(02-17-2022 01:32 PM)Win5002 Wrote: I think the B1G already crapped the bed when they let the SEC secure UT & OU. The B1G should have done everything to get those two, including letting them bring any two partners those two wanted to come to the league.
They were tv blue bloods and controlled the all important recruiting access to Texas that the B1G dearly needed. The SEC simply controls too many recruiting grounds. UT & OU at least would have planted the B1G in the Dallas Fort Worth area and probably could have added someone to include the Houston area.
The two remaining options to increase recruiting is adding California access or adding NC & Va. NC & Va. are nice recruiting grounds but pale in comparison to Texas.
I think its a losing battle now.
The SEC had a better plan. They're called LSU, TAMU, Arky, Mizzou, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Plus they save on travel over the long run.
The bigger problem for the B1G is that it is a conference that is very content in allowing the "perfect" to be the enemy of the "good", passing up opportunities to add in new fanbases, geographical areas and regional brands because they were not "perfect fits". They've chased after the Domers for years, when any discerning person understands that they'd be constantly rejected. The push East was panned by traditional fans because they were not "home run adds", even though it made money for the conference.
Meanwhile, the SEC's pitch is much simpler: they had natural recruiting base to sustain multiple programs; the adds have to enhance the academic reputation but not necessarily have to be elite level; once a new program is added they're welcomed in as if they were already members of the family.
On the "Alliance" thing: that should have been a prelude to a partial merger of conferences that share a vision for college sports. Instead, it looks to be a temporary arrangement over a conflict about playoff expansion, with no indication that it would be much deeper than that. The only way we can compete with the SEC is through going national. Unfortunately, I'm in the minority on this point.