2021 Miscellaneous College Football Thread

[madbad2000]

You have to be careful on sources right now because there is a lot of fanboy video game proposals out there. I saw one where the Big 12 should poach Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio State, etc to build a Super conference. I've seen articles where the ACC would supposedly poach from the SEC. I've seen where the Big Ten should poach Texas A&M and Missouri from the SEC because they are upset at OU and UT from their Big 12 days and don't want to be in a league with them. That has more merit than the other garbage floating around at least. There is a lot floating out there and nothing really takes shape until the OU and UT domino's fall. Part of me wants to see OU and UT get rejected by SEC and then come over to the Big Ten. Makes the West division a lot more respectable with the East and opens up Texas market for TV and recruiting. I also wouldnt hate seeing a power play to secure down the East coast with UNC, Clemson, GA Tech and/or FSU. Lots of what ifs and speculation right now which is both fun and frustrating.

[young guns]

According to this article from Yahoo, the SEC is trying to poach Michigan and Ohio State in route to forming a 20-team mega conference.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/latest-conference-realignment-rumor-states-123925223.html

I feel like 4 super conferences makes sense on a certain level, but a 20 team mega conference makes no sense to me. At that point you just have 2 conferences mascarading as 1.

[homer]

"Per Rittenberg, the Big Ten is only interested in adding schools from the Association of American Universities (AAU). Per the AAU’s website, the only Big 12 teams included in that group of schools are Iowa State and Kansas. Rittenberg also pointed out that the Big Ten would have interest in Pac-12 schools that are AAU members, such as California, Washington and others, and that Notre Dame, while not included, would be an exception to the requirement."

[JosephC]

"Per Rittenberg, the Big Ten is only interested in adding schools from the Association of American Universities (AAU). Per the AAU’s website, the only Big 12 teams included in that group of schools are Iowa State and Kansas. Rittenberg also pointed out that the Big Ten would have interest in Pac-12 schools that are AAU members, such as California, Washington and others, and that Notre Dame, while not included, would be an exception to the requirement."

 

I'm not denying the AAU thing isn't a factor because it definitely is. Parts of Madison's faculty had a big problem when Nebraska was added because Nebraska is not an AAU school. I can't remember the details, but Nebraska countered this by arguing that data from their medical school is not counted with the rest of Nebraska's data because it's operated separately, but if it wasn't then Nebraska would be eligible for the AAU. Again, can't remember the details, but there was a big stink about it in Madison.

 

Just kind of makes one sit back and just shake their head. Isn't the entire mindset of UW not to be "exclusive?" And what beats all is that it all comes down to football programs. Exactly what is there about Ohio State and Michigan State's football programs that screams "highest academic standards." Pretentious nonsense.

 

I just can't figure out what the motivation would be for the Big 10 to add 2 more schools unless those schools would be bringing in considerable revenue. If I'm sitting in Chris McIntosh's chair...right now I am getting 1/14 of the Big 10's shared revenue. If Kansas and Iowa State are added, now I get 1/16th of the shared revenue and I just don't see that being a reasonable deal for the rest of the Big 10. At least Kansas brings the Kansas City market, but Iowa State?

[nodakfan17]

I think Nebraska was an AAU member when they were admitted to the Big Ten, but they lost their AAU status when the organization changed its metrics to exclude USDA-funded agricultural research. The separate med school also hurts their ranking.

[owbc]

I find it unlikely that the Big Ten would benefit from scooping up the remains of the Big 12. There are no other schools worth adding.

[paul253]

Here we go again.

 

Texas and Oklahoma are goners from the Big 12 and are likely headed to the SEC. That means the Big 12 may cease to exist as there are no longer any big time programs in the conference to help increase tv and other revenue. I can see them trying to add a Houston or a BYU but other schools may bail first.

 

Personally, I’m surprised Texas wants to join the SEC. Most SEC schools are not exactly academic heavyweights like Texas is. And many have made it fairly clear that their number one priority is winning football games.

 

I’m also surprised the Big 10 isn’t making a hard push for Texas. It’d be a huge addition to the Big 10. Plus Texas’ academics are much more on par with Big 10 schools then SEC schools. If they do expand the only realistic possibilities seems like Kansas and Iowa St, which is hardly a game changer. I don’t think Notre Dame will join the Big 10. They are too full of themselves. Maybe they form some of alliance with the Pac12 but who knows what that might look like.

 

Ultimately I think Texas and Oklahoma leaving for the SEC is terrible for college football. There was finally some stability but clearly money is more important that tradition and loyalty.

[MrTPlush]

Thought I saw a report the Big Ten doesn't really want to expand right now. Kansas and Iowa State would be the only real options from the Big 12 if they are determined to get AAU schools. Edited July 27, 2021 by MrTPlush

[xisxisxis]

Ultimately I think Texas and Oklahoma leaving for the SEC is terrible for college football. There was finally some stability but clearly money is more important that tradition and loyalty.

Operating a University is big business. Waive $10M in front of a University administrator and they would do almost anything to get it. You should see some of the ridiculous stuff that goes on to prostitute for donations. Public Universities are better than Private since they have some oversight, but when it comes to getting revenue and reducing the states cost (or getting more from the same $) then short of drug dealing, most activities are acceptable. Tradition has no dollar value. Loyalty has no dollar value.

[MrTPlush]

Money is exactly why the Big Ten took Maryland and Rutgers. Garbage for competition...buy hey, lots of money.

[PeaveyFury]

Maryland has been a plus for basketball at least. You’d have to consciously choose b-ball over football if you’re adding Kansas and the like as well.

[owbc]

It's all about football TV ratings. Rutgers was delivering strong ratings and an upward trajectory prior to joining the Big Ten, but I think it would be fair to say that neither Rutgers nor Maryland has delivered the desired boost to the conference. If they had to do it again I don't think either would have been added. I can only imagine what the Big Ten athletic directors are saying to the prospect of further diluting the revenue pool Kansas and Iowa State. It's gotta be a firm NO.

[MrTPlush]

I think Kansas could make some sense. They still have pretty good revenue without a relevant football team at the moment. I don't try to understand revenue numbers people post on Twitter...but it seems they wouldn't dilute the revenue. They aren't a Oklahoma or Texas, but the Big Ten ain't getting that. The most lucrative is probably if they wanted to dive far into the west coast, but I have a hard time seeing the Big Ten go that route. If that isn't an option and they have a heavy preference to target AAU schools it becomes slim pickings.

 

Iowa State though...yah that probably does not make much sense. It isn't a new market, their revenue isn't impressive, and just doesn't seems like a team the Big Ten typically would want to target.

[nodakfan17]

I have a feeling that if the Big Ten wanted Iowa State, Iowa State would have been in the Big Ten a long time ago.

 

Kansas, though … that’s interesting.

[tmwiese55]

This will all be interesting to see how it shakes out. I think in past discussions of playoffs and stuff on here I mentioned the likelihood of 4 conferences eventually, didn't expect the ball to roll this quickly though.

 

For the B1G. IA state makes the most sense geographically and with rivals, etc. They're also good at both sports, but brings no prestige or TV aspects. Kansas football is garbage. OK St is good at both but I don't think fit the academics. Some of the ACC programs would be more appealing, especially UNC, but don't fit geographically. UNC and UVA would probably the dream adds, outside of ND.

 

Thing to note is from what I understand if ND joins a conference it basically has to be the ACC, but they do have unlimited money so you never know how they can finagle things. If you managed to get the dream add in ND then you can take a blah one like IA St. It also helps balance the divisions with ND joining us, moving Purdue over. But knowing ND, they'd demand to be with OSU/MI for the marquee aspects. Gonna be a crazy few months.

[paul253]

I wonder if the Big 10 would consider trying to grab Missouri. They make geographic sense, being in two fairly large tv markets and hold their own in football and basketball. And they meet the AAU requirement. Missouri and Kansas wouldn’t be terrible. I have a feeling Kansas football might improve a bit in the coming years. They just hired Lance Leipold who dominated at Whitewater and helped turn Buffalo around.

 

The schools I really want them make a run at though are Virginia and North Carolina. If UNC won’t go without to Duke then what the heck, grab Duke too. That would be an absolute coup for basketball.

[MrTPlush]

Some ACC teams make sense, but from my understanding there would be so many roadblocks to make it work for them to leave the ACC it is pretty unlikely.

 

And Notre Dame is not happening.

[owbc]

Are Texas and Oklahoma fans happy about potentially joining the ACC? Do Texas A&M fans like losing to Alabama every year?

 

Texas is pretty awful at football, I guess maybe going to the SEC would help with recruiting? And Oklahoma has rode some questionable teams to an 0-4 record in the playoff semifinal thanks to a relatively soft schedule in the Big 12. As a Big Ten fan I look forward to these teams beating each other up in the regular season, although I'm sure all of this is being done under the assumption that more than 4 teams will be in the playoff by the time 2025 rolls around.

[tmwiese55]

Texas already recruits through the roof and can't win in a so-so conference so I don't think this helps much. They get the pick of the litter in TX and screw it up.

 

Best I can tell the logic for both of them is SEC will be more money combined with the Big12 is prone to being snubbed for the CFP due being weak. And just basically they can tell Big 12 and Pac 10 are considered the second class conference in football and are trying to get ahead of the problem and see the future of the 4 conf situation and would prefer to get those spots in SEC before someone else does. Maybe long term they're right. Short term, I'm with you in that I'd rather keep winning in the Big 12, not like OU doesn't make the playoffs a lot, than go into the SEC juggernaut. Compare to to WI, would you rather keep winning the B1G West or go to the East and have 2-3 losses per year.

 

I guess I've heard some rumbling about them podding the SEC into 4 team groups so they might avoid the current SEC West ridiculousness and get a TX, OU, AM, Mizz or Ark type grouping which isn't too bad other than years were you get matched vs the Bama/Auburn/LSU? pod. Though if you do it geographically LSU/Bama should be split.

[Jimbo]

If all this happens, then my interest in college athletics across the board will be pretty much done. It's been on the decline the last few years, especially after Rutgers and Maryland joined the B1G.

 

Thursday after work I'll be hanging out at an alumni wing-ding in the Deer District. If it morphs into a Worship at the Temple of Barry Alvarez, I'm outta there. Go for a run or bike ride instead.

[MrTPlush]

I am sure fans aren't happy if they move to the SEC...but it is about money. Oklahoma would rather have a big check versus being a fringe playoff team every year. Texas...not sure it matters since they aren't really good at football/basketball lately anyway.

 

I am sure current SEC teams aren't looking forward to the potential for another loss...but again, tens of millions can wipe away the tears real fast.

[MrTPlush]

Are Texas and Oklahoma fans happy about potentially joining the ACC? Do Texas A&M fans like losing to Alabama every year?

 

Texas is pretty awful at football, I guess maybe going to the SEC would help with recruiting? And Oklahoma has rode some questionable teams to an 0-4 record in the playoff semifinal thanks to a relatively soft schedule in the Big 12. As a Big Ten fan I look forward to these teams beating each other up in the regular season, although I'm sure all of this is being done under the assumption that more than 4 teams will be in the playoff by the time 2025 rolls around.

 

It is expected both teams will pay the $70mil+ to leave the Big 12 and start in the SEC next year.

[owbc]

At the end of the day it does benefit the fans to have all of the good football teams in the same conference.

 

Wisconsin has only played a handful of interesting regular season home games since being moved to the B10 West. Attendance has already suffered a bit and I can't imagine the prospects for retaining season ticket holders are very good if an interesting schedule is not offered. Fortunately this year is a bit of an exception with Penn State, Michigan, and Iowa all at home. 2022 is awful though. And the interesting non-conference games are always at neutral sites now.

[tmwiese55]

Maybe this at least leads to the SEC playing 9 game schedules. I'd hope they eliminate the 1AA games they're allowed now, but I'm skeptical of that as I think they'll still want that basically free bye week.

[paul253]

Maybe this at least leads to the SEC playing 9 game schedules. I'd hope they eliminate the 1AA games they're allowed now, but I'm skeptical of that as I think they'll still want that basically free bye week

 

My guess is that Alabama plays Texas and Oklahoma about once a decade. They don’t want all their best teams knocking each other off.