RE: B12 Expansion Model
I actually agree with esayem. The ACC is now two conferences, the old ACC less Maryland (8 schools) and 7 old Big East schools. It was a slow motion absorption rather than a quick one like the Big-12 when it merged the SWC that Texas wanted to bring with them (Basically Texas wanted to replace Rice, Houston, SMU and TCU with the Oklahoma schools, since the Texas politicos wouldn't let them join the Pac-10 with A&M going to the SEC). So the ACC is where they never wanted to be. And nobody will change much because the CCGs are in place as is. No incentive.
Now back to the B12. This thread, like so many others, quickly degenerates into a bunch of Houston and some UCF fans (here and there a USF or Cincy fan) clamoring to be let into the B12 as it is constituted now. But no go. JRsec gave an excellent OP in the P5 forum that basically showed that only OU and Texas bring value to other P5 conferences above their current medium. And we should take that much more seriously. Again no incentive.
My general look at 2025 is that the P12 will partially resolve their network and media revenue problems to be basically revenue neutral move for a B12 school, and pretty much the same with the ACC and their network (it will help but not like the B1G or SEC ... nobody will match them). Only two schools can initiate movement, and they are OU and Texas. And the only way a new school gets in the B12 is if OU or Texas move.
So lets look at that scenario with JRsec's valuations in mind. It is generally viewed that it all comes down to OU. If they decide to stay nothing happens in 2025. If they move, taking a friend (B1G with say KU or SEC with oSu), then the B12 will need 2 schools to keep 10 and a CCG. And that is all the more watering down they'd take. In this scenario, no Texas schools leave, so no new Texas schools would be invited (sorry Houston). Texas is still there, so academic mediocrity wont do (sorry Memphis, ECU), nor will having LGBT issues be accepted (sorry BYU). Who does that leave? Colorado State, Cincy, UConn, USF, UCF, Tulane. UConn has been adrift under Susan Herbst, and they are facing big budget cutting with the old Big East money drying up; barring a major improvement in leadership they will be passed over yet again in realignment. Tulane would be a shoe-in if they were good at Football and strong in Basketball, but they aren't, so they drift down the list. That leaves four, the Florida twins, Cincy and CSU. Honestly CSU and one of the Florida schools make the most sense, but Cincy is probably the best all around program - between the Florida programs USF would be preferred if they were roughly equal, as they have much stronger research plus a Med school.
Now should Texas also bolt, say to the P12 with Texas Tech (and/or TCU), then the parameters open up. BYU concerns fall away, and there are suddenly openings for Texas schools like Houston and even SMU. While the chances for UCF and even Houston rise to above 90%, this would no longer be the B12 their fans are dreaming of. It would still be an upgrade, as you would be trading ECU, Tulsa, Memphis and Temple for Iowa State, Baylor, West Virginia, and K State.
Whatever. There will be another variant on this thread in a couple weeks and all this will be repeated.
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