Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com

Likely just a courtesy considering how successful they've been, but it does beg the question how viable the Huskies could be to a P5 conference given their proximity to Chicago. They are one of 17 schools getting a formal interview with Bob Bowlsby.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/st ... -expansion" target="_blank

That's interesting...

I would have to think that Cincy, Houston, BYU, Col St and Boise St are the upper tier in that group as far as getting an invite to join the Big 12. But it is interesting to see who is getting interviewed. Surprised Toledo isn't on that list. Oh yeah, they are joining the Big East, I almost forgot.

The more interesting question is whether the AAC would look to the MAC to backfill for programs it loses to the Big 12.

On the one hand, assuming Cincinnati leaves for the Big 12, that wouldn't leave a AAC member anywhere near a MAC school. The closest AAC schools would be Connecticut, Temple, East Carolina, Memphis, or Tulsa, depending on the school.

In other words, joining that league sounds like an expensive proposition, and I don't think it is generating the kind of revenue that would offset the cost. (But that's just a hunch.)

It seems to me the AAC would be better off picking schools closer to its footprint. Examples that come to mind include Massachusetts and Southern Mississippi. That said, if Northern Illinois is geting a courtesy interview from the Big 12, maybe the AAC really would give them a look.

I realize they play pretty good football in the AAC. But I can't imagine getting very excited about a league where your nearest rival is Memphis or East Carolina.

I'm optimistic that NIU could field a competitive football team in the Big 12, but what about their other sports? Or will no one care and only football will matter?

NIU has about the same chance of getting into the Big 12 as Rutgers has of getting into the Big 10.

Oh wait ....

1. They are getting a video interview because they applied for membership, they were not asked.

2. The Big 12 is NOT expanding.

3. They are delusional, there is zero chance of them being invited.

4. NIU doesn't bring in the Chicago market. Chicago is a pro town. Northwestern has a tough time getting a sellout when they play Ohio State or Michigan, let alone a school 50 miles away.

5. Remember when Northern left the MAC to be a big time independent? They came crawling back.

MACGuy is correct ...

1. Big XII WANTS to expand but ESPN/Fox write the checks and there ZERO names on that list that excite anyone to write $20M+ checks annually for tv rights.

2. Original plan was to expand by four schools, but tv push back was strong enough they are hoping to expand by 2 now. In that case, Cincinnati and BYU would be the leaders in the clubhouse, but Texas (which inexplicably has majority share of tv money) is throwing their weight behind Houston.

3. Ultimate answer in all of this is very likely contraction not expansion. It's rather ridiculous that you have over half of the teams in a particular division that basically have zero chance at competing for that division's national championship. Personally, I would like to see a Power 4 model (down from 5) and call it 1-A or whatever you will, but separate the MACs, AACs, MWC, Big East, etc ... of the world in a division where they can better compete with one another.

3A. The issue with that model is ... Contraction would likely come from the Big XII. Texas, Oklahoma and to a lesser extent Kansas would be the prizes.

The trouble is Kansas St and Oklahoma St, academically, are regarded as well funded JUCOs by the rest of the Power 5. Their academics don't match up. Complicating matters is the widely held notion that if you want Oklahoma or Kansas, the State version also comes along bc of their state legislatures and funding models.

And no (current) Power 5 conference is in a big hurry to add women's softball and men's tennis stops in Ames, Manhattan and Lubbock.

Can you contract part of a conference and leave the others to fend for themselves or relegate them to the next (1-A division)?

OptionQB wrote:MACGuy is correct ...

1. Big XII WANTS to expand but ESPN/Fox write the checks and there ZERO names on that list that excite anyone to write $20M+ checks annually for tv rights.

2. Original plan was to expand by four schools, but tv push back was strong enough they are hoping to expand by 2 now. In that case, Cincinnati and BYU would be the leaders in the clubhouse, but Texas (which inexplicably has majority share of tv money) is throwing their weight behind Houston.

3. Ultimate answer in all of this is very likely contraction not expansion. It's rather ridiculous that you have over half of the teams in a particular division that basically have zero chance at competing for that division's national championship. Personally, I would like to see a Power 4 model (down from 5) and call it 1-A or whatever you will, but separate the MACs, AACs, MWC, Big East, etc ... of the world in a division where they can better compete with one another.

3A. The issue with that model is ... Contraction would likely come from the Big XII. Texas, Oklahoma and to a lesser extent Kansas would be the prizes.

The trouble is Kansas St and Oklahoma St, academically, are regarded as well funded JUCOs by the rest of the Power 5. Their academics don't match up. Complicating matters is the widely held notion that if you want Oklahoma or Kansas, the State version also comes along bc of their state legislatures and funding models.

And no (current) Power 5 conference is in a big hurry to add women's softball and men's tennis stops in Ames, Manhattan and Lubbock.

Can you contract part of a conference and leave the others to fend for themselves or relegate them to the next (1-A division)?

I have a completely opposite view. They expand by four in a pure money grab.

They've come to the realization that Texas and Oklahoma leave in 2025 (I think) when the TV contract expires no matter what. That spells the end of the B12 as a power conference. Fox and ESPN wrote a current sucker contract in which they've got to pay a proportional amount extra for each additional team that joins. So if 4 teams join, B12 gets 40% more from the networks right away.

Networks are pissed, but B12 doesn't care because they know they're dissolving anyway. The existing schools get the lion's share of the new revenue because they throw a bone to the four teams that come in -- say $1M more than they are currently receiving in TV revenue. Texas and OU find new homes in the SEC or PAC 12.

One thing we can all agree on is there's way too much money involved. From a tv perspective and from the conference perspective. I am in NO WAY in favor of paying the athletes. Their payment is their free education, trainjng table (meals), training, apparel and tutoring that 99% of their classmates never sniff.

I have lived with scholarship and non scholarshipped athletes, this fairy tale that they don't have money to take their girlfriends out to eat is the biggest lie that is perpetuated throughout the NCAA. Btwn stipends and "handshakes" (it happens EVERYWHERE) there's enough to go around.

Lord_Byron wrote:

OptionQB wrote:MACGuy is correct ...

1. Big XII WANTS to expand but ESPN/Fox write the checks and there ZERO names on that list that excite anyone to write $20M+ checks annually for tv rights.

2. Original plan was to expand by four schools, but tv push back was strong enough they are hoping to expand by 2 now. In that case, Cincinnati and BYU would be the leaders in the clubhouse, but Texas (which inexplicably has majority share of tv money) is throwing their weight behind Houston.

3. Ultimate answer in all of this is very likely contraction not expansion. It's rather ridiculous that you have over half of the teams in a particular division that basically have zero chance at competing for that division's national championship. Personally, I would like to see a Power 4 model (down from 5) and call it 1-A or whatever you will, but separate the MACs, AACs, MWC, Big East, etc ... of the world in a division where they can better compete with one another.

3A. The issue with that model is ... Contraction would likely come from the Big XII. Texas, Oklahoma and to a lesser extent Kansas would be the prizes.

The trouble is Kansas St and Oklahoma St, academically, are regarded as well funded JUCOs by the rest of the Power 5. Their academics don't match up. Complicating matters is the widely held notion that if you want Oklahoma or Kansas, the State version also comes along bc of their state legislatures and funding models.

And no (current) Power 5 conference is in a big hurry to add women's softball and men's tennis stops in Ames, Manhattan and Lubbock.

Can you contract part of a conference and leave the others to fend for themselves or relegate them to the next (1-A division)?

I have a completely opposite view. They expand by four in a pure money grab.

They've come to the realization that Texas and Oklahoma leave in 2025 (I think) when the TV contract expires no matter what. That spells the end of the B12 as a power conference. Fox and ESPN wrote a current sucker contract in which they've got to pay a proportional amount extra for each additional team that joins. So if 4 teams join, B12 gets 40% more from the networks right away.

Networks are pissed, but B12 doesn't care because they know they're dissolving anyway. The existing schools get the lion's share of the new revenue because they throw a bone to the four teams that come in -- say $1M more than they are currently receiving in TV revenue. Texas and OU find new homes in the SEC or PAC 12.

Texas and OU will go to the Big 10. Missouri would then bolt the SEC to join them and UConn would be added to balance out the east side and add another hockey school.

Cincy, Houston, BYU (if people can get over that "Mormon thing") and Memphis join the Big 12...which then loses it's spot as a P5 conference leaving a nice neat little Final Four from the SEC, B1G, PAC 12 and the ACC

This Machiavellian speculation...driven strictly by cash..is why I've become so much less of a fan than I was even 10 years ago. It's stupid..yet... plausible.

Flipper wrote:

Lord_Byron wrote:

OptionQB wrote:MACGuy is correct ...

1. Big XII WANTS to expand but ESPN/Fox write the checks and there ZERO names on that list that excite anyone to write $20M+ checks annually for tv rights.

2. Original plan was to expand by four schools, but tv push back was strong enough they are hoping to expand by 2 now. In that case, Cincinnati and BYU would be the leaders in the clubhouse, but Texas (which inexplicably has majority share of tv money) is throwing their weight behind Houston.

3. Ultimate answer in all of this is very likely contraction not expansion. It's rather ridiculous that you have over half of the teams in a particular division that basically have zero chance at competing for that division's national championship. Personally, I would like to see a Power 4 model (down from 5) and call it 1-A or whatever you will, but separate the MACs, AACs, MWC, Big East, etc ... of the world in a division where they can better compete with one another.

3A. The issue with that model is ... Contraction would likely come from the Big XII. Texas, Oklahoma and to a lesser extent Kansas would be the prizes.

The trouble is Kansas St and Oklahoma St, academically, are regarded as well funded JUCOs by the rest of the Power 5. Their academics don't match up. Complicating matters is the widely held notion that if you want Oklahoma or Kansas, the State version also comes along bc of their state legislatures and funding models.

And no (current) Power 5 conference is in a big hurry to add women's softball and men's tennis stops in Ames, Manhattan and Lubbock.

Can you contract part of a conference and leave the others to fend for themselves or relegate them to the next (1-A division)?

I have a completely opposite view. They expand by four in a pure money grab.

They've come to the realization that Texas and Oklahoma leave in 2025 (I think) when the TV contract expires no matter what. That spells the end of the B12 as a power conference. Fox and ESPN wrote a current sucker contract in which they've got to pay a proportional amount extra for each additional team that joins. So if 4 teams join, B12 gets 40% more from the networks right away.

Networks are pissed, but B12 doesn't care because they know they're dissolving anyway. The existing schools get the lion's share of the new revenue because they throw a bone to the four teams that come in -- say $1M more than they are currently receiving in TV revenue. Texas and OU find new homes in the SEC or PAC 12.

Texas and OU will go to the Big 10. Missouri would then bolt the SEC to join them and UConn would be added to balance out the east side and add another hockey school.

Cincy, Houston, BYU (if people can get over that "Mormon thing") and Memphis join the Big 12...which then loses it's spot as a P5 conference leaving a nice neat little Final Four from the SEC, B1G, PAC 12 and the ACC

This Machiavellian speculation...driven strictly by cash..is why I've become so much less of a fan than I was even 10 years ago. It's stupid..yet... plausible.

It's beyond plausible. It's a scenario that is perfectly believable.

I think without a doubt this thing devolves, in some way, to 4 POWER conferences, and they get a 4 team championship playoff. The rest of us are left hoping for scraps.

That said, I still think that it's highly likely the Northwesterns, Illinois, Wake Forests, etc get booted out of those big 4 conferences as well. I guess it probably goes to the big 4 first, get the money & power even more consolidated. But then at some point thereafter you have to think they start to wonder what those programs bring to the conference to earn their payouts, which will no doubt be north of $30 million/yr by that point.

In reality those programs are only hanging on because of their traditional conference alignment...they don't do anything to really EARN those massive paychecks...

The Big Ten would never let NW and Illinois be forced out. They are are real conference with things in common, not just some thrown together group.

Jim Delaney (as much as it pains me to say it) is one of the major power brokers in all of this. No one from the B1G will lose their seat at the table.

I think the Oklahoma schools stay together, the Kansas schools stay together (provided State can find a landing spot) and likely TCU and Baylor will stick together.

If everyone is allowed to stay in the current BCS/FBS format ... I envision Texas (the grand prize) being partnered with Iowa State (the booby prize).

The B1G is the one place that could handle both. They both meet the AAU (academic) qualification the conference requires and Iowa St provides natural rivalries with Iowa and Nebraska, offsetting the tv loss since nothing is gained from a market share standpoint.

Texas, obviously, delivers the B1G to an entire new audience and more importantly, additional cable subscribers.

The Kansas and Oklahoma schools head west, possibly with Texas Tech to join the Pac 12. The Pac 12 has been hesitant to allow membership to BYU in the past, but UNLV is undergoing a massive medical school upgrade and has a brand new 20k seat downtown arena, a growing population base and is more centrally located.

West Virginia goes to the ACC with Notre Dame, whose hand is finally forced into full time membership.

TCU and Baylor join the other cheats in college football in the SEC.

That's the quick and easy explanation of how the Power 5 become the Big 4 or whatever cliche we want to call them.

According to media reports, NIU and the rest of the G5 schools outside of the AAC applicants have been dropped for consideration, to no one's surprise.