For those interested in Conference Realignment

[CAARHawk]

Why wouldn't they join a conference, least of all the Big 12? They get to get the TV money, a conference to ease scheduling games, and they get to still use their existing network for their tier 3 rights. Perfect setup for them.

Because they are ND light. They have a committed national audience and can guarantee attendance in the right areas. They are just one of those programs that can do better being independent, which is why they decided to go in that direction.

Now, when the superconferences start to get finalized (with the Big 12/ACC issue being a key component) then schools like ND and BYU will have to decide if they want to try their luck at getting in the final top four in the polls over schools that would have gone through 2 rounds of Big Four playoffs.

As far as the FSU and Clemson thing goes, I have heard that the SEC wants FSU and NCSTATE. I don't understand the FSU thing, just like I wouldn't be able to understand the Clemson thing. NCSTATE gets the SEC into NCar. They are already in Florida and SCar. But it might just be that they just need another school to go with NCSTATE and are looking at regional options.

[BryceC]

BYU was in a conference 2 years ago. They obviously aren't opposed to the notion. It would be a matter of the money being good enough. They certainly don't get ND money for their games.

[ISUer]

Because they are ND light. They have a committed national audience and can guarantee attendance in the right areas. They are just one of those programs that can do better being independent, which is why they decided to go in that direction.

Now, when the superconferences start to get finalized (with the Big 12/ACC issue being a key component) then schools like ND and BYU will have to decide if they want to try their luck at getting in the final top four in the polls over schools that would have gone through 2 rounds of Big Four playoffs.

As far as the FSU and Clemson thing goes, I have heard that the SEC wants FSU and NCSTATE. I don't understand the FSU thing, just like I wouldn't be able to understand the Clemson thing. NCSTATE gets the SEC into NCar. They are already in Florida and SCar. But it might just be that they just need another school to go with NCSTATE and are looking at regional options.

Huh? They been independent for 1 year. ND has been independent for 121 years.

[Win5002]

CarHawk- actually I think the SEC wants schools in states that are not in their current footprint for tv viewers for a network which actually rules out FSU, Clemson, Ga. Tech. I have heard mostly Va. Tech and NC St.(because they don't think NC would leave).

I think the Big 12 should have a decent chance at getting some ACC schools. Its all about $$$$ and the Big 12 has a much better contract than the ACC. There are also rumors the new final four for college football playoffs could be in the 300-400 million range and conferences that don't make it might only share an equal cut of 25%. The Big 12 is likely to have a team in it most years but there are a lot of years the ACC could be left out, this adds a lot too.

If the Big 12 pulls FSU and some mid Atlantic/southern teams such as Maryland, Ga. Tech, Clemson they have greatly improved their tv audience. They also will have a major presence in two of the most football crazed states, Texas and Florida(I think they should take Miami to have an increased presence in Florida). The Big 12 would be a great league. They may even want to consider Rutgers with those schools.

I still think the Big 10 is a good fit for ND, but if ND really wants to consider itself a "national" school and if that becomes ND's biggest deciding factor in a conference the Big 12 would be able to make a great pitch to them to join with the states of Texas and Florida covered for recruiting, and then add in states like Georgia, Maryland, So. Carolina and maybe an Eastern Coast state or two if they looked at (Rutgers or Pitt) they have a national feel that the Big 10 doesn't have now.

[ISUer]

Big 12 will end up with 2 more teams. I think Louisville is a shoe in. And Clemson is throwing their name out there. Several reports state they have already met the Big 12. Our new tv contract with ESPN is going to lure some big name schools as their will be more money added to the pot if two more teams are added. The Big 12's deal at 10 teams will be worth more than the ACC deal at 14 teams, even after the ACC deal is over. Thats without the added two teams.

Big 12 negotiating media rights deal worth at least $2.6 billion - NCAA Football - CBSSports.com News, Scores, Stats, Schedule and BCS Rankings

[rschneider]

Does anybody remember if CBS is going to start a sports station? Thought I remember rumblings about them trying to go for one of these big contracts...

[CAARHawk]

Huh? They been independent for 1 year. ND has been independent for 121 years.

Yes, that's why I said ND light. The issue isn't how ling they have been independent, but their committed fan base. Seriously, go to a BYU game at one of these neutral sites, you'll see. The LDS crowd is not the overall size of the Catholic crowd, but they don't have to split loyalties with schools like Nova, BC, St John's, etc...

[BryceC]

Does anybody remember if CBS is going to start a sports station? Thought I remember rumblings about them trying to go for one of these big contracts...

It's NBC. They essentially renamed and rebranded Versus into the NBC Sports Network. They do need content and a comprehensive conference agreement would be great for them. Whether it happens or not is up in the air.

[20eyes]

Louisville has a tornado mascot too?

Look up the word mascot.

Then look up the word nickname.

Then see if you can figure out what these schools have in common;

Iowa
Iowa State
Miami (FL)
Alabama
Oklahoma
Texas A&M
Stanford

[DwayneTwill]

BYU was in a conference 2 years ago. They obviously aren't opposed to the notion.

Except for the fact that they got OUT of a conference. That seems pretty opposed to me.

[Golfer]

Does anybody remember if CBS is going to start a sports station? Thought I remember rumblings about them trying to go for one of these big contracts...

It's on the air right now. CBS and NBC have several sports stations on Directv.