Conference Realignment, Naming Rights, Financing
ANYTHING that hurts North Carolina is ok by me.
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
5 years ago, I'd have called you nuts (WRT to UNC). The sands have definitely shifted, and I agree with you. No matter though, they're most likely SEC bound.
Not sure FSU is in my top 2 for the next 2 spots. Give me ND and A&M if it stops at 20.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
like them or not , they are a strong football brand , in a big football state with lots of recruits . The SEC , ACC, and B12 all have a presence there . The B1G needs to be there and I doubt the U Miami offers more .
if they are able to achieve AAU status , I have a hard time seeing them denied .
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
ND has always been an automatic immediate take, but I don't see them being ready to join yet. They're going to stay "independent" until the pain (scheduling, financial) becomes too much to bear.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
I have no idea what their timeline is , but numerous writers / podcasters have indicated discussions of some type are underway .
They know by now it’s inevitable, if they want a chance at a championship still .
I think the day is coming soon when the B1G will go to a 12 game conference schedule . it makes no sense to have a 18-20 member league otherwise . Premium games is what the networks are paying for - not 3 weeks of 90% of the games to be against MAC & Mt West teams .
there is a price to pay for those annual payouts
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
they may get to 12 (conference games), but I don't think it'll be soon. for sure, they'll move to 10 soon
I agree that ND is inevitable, but I don't think it's imminent (next pair)
MustangWally
- Mayfield
Are divisions gone forever? Two ten team divisions would seem appropriate for the Big Ten if we add two more teams.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
I get why the Big 10 would want A&M but I don't know why they'd want to leave the SEC for the Big Ten. I think there would be as big a backlash from their alumni/fans for leaving the south and going to the north as ND saw from their fans/alumni when they flirted with the Big 10 way back when.
The A&M faithful are a cultish bunch...
I used to think that, and I'm sure there would be some complaints, but going national has to appeal to them (at least for football).
Another angle is how beneficial increasing out-of-state students and their tuition would be from a revenue standpoint for A&M; it would open up some major markets outside of the Southeast. Their in-state tuition is $13K, while out-of-state tuition is $40K. That said, I'm not sure how meaningful that is, as they are a very well-known institution and do not lack brand awareness in the US.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
people speculate that their hatred of all things UT is going to make them want out of the SEC.
I agree it sounds a little odd to be that way, but supposedly A&M is at least kicking the tires on the idea of moving their affiliation.
The money part is likely a wash , and maybe they think they have a better chance of winning the B1G one day.
edit : and, maybe their engineering/ag status is drawing them to the B1G in some way
you could do a pro/con list and likely come up with 5 reasons for and against
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Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
why would they want Purdue or Indiana ?
Ohio St would be fools to leave for equal or less money. Conferences never work if the money shared isnt equal all members.
See my hypothetical "arms race" and "butt hurt."
I don't think it will happen, but the thought of a schools leaving the SEC and B1G is almost a foreign concept.
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
to people outside of Virginia: UVA >>> VA Tech
to people outside of North Carolina UNC>>>NC State
for nationwide football audience Clemson >>> UNC and UVA
for nationwide football audience FSU>Florida
for nationwide football audience TAM=?UT
If B10 is adding schools just for nationwide football eyeballs (which appears to be the current motivation) then Notre Dame, Clemson, FSU and Texas A&M will top the list for future adds.
20/20 hindsight for nation wide football eyeballs the Penn State. USC, Oregon, and Washington are winners.
Not sure about Nebraska (they were a powerhouse but have fallen). Rutgers and Maryland were added for cable fees and don't add to national wide football.
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bdutts
- Houston, Texas
I don't think your last paragraph matters to them at all. My feeling, working with many A&M grads, is that if A&M were left to their own devices, they'd have 100% of the student body in state. Doesn't do anything for diversity (which is an issue I see with my company hiring many from A&M but that's a topic for another day...).
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
I could see the engineering/Ag pull to join the Big Ten. Agreed, money is likely a wash. I'm not sure their hatred of Texas would be greater than than their hatred of being in a conference full of northern schools but what do I know? I will say the A&M cult is quite strange. Haven't seen anything like it in the midwest. It's creepy and weird.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
is it anything similar to the Notre Dame thing ?
I think this depends on the window you are viewing from. For Football, UVA & UNC is not big enough to garner much greater than anyone better than Millikin or Augustana. UNC & to a lesser extent UVA probably pull slightly above their weight in football because of basketball and academic reputation.
TAM is nice, but UT is king
Generally agree, but not sure Clemson moves the needle long term & not convinced Rutgers & MD aren't still good long term plays in terms of NY & DC markets for a TV money deal. I think you are right in the long term strategy is to increase the overall market that wants to watch the B1G games. So it is more than selling the new teams, it is also about increasing the market size for current B1G ten teams. So hopefully, a PSU - Michigan game now more interesting to the California USC fan knowing they play PSU next week.
Do you have a link to those writers and podcasts? I'd love to catch up on those, haven't seen much of that since ND signed a lengthy extension w/ NBC and got their new AD.
Do they all wear a class ring or is that just a few I met? Our A&M fans mostly grads, while people who did not attend are mostly UT fans?
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
Tate was on The Illini Guys podcast on youtube . Also search Finebaum for any talk about ND. Both had talked about it
I don’t think any info they had was on the record tho. This is all info they have been leaked . tifwiw
Agree with all comparisons except your last (and note that you did include a question mark yourself). I think Texas's national pull is much higher than A&M's.