The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Jacob]

Consider this: is it a coincidence that Jimmermania happened shortly after BYU became an ESPN property? How did Jimmermania start? By ESPN hype.

I know you're looking at from the perspective of Jimmermania helping raise BYU's stock as an attractive option for the Big 12.

But can you not also see it as an indication of what ESPN can do for an ESPN-property BYU? They would no longer be an ESPN property as a member of the Big 12, because I don't see the 8-year ESPN contract being viable in that scenario.

Jimmermania happened because of Jimmer, not because of ESPN. Jimermania began his JR year when he went off on Arizona. he provided everything ESPN wants in a highlight. There could have been a little extra hype due to ESPN's new relationship with BYU, but no BYU games were on ESPN.

It's great to be on ESPN, but I think you are overstating the benefits. The ESPN relationship is not giving BYU the schedule they'd get in the B12 and not the national title or BCS hopes the'd have in the B12.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Consider this: is it a coincidence that Jimmermania happened shortly after BYU became an ESPN property? How did Jimmermania start? By ESPN hype.

I know you're looking at from the perspective of Jimmermania helping raise BYU's stock as an attractive option for the Big 12.

But can you not also see it as an indication of what ESPN can do for an ESPN-property BYU? They would no longer be an ESPN property as a member of the Big 12, because I don't see the 8-year ESPN contract being viable in that scenario.

Jimmermania started because he was routinely hitting bombs from 10 feet behind the three point line, crossing over supposed future NBA guys like Kawhi Leonard, and dropping something like 36 points in a half against New Mexico and Utah.

ESPN didn't cause Kevin Durant and the guy from Counting Crows to tweet about Jimmer. I just don't think ad-libbing Sportscenter anchors had a memo to pimp Jimmer because ESPN was going to show a few of BYU's football games in the Fall.

[LiveCoug]

Jimmermania happened because of Jimmer, not because of ESPN. Jimermania began his JR year when he went off on Arizona. he provided everything ESPN wants in a highlight. There could have been a little extra hype due to ESPN's new relationship with BYU, but no BYU games were on ESPN.

It's great to be on ESPN, but I think you are overstating the benefits. The ESPN relationship is not giving BYU the schedule they'd get in the B12 and not the national title or BCS hopes the'd have in the B12.

Bingo. This was all Jimmer.

[Surfah]

Jimmermania happened because of Jimmer, not because of ESPN. Jimermania began his JR year when he went off on Arizona. he provided everything ESPN wants in a highlight. There could have been a little extra hype due to ESPN's new relationship with BYU, but no BYU games were on ESPN.

It's great to be on ESPN, but I think you are overstating the benefits. The ESPN relationship is not giving BYU the schedule they'd get in the B12 and not the national title or BCS hopes the'd have in the B12.

Not to mention CBS and SI were on his tip as well. He was featured as a superhero on the college basketball preview issue.

[TripletDaddy]

Jimmermania happened because of Jimmer, not because of ESPN. Jimermania began his JR year when he went off on Arizona. he provided everything ESPN wants in a highlight. There could have been a little extra hype due to ESPN's new relationship with BYU, but no BYU games were on ESPN.

It's great to be on ESPN, but I think you are overstating the benefits. The ESPN relationship is not giving BYU the schedule they'd get in the B12 and not the national title or BCS hopes the'd have in the B12.

Jimmermania started because he was routinely hitting bombs from 10 feet behind the three point line, crossing over supposed future NBA guys like Kawhi Leonard, and dropping something like 36 points in a half against New Mexico and Utah.

ESPN didn't cause Kevin Durant and the guy from Counting Crows to tweet about Jimmer. I just don't think ad-libbing Sportscenter anchors had a memo to pimp Jimmer because ESPN was going to show a few of BYU's football games in the Fall.

Bingo. This was all Jimmer.

SoCalCoug getting the blanket party from Jacob, Color Me Badd Fan and LiveCoug! :box:

[Paperback Writer]

The Big 12 can offer ND three things the Big 10 can't offer: 1) An affiliation with teams (and games) from the best recruiting grounds in the country; 2) Freedom to pursue their own television network/deal; 3) Allow ND to keep many of its annual games.

The most important thing for ND is to establish recruiting pipelines in Texas. Therefore, adding another Texas team will be important because it will just give an ND another game in Texas every other year. The question is whether it's more important to add Houston or TCU -- does Houston or Dallas bring more recruiting juice to the table? From a competitive standpoint, TCU would be the better addition.

The Big 12 has to shore things up and I think it's simply a matter of when and not if. ND would be a major coup, but there are some advantages for ND. And, IMO, with ND, Texas and OU on board, the Big 12 is no longer a sinking ship. Apparently in the minds of some, BYU would also be a major asset. When all is said and done, a Big 12 North with ND and BYU would actually stronger than the old Big 12 North with Nebraska and Colorado.

I think it's debatable whether the Big 12 is a better match with that criteria than the Big Ten.
1) Notre Dame is not as dependent on Texas recruiting as Big 12 teams. Notre Dame is a national university and draws from all regions - especially Catholic HS across America. It's kind of similar to BYU in that respect. Sure the Irish would like more top talent from Texas and playing Big 12 teams would help recruiting but the Irish will still draw Texas recruits and appeal to blue chip talent in all regions.
2) The BTN is very profitable. Notre Dame could determine that getting an equal slice of a more profitable ABC/ESPN deal and BTN is enough. Joining the Big Ten will probably provide Notre Dame with greater revenues than what they could renegotiate with NBC and most likely be superior to any contract with the Big 12. Further, if Notre Dame decides to go with their own network ala Texas, the Irish will be faced with the same content problem as the LHN. If Notre Dame plays a game, there's a very good chance that ABC/ESPN will want to televise it because of the large ND audience. What's left to Televise on the ND network? This is the same problem the LHN has.
3) I don't see how the Big 12 holds the advantage here. If Notre Dame joins the Big 12, they will only have 3 or 4 OOC games. In the Big Ten, Michigan, Michigan St., and Purdue will be in conference and Notre Dame will still have 3 OOC games. Thus, it's much easier to schedule other traditional games against USC, Navy, Boston College, Stanford and Pittsburgh. So I count 8 traditional games (apologies to Georgia Tech) for Notre Dame and only 3 OOC slots in the Big 12 (4 if it goes back to 12 teams). In the Big Ten, there's only 5 traditional games to schedule with 3 OOC slots (4 if the Big Ten backs off it's plan for a 9-game conference schedules in 2017).

I still maintain if Notre Dame is going to join a conference, it will be the Big Ten. It's just a better fit for Notre Dame with geography and culture. But I'm not certain that Notre Dame will join a conference for football even though it makes sense for the Irish to do so.

[Surfah]

Don't forget about the at large BCS spots. The Big 12 has had more at large appearances than the MWC or the Pac-10.

Right! You don't even have to win the Big 12 to play for the BCS championship.

[DapperDan]

but we'd also play Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri every year in football.

Good point. I'd much prefer playing Idaho, New Mexico St, and San Jose St every year.

[TripletDaddy]

what is with all this drivel about Michigan and Notre Dame?

They didnt play each other at all for 35-40 years and since the 80s have skipped each other maybe 7 or 8 times.

[TripletDaddy]

Good point. I'd much prefer playing Idaho, New Mexico St, and San Jose St every year.

DapperDan shows up with his own bar of soap! :box:

[ERCougar]

If this happens, I'm loving the pattern that has developed:
-Utah gets PAC 12 invite with a Fox contract. BYU goes independent with an ESPN contract and their own network.
-Utah gets invited to the PAC 12 as a 6th choice in a hold-your-nose-to-get-to-12-teams deal, with limited payouts to start. BYU is being talked about as a savior to the Big 12 (sorry for the hack, DDD)
-Utah gets Colorado as its "rival". BYU gets ND.
-Utah lands big QB recruit. BYU's QB recruit comes out of nowhere to outplay him and own the spotlight.

Ok, the last one isn't on subject, but funny anyway.

Smack aside, if this happens, Holmoe should get huge props. Hill won awards for making two good coach hires in the last twenty years, and essentially accepting an invite.

[Babs]

Big 12 North Divisional Championships and Big 12 championship games in Dallas every year!

every other year.

[Paperback Writer]

Right! You don't even have to win the Big 12 to play for the BCS championship.

Don't even have to win your Big 12 division either; although, I doubt we'll ever see that occur again.

[Babs]

what is with all this drivel about Michigan and Notre Dame?

They didnt play each other at all for 35-40 years and since the 80s have skipped each other maybe 7 or 8 times.

If I were ND, I'd jump at the chance to own the B12N. Even if they couldn't beat the S division champion, they'd still be likely to land a BCS bid.

[Uncle Ted]

Good point. I'd much prefer playing Idaho, New Mexico St, and San Jose St every year.

Don't forget the Big Sky Conference power house Idaho St.