ESTONES6

The ACC at this point isn't breaking up. They have positioned themselves well.

Who said anything about the ACC breaking up?

We've been discussing possibility of FSU to the SEC.

So one school leaving the only major 14 school conference legitimizes ACC breakup discussions?

The ACC at this point isn't breaking up. They have positioned themselves well.

Who said anything about the ACC breaking up?

I don't see Maryland leaving the ACC for the B1G. Abandoning Duke in basketball wouldn't be worth the tradeoff for Penn State in football.

Well... first and foremost, the paycheck that Maryland will receive from the even split of revenue between all the schools in the Big 10 is enough to calm any concerns about leaving the ACC. Second, Maryland and Florida State were the 2 school leading the charge for the reduction of the buy out fee for leaving the ACC. Third, the Big Ten and the ACC have the early season Big 10/ACC Basketball Challenge every year. I believe 2011 is the last year for the Mens, but is expected to be picked up again for at least 4 more years. Not only that, the basketball season is so much longer than football, that you can reserve 1 or 2 nights for the Duke and UNC games. So they aren't really giving up Duke at all. Finally, it wouldn't JUST be Penn State... it would probably Penn State AND Ohio State every year, a rotation of Wisconsin, Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State... that's pretty appealing to Maryland.

"Settling" for the premier football conference in the country? Mizzou might be one of those schools that still has the far-fetched notion that college athletics has the slightest thing to do with academics.

That's how I look at it. I almost wish the SEC doesn't accept them now.

Evidently your wish has been granted.

Wow. That is pretty interesting. I hope the Big 10 doesn't sit back and let Mizzou get away. I hope the Big 10 extends invites to Missouri AND Maryland. Missouri for the football and basketball, Maryland for the markets.

"Settling" for the premier football conference in the country? Mizzou might be one of those schools that still has the far-fetched notion that college athletics has the slightest thing to do with academics.

That's how I look at it. I almost wish the SEC doesn't accept them now.

That's what the article says. That's what the Mizzou official said. I think they recognize the Big 10 is a better academic fit, they are a better basketball conference, and when it comes to football, they could be contenders in the Big 10, where in the SEC, they probably are just a second tier team.

Mizzou wants the Big 10... will settle for SEC: http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7063633/missouri-tigers-hope-join-sec-had-wanted-big-ten-invite-most

Also, I am watching the Big 10 network right now. I live in Florida. Don't need a conference team in your state to have a conference network in your state.

The controlling issue here is how the Big 10 has their television contract negotiated. The Big 10 receives 70% profit from a viewer in a state that contains a Big 10 School. On the other hand, the Big 10 only receives 30% profit from a viewer in a state that does NOT contain a Big 10 School. So depending on how the SEC structures their new TV contracts, there could be quiet a bit more money changing hands.

There are 2 figures that need to be compared when looking at the benefits of Mizzou or Florida State. The first is the number of new households INSIDE of Missouri that will be tuning in the SEC Network to watch a non-Missouri game. The second is the number of viewers OUTSIDE of Missouri that will be tuning in to watch a Missouri game. When is comes to Florida State, the first number you look at is how many viewers inside the state of Florida that will be tuning in to watch a non-Florida State game. The second number (and by all accounts, the deal breaker) is the number of viewers that will tune in OUTSIDE of Florida to watch a Florida State game.

Nationally speaking, you are going to have more kids from Ohio, California, Utah, etc. tuning in to the SEC Network to watch Florida State play that you are to watch Missouri play. Now, restricting the spectrum to JUST Missouri and Florida... will more people INSIDE of Missouri tune in to watch Mizzo play than people INSIDE of Florida tune in to watch FSU?

Look at LeBron James. Ohio kid, born and raised. While in Cleveland he did do a lot with tOSU. However, he will tell you his favorite team is FSU.

That's the key that people are forgetting. Florida State brings in a National following. It's not just like Mizzou who brings in a state and hopefully 2 major cities (I'm not talking about alumni spread across the country, I'm talking about College Football and College Basketball fans across the U.S.). Florida State brings in a National following. That impact can never be over estimated.

Bringing in Texas A&M to the SEC is much like Nebraska's move to the Big 10... it was just a perfect fit as far as footprint, geographic, competitiveness, market, and large fan base. However, unlike Nebraska they ARE the odd-numbered school. I think it is naive to think that the SEC is going to remain at 13. With the money just sitting out there, I don't see it happening.

I forget who brought up the point, by Maryland and Florida State were the front runners to reduce the ACC buyout fee. Both schools have been tied to larger, better conferences. I think when it comes to conference realignment, one school - in this case, Florida - has less of a say so than in the past. Again, none of these conferences want to be left in the cold. So if 10 or 11 SEC schools say yes, bring in Florida State, bring their 2 National Titles, bring their 2 Heisman Winners, bring there 33 All-Americans, bring their National fan base... even if it pisses off 1 or 2 schools.

Maryland really intrigues me. I think if the Big 10 comes knocking, they're as good as gone. I am just interested to see Maryland feels any of the Oregon-effect... crazy new uniforms to attract players that otherwise wouldn't become a Terrapin. By no means do I think Maryland can become what Oregon is, a top 10 team regularly, but could Maryland become a top 25 team in football? Could it cause a resurgence in their basketball program?

There are so many angles to think about... I love it.

There is really an interesting dynamic at play here. I think all these conferences are getting their ducks in a row, in the case that there is some sort of landslide realignment coming. But it seems like no conference wants to be the first one to really cause the seismic shift. I mean, think about it... The Big 10 brought in Nebraska, while Rutgers and Mizzou were dying to get in to the Big 10 as well. The SEC is bringing in Texas A&M when Clemson and West Virginia would love to join. The Pac 12 just brought in second or third tier schools with Colorado and Houston... when more recently, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech where interested in joining the Pac 12.

When did the Pac12 bring in Houston?

Bleh. I meant Utah. I mix those up, regularly.

Cant link anything so take it for what it's worth. Word around Tallahassee is that the SEC is taking their time but FSU is a done deal. West Virginia is also likely.

Can't link anything? That's a stretch then... especially with everything we have heard about the ACC upping their buyout fee. Everything that is showing up on Google results is from August of 2011... some as early as November of 2010. I wouldn't say this is a done deal. It looks like more hear-say.

If this is true, I'm assuming they are taking Mizzou as the 16th member if Florida State is done and West Virginia is likely?

Remember. The ACC buyout hike was cut from $34 million to $20 million at the insistence of Florida State (and Maryland)

Oh Oh. I thought the buyout fee was RAISED from $20 million to $34 million. I didn't realize is was actually decreased. I guess this rumor could have some weight. It was rumored before that the Big 10 is enthralled with getting into the Baltimore and Washington DC markets.

All of these rumors are so great and its so much fun, but its hard for me to get excited about it because for every 1 rumor that actually comes to fruition, there are 25 rumors, quoting some sort of source, that never materializes.

There is really an interesting dynamic at play here. I think all these conferences are getting their ducks in a row, in the case that there is some sort of landslide realignment coming. But it seems like no conference wants to be the first one to really cause the seismic shift. I mean, think about it... The Big 10 brought in Nebraska, while Rutgers and Mizzou were dying to get in to the Big 10 as well. The SEC is bringing in Texas A&M when Clemson and West Virginia would love to join. The Pac 12 just brought in second or third tier schools with Colorado and Houston... when more recently, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech where interested in joining the Pac 12.

I honestly thing that no conference wants to be left out in the cold when realignment really jumps off... but no conference wants to be the one responsible for changing the college landscape.

Cant link anything so take it for what it's worth. Word around Tallahassee is that the SEC is taking their time but FSU is a done deal. West Virginia is also likely.

Can't link anything? That's a stretch then... especially with everything we have heard about the ACC upping their buyout fee. Everything that is showing up on Google results is from August of 2011... some as early as November of 2010. I wouldn't say this is a done deal. It looks like more hear-say.

If this is true, I'm assuming they are taking Mizzou as the 16th member if Florida State is done and West Virginia is likely?

Missouri BoC authorize exploration of conference alignment. Looks like they could be heading to the SEC.

Keeping my fingers crossed that the Big 10 still has a shot at them.

Double Post... Don't care.

Big XII voting to share revenue from Tier I and Tier II TV deals. Tier III (Longhorn Network) revenue would be reserved to the individual school, only. This could stabilize and save the Big XII. http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7054421/big-12-set-share-national-regional-tv-money

Yeah, people need to relax. If BayouJim has a source that is giving him some good information and some bogus information... who cares? Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is a either a rumor or hear-say... and it a lot of cases, both. There has been so much flying that its impossible to keep up with everything.

Just look at the 2 major changes, Nebraska and Texas A&M. When rumors initially broke about Nebraska joining the Big 10 (along with Notre Dame, Rutgers, and Mizzou receiving invites), didn't the Big 10 come out and say oh no, we are happy with 11, we are still 8-12 months away from investigating expansion. Then within weeks, Nebraska was officially part of the Big 10. Same with Texas A&M. Rumors broke that they were headed to the SEC with 3 other schools getting invites (Miami, Clemson, and Florida State). The SEC came out and said how they aren't interested in expanding and they are happy with 12, blah blah blah. Then I think with in 10 days, A&M got officially invited and accepted into the SEC.

Everything on an ONLINE forum needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Everything is heard from someone else who knows a guy, who is friends with a kid, who goes to school in the same city as the Conference Commissioner's brother's kid. I love speculating and thinking of all the possibilities, the good moves, the bad moves, etc. Its a lot of fun, but... its ALL rumors until the School/Conference announce they are headed to a new Conference.

Not sure if that's a rhetorical question, so I'm going to answer it. I think it is worth it to those schools. For Texas A&M, they move from being a second-tier team in the Big XII to getting out of the shadow of UT and becoming a second-tier team in the SEC. Only two other conferences make more revenue based on tv contracts than the SEC and that's the Pac-12 and the Big Ten and the SEC has yet to renegotiate their new TV contract. If WVU were to join the SEC, they are a top tier team in the east depending on Florida and Georgia. Missouri is like A&M, if they come over to the west, they'll never beat out the likes of Alabama or LSU consistenly, but they have the opportunity to be in the top 5.

In the end, I think it's all worth it for these teams. To me, Texas A&M has the most to benefit from and they realized it, hence why they jumped. Teams like Missouri aren't really sure. They're asking themselves the same question you're asking right now and that's why they haven't jumped yet.

Got any updates for us?

To be honest... I'm not sure the major football conferences have the upper hand in all this realignment. As I was saying with the Big East and ACC expansion, it may be hard to convince the "solid" football programs to leave the ACC, Big East, or Big 12 and join the more dominant football conferences like the Pac 12, Big 10 and SEC. Schools have to weigh the option of being a power house school in a mediocre conference, or a mediocre school in a power house conference.

When it comes to Nebraska, I think they saw that they can be a power house school in a power house conference (I'm not saying the Big 10 is the best football conference, but they are certainty top 3 of the 6 major conferences). When it comes to Texas A&M, Mizzou, and West Virginia joining the SEC, they know they won't run with the big dogs, they will be the second tier of good/solid teams in the SEC. Now, is that benefit and revenue sharing worth it?

More Big East ineptitude: Conference not targeting schools in states that already have a Big East representative. Rules out Temple, UCF, Army, and Houston (if TCU stays).

I don't really see how that is ineptitude. I believe the Big 10's expansion follow the same guidelines because of the way the Big 10 Network and other TV deals have worked out. Just because a school is in the same state, doesn't mean they need to be in the same conference. I guess there is the idea of natural rivalry and what not, but if they had a rivalry BEFORE the merging of conferences, I'm sure they will have a rivalry AFTER the merging of conferences. If they didn't have a rivalry before then really its going to become something that is just forced. Its not like Cincinnati joining the Big 10 would make a huge marquee match up/future legendary rivalry just because they are in the same conference.

The problem is that if the Big East wants to retain AQ status past 2014, they're already kind of hurting for programs to add. All this does is cut them off from some of the better geographically coherent teams. It might also piss off some of your remaining football schools enough that they pull the plug on staying in.

They will have to drop below 10 teams to lose there AQ status, I think. Even then, I don't think the NCAA will be quick to make that decision. I think the NCAA is along for the ride just as much as the fan bases and the non-big name schools.

I think that both the schools and the conferences are scared of going to 4 super conferences. I think they are scared of breaking from the status quo as far as Bowl Games go, as far as sharing profits goes, as far as how the BCS runs things, etc. I think on the surface, expanding is a great idea... hit new markets, drive up the cost of TV deals, tickets prices increase, etc. But when they delve in deeper, I think there is something holding all these schools and conferences back. There is a reason why only 4 schools have changed conferences, despite new rumors every other day.

The Big East has to pray that more schools don't bolt. They need to convince school that being a power house in a crap football conferences is better than being a mediocre team in a football power conference.

More Big East ineptitude: Conference not targeting schools in states that already have a Big East representative. Rules out Temple, UCF, Army, and Houston (if TCU stays).

I don't really see how that is ineptitude. I believe the Big 10's expansion follow the same guidelines because of the way the Big 10 Network and other TV deals have worked out. Just because a school is in the same state, doesn't mean they need to be in the same conference. I guess there is the idea of natural rivalry and what not, but if they had a rivalry BEFORE the merging of conferences, I'm sure they will have a rivalry AFTER the merging of conferences. If they didn't have a rivalry before then really its going to become something that is just forced. Its not like Cincinnati joining the Big 10 would make a huge marquee match up/future legendary rivalry just because they are in the same conference.

Personally, I like it better when schools in the same State are in difference conferences. For the most part, those schools within the same State have some sort of rivalry already... so with them being in difference conferences, it provides more cross over for comparing conferences and competition.

But back to the expansion... the Big 10 gets something like 70% of the TV profit from viewers inside a State that contains a Big 10 school. Likewise, they only get 30% profit from viewers in state where there is NOT a Big 10 school. I'm guessing the ACC has, or is pushing to have, this same stipulation in its next TV/Network contract. It makes sense. They are anticipating accessing markets that they don't already have access to.

Just curious. I know when the initial rumors broke about two weeks ago, it was that the SEC had extended an invite to Texas A&M, Clemson, Florida State, and Miami. It is reminiscent of last year when the Big 10 expansion rumors broke. Multiple sources were stating that Nebraska, Mizzou, Notre Dame and Rutgers all received Big 10 invites. In the end, Nebraska was the only school that jumped. Now with the SEC, it seems Texas A&M is the only school that has jumped to this point.

I'm just trying to get a better understanding because there seems to be a lot of similarities with every new expansion story.

Is Clemson, Florida State, or Miami still on the table for the potential 14th team to join the SEC? Or is it Mizzou or bust.

From what I'm reading on Twitter, looks like BYU, Cincy, Louisville, Weat Virginia and TCU may have offers to join the Big XII. Though it also says that while some of the conference schools want TCU, the Texas schools, led by UT, don't. BYU and Louisville appear to be the most discussed schools. There's a chance they could add to get 12, or just 10 for now an add more later. Mizzou to the SEC appears to still be very much in play as well.

I just don't know how reliable Twitter is at this point. There have been rumors from all over Twitter that people quote and claim to be credible sources. Until more established websites or organizations produce some sort of story on it or have some sort of confirmation from the higher-ups within the school in question, then it is pretty much hear-say.

Some of the guys I follow that report on the Big XII are a lot more reliable than espn. Espn reported that OU's and Mizzou's press conferences last week were both committing to the Big XII. But Mizzou did no such thing. They said they weren't committing to anything and would continue to look at was best for the school. Said the SEC or any other conference was not out of the question. ESPN just took OU's press conference and automatically assumed it applied to everyone without following up or checking on anything else. There were a number of different people on Twitter, who were AT the Mizzou press conference, tweeting what was actually going on. So for now, I'll look to those guys for updates.

This is exactly how I feel on the whole thing. The person that I've been talking with that's close to the Big XII situation has been a lot more accurate than anything ESPN's reported on. ESPN has been too busy making assumptions or wishful thinking in their reporting.

What conference? The Big East is about decimated anyway. The Big XII is giving them a chance to save themselves before they wind up in Conference USA or worse.

Oh I know and I understand what the Big XII is doing. I was just being facetious.

Who have you been talking to on Twitter regarding the Big XII?

I don't use Twitter. A family friend has been the one keeping me up to date on everything. I don't know his exact ties to the Big XII, but all his information has been pretty accurate. He's the one that told me the exact day A&M was leaving the Big XII, the whole Oklahoma/Texas, and then told me Missouri's situation 12 hours before ESPN reported on them becoming the SEC's 14th team.

So is it becoming increasingly probable that Mizzou is going to the SEC with Texas A&M?

...if not with them, but shortly thereafter.

From what I'm reading on Twitter, looks like BYU, Cincy, Louisville, Weat Virginia and TCU may have offers to join the Big XII. Though it also says that while some of the conference schools want TCU, the Texas schools, led by UT, don't. BYU and Louisville appear to be the most discussed schools. There's a chance they could add to get 12, or just 10 for now an add more later. Mizzou to the SEC appears to still be very much in play as well.

I just don't know how reliable Twitter is at this point. There have been rumors from all over Twitter that people quote and claim to be credible sources. Until more established websites or organizations produce some sort of story on it or have some sort of confirmation from the higher-ups within the school in question, then it is pretty much hear-say.

Breaking News: SEC: Texas A&M to join in July 2012

That was a given. No one was sure WHEN it would happen, but everyone knew it WOULD happen. The real Breaking News is going to be who joins them to make 14. I don't think the SEC is trying to stay at 13 teams, at least not for long.

I don't think this is the big domino though. The big domino is going to be the school that decides to jump ship and be the 14th member in the SEC. Once the 14th school is confirmed, or at least unofficially officially confirmed, then there will be a lot more shuffling and maneuvering.

I see my board wide shun of Spleen isnt cathcing on, I really wish it would

Anything other than football is completely irrelevant in conference realignment

Basketball isn't COMPLETELY irrelevant... and neither is Academics to a couple of the conferences. But they are about as close to completely irrelevant as something could possibly be.