, even if Clemson leaves the conference.

 

[swelna]

I think the Big ten would go to bat for UNC if they were on the market. If the whole ACC was imploding I'd imagine another run at ND and basically provide a life boat for all of their sports with the caveat that football comes with.

That would put you at 20. Since we're already there I actually think 24 makes scheduling easier (4 divisions of 6) so *maybe* you provide a lifeboat to Stanford and Cal to make a 6 team West Coast division and then you try to pick up 2 more ACC teams to fill out an east coast division with Penn State, Rutgers, Maryland and UNC.

Put MN, Iowa, Wis, Neb, Illinois, and Northwestern in a Great Plains division and OSU, Mich, Mich State, Indiana, Purdue, and ND in a Great Lakes division.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Couldn't find the original Conference realignment thread.

for what it's worth, I'm hearing some rumblings from various online types, podcasters and You Tube people that there might be developments in the ACC saga in July.

IF FSU, Clemson or other ACC schools are somehow able to break free, the big question remains where they would end up. there are differing reports/opinions on whether the B1G would take 2 more teams, or whether schools like FSU would meet the B1G's academic requirements. but, it's something to think about while we wait for Fall practice to begin.

a quick recap:

As of May 2024, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Florida State University (FSU) and Clemson University are involved in multiple lawsuits over a grant of rights agreement that keeps ACC schools in a TV contract through 2036:

• FSU vs ACC
  FSU filed a lawsuit in Florida state court to prevent the ACC from leaving the conference. The ACC countersued in North Carolina court, arguing that FSU's acceptance of revenue payments under the agreement for years prevents it from challenging the validity of the withdrawal fee, which is around $572 million. The core issue of the lawsuit is whether the exit fees are so high that they are illegally anti-competitive or unconscionable.
• Clemson vs ACC
  Clemson filed a lawsuit in South Carolina state court on March 19, 2024, echoing FSU's claims. Clemson is seeking a declaration from the court that the ACC does not own the right to produce and distribute Clemson games if it leaves the conference. The ACC countersued in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, arguing that it owns Clemson's media rights until 2036, even if Clemson leaves the conference.

Gettin’ pretty silly.

Maybe, just spitballing here guys ( directed at FSU and Clemson) it’s better to take a year or two or three and realllly think things over before doing something really stupid like signing a TWENTY YEAR contract, or signing away future revenue growth to vultures to escape a current contract. Maybe better to remain a big fish in a small pond. Guaranteed playoff berth, fan engagement. SEC… yeah you might suffer.

Maybe just suck it up, pay what you promised to, finish up this idiotic contract without jumping into something worse.

 

[mngolf]

I think the Big ten would go to bat for UNC if they were on the market. If the whole ACC was imploding I'd imagine another run at ND and basically provide a life boat for all of their sports with the caveat that football comes with.

That would put you at 20. Since we're already there I actually think 24 makes scheduling easier (4 divisions of 6) so *maybe* you provide a lifeboat to Stanford and Cal to make a 6 team West Coast division and then you try to pick up 2 more ACC teams to fill out an east coast division with Penn State, Rutgers, Maryland and UNC.

Put MN, Iowa, Wis, Neb, Illinois, and Northwestern in a Great Plains division and OSU, Mich, Mich State, Indiana, Purdue, and ND in a Great Lakes division.

Heard someone say the reason NC legislature got involved is that they won't let UNC go to B1G. similar in VA where they have now tied UVA to VA Tech.

 

[GopherFanatic19]

I would love to have FSU and Clemson in the B1G. Just makes our already #1 brand and conference that much better over the SEC.

Plus how awesome would the games be at the bank with FSU, USC, Oregon coming to town. Makes for better football than university of Phoenix type teams

 

[Word]

I would love to have FSU and Clemson in the B1G. Just makes our already #1 brand and conference that much better over the SEC.

Plus how awesome would the games be at the bank with FSU, USC, Oregon coming to town. Makes for better football than university of Phoenix type teams

Are you suggesting fewer non-con games? Because otherwise adding Clemson and FSU would just mean playing the traditional Big Ten teams less (and I wouldn't consider any of them to be U of PHX type teams).

 

[GopherFanatic19]

Are you suggesting fewer non-con games? Because otherwise adding Clemson and FSU would just mean playing the traditional Big Ten teams less (and I wouldn't consider any of them to be U of PHX type teams).

Yes, of course I mean fewer non conf games. With adding them, add one cupcake non conf to get jitters out and go straight into real games.

 

[PMWinSTP]

I would love to have FSU and Clemson in the B1G. Just makes our already #1 brand and conference that much better over the SEC.

Plus how awesome would the games be at the bank with FSU, USC, Oregon coming to town. Makes for better football than university of Phoenix type teams

I don't think either really fits within the B1G, and both have multiple rivalries with sec teams.

 

[GopherFanatic19]

I don't think either really fits within the B1G, and both have multiple rivalries with sec teams.

B1G left the whole regional fit with addition of west coast and east coast teams. Clemson and FSU bring major value into the southern markets in the heart of SEC country.

SEC I think would not want FSU due to Florida but would take Miami for the market. South Carolina would want Clemson in the SEC either.

If universities begin paying players as employees, SEC wouldn’t make the money B1G does annually to keep up like they don’t already in yearly income

 

[PMWinSTP]

B1G left the whole regional fit with addition of west coast and east coast teams. Clemson and FSU bring major value into the southern markets in the heart of SEC country.

SEC I think would not want FSU due to Florida but would take Miami for the market. South Carolina would want Clemson in the SEC either.

If universities begin paying players as employees, SEC wouldn’t make the money B1G does annually to keep up like they don’t already in yearly income

I don't think either fit in multiple ways within the B1G, sports and overall.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

With realignment traditional high win teams and conference champions or podium finishers will likely be winning less and finishing mid-pack. Has anyone calculated the cumulative costs of coaching churn- buyouts, searches, legal - at FSU and Clemson over the next 20 years. Check with Nebraska? How much, in addition to the $$$ private capital revenue loss, will that cancel revenue gains from P2 TV.

Small conferences/divisions are good for the game. Not this bull****.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

well, this is potentially interesting. Big 12 possibly talking to FSU and Clemson? Ross Dellenger from Yahoo Sports says yes.

As Florida State and Clemson evaluate their conference futures, the Big 12 may be an option they are considering.

Yahoo! Sport’s Ross Dellenger reported Wednesday afternoon that FSU and Clemson have had “early” talks with the Big 12. Dellenger shared that information in an interview with John Kurtz at Big 12 Media Days in Las Vegas.

“I think there is at least early conversation between the Big 12 and those schools about the possibility,” Dellenger said. “I don’t think it’s anything serious yet, because [Florida State and Clemson] do have to get out of the ACC [first]”.

“So we could be months, if not years away from something. But that does seem to be one of the possibilities, the Big 12.”

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark confirmed in his address this week that the league remains “open for business” regarding future expansion possibilities.

 

[GopherFanatic19]

I think, Big 12 is a last resort for those two. B1G priority #1, then SEC, than a loooooong ways down Big 12

 

[disco]

With realignment traditional high win teams and conference champions or podium finishers will likely be winning less and finishing mid-pack.

I agree, but it's clear that winning is taking a huge back seat to revenues. Otherwise why in the world would Texas and Oklahoma have left the relatively easy path to the playoffs they had in the Big 12 for the much, much tougher SEC.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

If I really wanted to stir the pot, I would talk about "radio personality" Greg Swaim and his prediction that the B1G wants Texas A&M as a new member.

 

[stocker08]

Still think that when the B10 adds two more programs.....getting one west coast team will be a priority.

 

[Ope3]

Still think that when the B10 adds two more programs.....getting one west coast team will be a priority.

Why isn't 4 plenty? It's already been cherry picked. If they already rejected Stanford, I am not seeing a big reason to go after any school (west of the Rockies).

 

[stocker08]

Why isn't 4 plenty? It's already been cherry picked. If they already rejected Stanford, I am not seeing a big reason to go after any school (west of the Rockies).

Assuming that they don't expand past 20 teams (which they may anyways for all we know)....breaking up football into four, five team divisions would make a lot of sense. As it currently stands....you'd probably have to put Nebraska in with the four west coast teams.....which would be kind of silly.

 

[Ope3]

Assuming that they don't expand past 20 teams (which they may anyways for all we know)....breaking up football into four, five team divisions would make a lot of sense. As it currently stands....you'd probably have to put Nebraska in with the four west coast teams.....which would be kind of silly.

Divisions are dead. It would be a dramatic sea change to bring them back.

 

[stocker08]

Divisions are dead. It would be a dramatic sea change to bring them back.

With a 20 team league, a four division setup would work awfully well. I'd be surprised if the Big Ten expanded further and remained without divisions of some sort.

 

[Ope3]

With a 20 team league, a four division setup would work awfully well. I'd be surprised if the Big Ten expanded further and remained without divisions of some sort.

TV does not want them nor will there be room for expanded "Conference Playoffs", with the CFP expanding to 12 this season and probably to 16 in the near future.

I don't envision them coming back in the near future, 10 years or so. Just not necessary.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

this may be splitting the baby, but I could see the B1G doing "scheduling pods" without necessarily calling them divisions. group teams together for scheduling purposes, but those groupings are not address in the overall standings.

I just don't know how you manage divisional playoffs, which would mean adding more games.

once the expanded CFP kicks in, conference championships have symbolic importance, but in the B1G, a team does not have to play in the conference championship game to make the CFP.

 

[Ope3]

this may be splitting the baby, but I could see the B1G doing "scheduling pods" without necessarily calling them divisions. group teams together for scheduling purposes, but those groupings are not address in the overall standings.

I just don't know how you manage divisional playoffs, which would mean adding more games.

once the expanded CFP kicks in, conference championships have symbolic importance, but in the B1G, a team does not have to play in the conference championship game to make the CFP.

For football, 8-10 games, 1 per week over 3 months I don't see any need for a scheduling pod. They way they are doing it just fine. 0-3 protected rivals for schools that want to play each other annually a little more regularly is completely sufficient.

Going with a "scheduling pod" for based on geography would limit the number of times USC plays Ohio St or Michigan for example. TV/Streaming partners are not interested in that.

Also to clarify: Me personally I would LOVE for their to be Divisions or even a scheduling pod. They just aren't happening.

 

[CheapSkate]

Selfishly, I'd love to see the league get to 20 teams by adding Notre Dame and Boston College. The Notre Dame benefits are obvious, but it gives the B1G another top media market in Boston. Not that it factors in these decisions, but Hockey would get to 8 teams with another traditional power. But most of all I think, it makes a great pod schedule that works in every sport. West: USC-UCLA-Ore-Wash / North: Minn-Iowa-Wis-NE / Midwest: Ill-NW-Ind-Pur / Great Lakes: Mich-MSU-OSU-ND / East: Rutgers-Maryland-BC-PSU

 

[howeda7]

TV does not want them nor will there be room for expanded "Conference Playoffs", with the CFP expanding to 12 this season and probably to 16 in the near future.

I don't envision them coming back in the near future, 10 years or so. Just not necessary.

Just go to a 10th conference game. You play your division + everyone in one of the other three divisions each year for 9 games. The 10th game is everyone from Division A playing the same placed team in Division C etc. It serves a de-facto conference semi-final but everyone participates.

 

[stocker08]

TV does not want them nor will there be room for expanded "Conference Playoffs", with the CFP expanding to 12 this season and probably to 16 in the near future.

I don't envision them coming back in the near future, 10 years or so. Just not necessary.

You'd still have one championship game. Two divisions combine to make one each year.

 

[Ope3]

Just go to a 10th conference game. You play your division + everyone in one of the other three divisions each year for 9 games. The 10th game is everyone from Division A playing the same placed team in Division C etc. It serves a de-facto conference semi-final but everyone participates.

I would be intrigued by it, not sure about TV/Streamers.

I don't think the Conference would be interested in tagging their Top Teams with an extra L at the end of the year to jeopardize their CFP hopes nor possibly having a Division Champion with 3-5 losses (overall) somehow take the Conference's AutoBid.

 

[Ope3]

You'd still have one championship game. Two divisions combine to make one each year.

That doesn't address the TV/Streamers not wanting Divisions component. They are gone.

All about the CFP now.

 

[howeda7]

I would be intrigued by it, not sure about TV/Streamers.

I don't think the Conference would be interested in tagging their Top Teams with an extra L at the end of the year to jeopardize their CFP hopes nor possibly having a Division Champion with 3-5 losses (overall) somehow take the Conference's AutoBid.

In any one year stuff can happen, but the B1G will always get their 3-4 teams in the play-off.

 

[stocker08]

That doesn't address the TV/Streamers not wanting Divisions component. They are gone.

All about the CFP now.

Not sure where you're getting your info from. The main thing that people had an issue with under the previous East/West split was the unbalanced schedules and one division being way stronger than the other. This would effectively remove that issue and we'll as guarantee that every team saw every other team in the conference at least every third year.

Has zero effect on the CFP.