Since it is the talking season snd conference realignment is my favorite off-season topic, I found this to be very compelling and interesting. Basically, ESPN would like to move teams from the ACC to the SEC, mainly UNC.
Conference Realignment
- Thread starter Cat_Man_Blue
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If we add 2 I still think NC st and UVA make the most since for viewership for football and bball... but if we add any it will probably be 4 adding UNC and Clem too... though some people may want to add FSU or Miami just to keep those recruits out of the BiG.
I would argue Clemson and Florida State would be better fits considering the in-state rivalry aspect of Clemson/USC and Florida/FSU, but I can see an argument for UNC and UVA as well. honestly, for footballs sake, I would rather UNC and UVA as we are a bit closer to their level football wise and maybe we get one of those seasons where things fall into place and we get them on our schedule instead of Texas/Bama/Oklahoma and the like.
Selfishly, since I grew up an FSU fan since my dad played there and I now live in Tampa, I'd like to add another game I could drive to, but from everything I've read, the SEC brass has completely soured on them after how they've been handling themselves in trying to decouple from the ACC. Though I've also read that that is an act because the SEC is afraid of getting slapped with tortious interference lawsuit and that privately they've told FSU they're good to go, as soon as they settle with the ACC. Their fanbase is mixed, probably 60/40 want to join the SEC.
If I’m Sankey and jotting down a list for potential additions…
UVA, BC, Syracuse - Big schools, big alumni bases, big northeast population centers
Temple - Not ACC but big ass enrollment/alumni base up there and Philly market.
Cal, Stanford - Need west coast.
UVA, BC, Syracuse - Big schools, big alumni bases, big northeast population centers
Temple - Not ACC but big ass enrollment/alumni base up there and Philly market.
Cal, Stanford - Need west coast.
I would think every SEC school that recruits Florida would want keep the Big out, now that paying big bucks is legal PSU, OSU, MICH and Oregon are all overpaying to get players. How could this possibly be good for the SEC?
The whole process of conference realignment is meaning less as the inevitable end will be just a couple of conferences left and what the point in that. When conferences lose their regionality who cares what conference anybody is in?
The ACC extension will not stop ESPN from trying to prevent UNC from leaving the ESPN umbrella. There is no way UNC and other top brands are going to stay in the ACC until 2036, while teams im the SEC and BIG10 are making twice as much money. I don't know how soon the ACC will lose teams, but I am sure it will be long before 2036.
I don't know whether it's officially part of the deal, but FSU and I guess Clemson are trying to get them, as part of the deal to reduce the cost of leaving after 2031. And that date is no accident as that's when every other conference is going to be renegotiating their TV deals. That's when teams will leave. It will probably all start in earnest by 2027-28. But by then there's no telling what the landscape will look like.
I think Sanky has been pretty clear that he isn't interested in going to West coast. Not sure what the plan is, but Clemson is more SEC than any of the teame being mentioned and it isn't like we don't have multiple states with 2 teams.
2031 the entire thing will probably get blown up. It may end up SEC and Big Ten. There is no way SEC should bring in another brand other than UNC. That makes sense. Why bring in FSU, Clemson or Miami? All 100% committed and all in your current TV footprint. I agree go get UVA, Syracuse, Virginia Tech or NC State. All new markets that are zero threat to the current brands. They will have to fight Big Ten for UVA and UNC.
Why would it be a joke?
Bi-coastal population centers, big rich alumni basis.
It's what the BIG did and it's paying off for them.
What do you want? More southern and florida schools? SEC already owns the south. Need to expand.
Interesting thought process. I have suggested that the SEC will add large universities in large cities, thereby bringing in more big metropolitan media markets. When MO was brought into the SEC, they picked up the St Louis and KC media markets. Taking TX and OK brought in the OK City, Dallas, and Austin media markets.
They will also have to be careful about stepping on the toes of current SEC members by taking in new schools that share markets with current SEC schools. For example, UK would certainly move to block UL or UC. SCar would move to block Clemson. FL probably wouldn't want FL St or UCF. And so forth.
Following that line of thought, I would expect the SEC to perhaps explore adding Houston (Houston), MD (Baltimore/DC), ND (Chicago), or Miami (Miami). I'm not suggesting all of these schools would immediately agree to join. But some would, and the SEC media footprint would be greatly expanded.
Now you’re talking my language.
Folks seem to be confused about the goal of realignment and expansion.
They think it’s about big name championship winning and traditional powers.
Its about money, eyeballs.
SEC didn’t bring in Texas for its history. Again, we got history and traditions. Texas, Aggies like you say bring in a huge and ever growing market.
Which is why I’ve also advocated for Baylor, Tech, and SMU. Texas kind of takes care of all that so don’t need them as much now.
In addition to stepping on toes, you also have to consider becoming too regional. In finance/investing terms, overexposed in one sector/market.
Another smart thing the BIG has done, is it expanded its footprint in big markets and didn’t really take any blows to its core group of members.
Rutgers, Maryland, Washington, UCLA, SC wont regularly beat up on people.
They’re okay programs good enough to get to bowls and expand that bowl pot.
Oregon is elite but Buckeyes, Wolverines, Penn State don’t really suffer any blows in recruiting or on the field.
So BIG got those markets, got that money, and Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, hell even IU all still got to playoffs. Buckeyes Wolverines won titles.
That is a master class in business maneuvering.
Reading these post it appears many don't really think conferences actually matter at all. Its big cities and eyeballs to them. Well, I don't agree with that at all. Schools in conferences should have some commonality to them. All sports programs are involved - not just football! Plus here is the real thing to consider - soon it will not matter which conference you are in as to TV revenue from the Networks. All will share but the Big 10 and SEC members will get "larger shares". 2031 needs to be looked at totally differently. TV will be a conglomeration of on air networks, cable networks, streaming services, etc. This will benefit all of the schools - some who get virtually nothing now will get something.
The Big 10 and SEC are most likely to expand to 20 or possibly 24 teams each when this happens. The SEC will ad 4 to 8 schools that will most likely come from Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Clemson, Florida State, Oklahoma State and another Texas Team. That will still keep the SEC an expanded regional conference. The leagues will operate more like professional football does now - as each of the conferences will have multiple divisions - with the divisions being geographically as logical as possible. If 24 teams probably two divisions with two sub divisions in each. The logistics will probably be playing every team in your division every year - or 11 games plus one out of conference rivalry game. As an example I could see Kentucky's division to be made up of NC, NC State, Virginia, Va. Tech, South Carolina, Clemson, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Florida and Florida State. Further I could see Kentucky Sub division being Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Florida and Florida State. These teams you would play every year - the other 3 pools of 6 you would play once every 3 years. You would play every team home and away in a six year period. Its not perfect - but when you go to 24 teams that happens. But also remember this - Texas A & M has been in the SEC 12 years and has never played in Lexington!
The playoffs will logically be 16 teams and the two super conferences will provide at least 12 of the 16 teams in the playoffs. This year's playoffs have laid the ground work for the 16 team expansion and thirst for that many teams. As to the playoff format - it will be seeded with the 8 highest teams getting a home game. The winners will advance to a similar set up as was held this year. It's really a done deal on all of this. The SEC and Big 10 have more than likely already been working on this and the other leagues and schools know it it coming. Whether is it "fair" or not doesn't matter. But NIL has driven it to this - as we all know College football is now not amateur - it is truly professional football now and the money requirements for that are much greater - only the big programs will be able to maintain or stay at this level and it will require huge chunks of money to do it. The smaller schools may not end up as bad as they think - as their operating cost will be much, much less!
Go Big Blue!
Who suggested conferences don't matter? I may have missed that. The conference is the party negotiating the TV contract. Therefore the conference is a principal. The conference improves its negotiating position by expanding its media market, i.e., by expansion into more large metropolitan areas. The conference is the entity that provides officiating, makes the rules, and herds its member schools into compliance with the TV contract.
Essentially yeah. Things change.
Football makes all the money for all the programs so if football sees fit to expand into wider ranging markets for more money the tennis team can fly across the country all expenses paid.
Would agree further expansion is inevitable. Which means regular season schedule and post expansion is inevitable. Again more money being the driving force.
Not sure about exactly copying pro model. CFB just has way too many teams.
Part of the reason we’ve barely seen Aggies and they’ve never been here in 12 years is the love affair with permanent matchups. Same for LSU, Auburn.
As much as I would hate for the schedule to get tougher. Playing those teams more would actually probably be better for UK and Lexington in terms of getting those big fan bases at home spending money as well as the better TV and overall hype.
If we have to play the traditional east teams every year that doesn’t allow for scheduling flexibility to play other teams.
Those markets are doing wonders for the ACC, it's members are getting roughly half of what the Big and SEC are.
Good thoughts.
I think A&M would block Houston. <100 miles. Plus two TX schools already.
FL is different. Only one school in huge state now. UCF is largest school in FL & 115 miles from Gainesville & closer to big media markets than FSU.
ND is #1 to me with following plus new but near geography.
UNC is #1 in a big state. I think FB interest there would pick up if in SEC.
Don't see MD moving from BIG. UVA is centrally located in a good size state even though not real close to DC. FL isn't close to the biggest FL metros & draw great.
I hear UC is blocking UK from B12.
Possibly. TX Longhorns are already in the SEC, and that's A&M's archival. I doubt they give a hoot about Houston because TX is a huge state and Houston is not really a center of gravity for A&M's media network. Whereas bringing the metropolitan Houston area into the SEC network means more money for current SEC schools. But there is a proximity issue and you could be right.
I don't have any doubt FL would try to block FL St. Both are state schools. Like UK-UL, FL is the higher level school and all out hatred is palpable between the two at all levels. FL might block UCF, another state school. Gator excuses regarding the circumstances notwithstanding, the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl was a painful wakeup call for FL's administration.
Things are changing in South Bend. If the SEC could pull it off, adding ND would be a major coup. The B10 would love to get ND but ND hasn't shown any interest in the B10. If the ACC continues to implode and independent schools continue to face disadvantages, the alternative of joining the SEC might start to look a lot more attractive.
SCar doesn't want UNC in the SEC, and they would get support from TN for sure and likely GA too. UNC basketball isn't what it once was, and UNC football just had to hire a 72 year old coach who, despite his Super Bowl success on Tom Brady's back, has never won a college football game or recruited a college player. No media benefit so not happening.
Probably right. Moving from the ACC to the B10 was resource-intensive for MD. But this would be a big win for the SEC, bringing in the DC and Baltimore media markets and giving the SEC a valuable footprint in the eastern seaboard market.
VA has no value to offer the SEC. Bad football, bad basketball, generally bad secondaries (unless you like Lacrosse or debate) and no significant media market. They aren't followed in DC or even in the Tidewater area, where VA Tech and UNC rule.
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