The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Paperback Writer]

Also, what happens with Notre Dame in the above scenario? Perhaps this is the UT/ND alliance that Darth Dodds referenced earlier?

My guess is that Notre Dame joins the Big Ten along with Pittsburgh. That would put the PAC-12, Big Ten, and SEC all at 14 teams. Texas stays independent because of the LHN.

[Guest]

If Texas goes indy and OU goes to the PAC, then by definition, Superconferences are upon us:

1. The B12 would no longer exist
2. aTM would have joined the SEC, along with at least one more team, taking the SEC to 14.
3. The PAC would have expanded to 14 by adding OU and likely OSU
4. The remaining good B12 teams would be absorbed by some combo of the Big East, B1G, or ACC.

In this scenario, where does Texas place its sports programs other than football?

Also, what happens with Notre Dame in the above scenario? Perhaps this is the UT/ND alliance that Darth Dodds referenced earlier?

Here is what happens if OU leaves:

Texas, being Texas, simply adds some teams to the B12 at a discounted rate, keeps more money, is almost guaranteed their conference's BCS bowl and life goes on where everything is bigger in Texas.

Still not to where I think that OU will leave.

[TripletDaddy]

My guess is that Notre Dame joins the Big Ten along with Pittsburgh. That would put the PAC-12, Big Ten, and SEC all at 14 teams. Texas stays independent because of the LHN.

This doesn't make sense since one of the main reasons ND doesn't join the B10 is their own TV deal.

[Omaha 680]

This doesn't make sense since one of the main reasons ND doesn't join the B10 is their own TV deal.

Right. I've come to the conclusion that the only way ND joins a conference is if either Superconference schedules make it difficult for them to maintain their traditional slate of games or membership in a conference is somehow mandated to be able to compete for a NC. I don't see either happening.

[TheBYUGuy]

Can someone in PAC country please post research budget numbers for the Sooners and OkSU Cowboys? I need to know this before I have an opinion about their athletic programs.

TIA.

[Scorcho]

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if OU and OSU leave the Big XII, then don’t you question the AQ status of a conference that has lost 4 of its top football contenders (Unless you can replace them with BYU and the top of the Big East).

[TripletDaddy]

if OU and OSU leave the Big XII, then don’t you question the AQ status of a conference that has lost 4 of its top football contenders (Unless you can replace them with BYU and the top of the Big East).

No. you don't question it. You revoke it.

[Jacob]

No. you don't question it. You revoke it.

Not for a while. And even then, the conference is still better than the Big East.

[EuropeanFootballMale]

if OU and OSU leave the Big XII, then don’t you question the AQ status of a conference that has lost 4 of its top football contenders (Unless you can replace them with BYU and the top of the Big East).

Maybe if BCS AQ ever had anything at all to do with quality of football.

[Paperback Writer]

This doesn't make sense since one of the main reasons ND doesn't join the B10 is their own TV deal.

Notre Dame's TV deal expires in 2015. It's been a while since I reviewed the dollar figures but I've read where Notre Dame could make more in the Big Ten then with their NBC deal. But the numbers seem to change with each new TV contract. However, the ratings for Notre Dame football are not good right now.

It wouldn't be difficult for the Big Ten to work out a formula with Notre Dame where it keeps its NBC contract through 2015 and takes a reduced share of ABC/ESPN and BTN revenues.

I guess it just depends on what the Irish want to do. I think if ND wants to join a conference (or are forced to), it will be the Big Ten. Although, the Irish do have an independent streak and could always remain that way. Anyway, I've read convincing arguments that calculate that Notre Dame could make more in the Big Ten than being independent. However, it seems to reason that Notre Dame brings more than its fair sure when it comes to revenues so it would seem that it could always make more being independent because it wouldn't have to share. Same logic holds true with the Longhorns.

[TripletDaddy]

Notre Dame's TV deal expires in 2015. It's been a while since I reviewed the dollar figures but I've read where Notre Dame could make more in the Big Ten then with their NBC deal. But the numbers seem to change with each new TV contract. However, the ratings for Notre Dame football are not good right now.

It wouldn't be difficult for the Big Ten to work out a formula with Notre Dame where it keeps its NBC contract through 2015 and takes a reduced share of ABC/ESPN and BTN revenues.

I guess it just depends on what the Irish want to do. I think if ND wants to join a conference (or are forced to), it will be the Big Ten. Although, the Irish do have an independent streak and could always remain that way. Anyway, I've read convincing arguments that calculate that Notre Dame could make more in the Big Ten than being independent. However, it seems to reason that Notre Dame brings more than its fair sure when it comes to revenues so it would seem that it could always make more being independent because it wouldn't have to share. Same logic holds true with the Longhorns.

I would conjecture that the stable BCS conferences (SEC, PAC, B1G) want nothing to do with rogue, pre-madonna programs that demand special exemptions as a condition precedent to membership. Texas is an example of this type of selfish, destructive behavior. Once that sort of cancer takes root, the conference will always be held hostage over one self-serving request or another.

The B1G has always been able to make a special exemption for Notre Dame. And yet it hasn't. Now that the conference is even bigger and more powerful, there is less need to make that exemption. Also, by definition, if the Irish come calling, it will be out of need. The B1G would be negotiating from a position of strength, not weakness.

Notre Dame is a catch for any conference, don't get me wrong. but it isn't the catch you are making it out to be...at least not for the SEC, PAC or B1G. Those conferences are raking in unprecedented dough, far more than Notre Dame's now-measly-by-comparison NBC contract. The Irish no longer bring the eyeballs and they certainly do not bring the Ws. In short, they have muscle, but not enough muscle to force that kind of special treatment as a conference newcomer.

The B12 makes sense, only in that the B12 seems to be the only BCS conference that is actually fine with individual school networks. But since it looks like the B12 is going to fall off the face of the Earth, it seems more likely than ever that the Irish change their anachronistic ways.

[Joe Public]

I would conjecture that the stable BCS conferences (SEC, PAC, B1G) want nothing to do with rogue, pre-madonna programs that demand special exemptions as a condition precedent to membership. Texas is an example of this type of selfish, destructive behavior. Once that sort of cancer takes root, the conference will always be held hostage over one self-serving request or another.

The B1G has always been able to make a special exemption for Notre Dame. And yet it hasn't. Now that the conference is even bigger and more powerful, there is less need to make that exemption. Also, by definition, if the Irish come calling, it will be out of need. The B1G would be negotiating from a position of strength, not weakness.

Notre Dame is a catch for any conference, don't get me wrong. but it isn't the catch you are making it out to be...at least not for the SEC, PAC or B1G. Those conferences are raking in unprecedented dough, far more than Notre Dame's now-measly-by-comparison NBC contract. The Irish no longer bring the eyeballs and they certainly do not bring the Ws. In short, they have muscle, but not enough muscle to force that kind of special treatment as a conference newcomer.

The B12 makes sense, only in that the B12 seems to be the only BCS conference that is actually fine with individual school networks. But since it looks like the B12 is going to fall off the face of the Earth, it seems more likely than ever that the Irish change their anachronistic ways.

This is why I think ND will try to hire Urban Meyer no later than 2014.

[Pelado]

This is why I think ND will try to hire Urban Meyer no later than 2014.

They already tried that. He picked Florida.

[statman]

They already tried that. He picked Florida.

And then retirement. And then Florida. And then retirement. And then???

[Pelado]

And then retirement. And then Florida. And then retirement. And then???

According to your pattern, back to Florida.