Do you feel like the following is a possibility down the road?
I was going to type end game, but I have a feeling there will never really be an end game (unless college football/sports are removed because of so many legal items). This may happen to be true at one point in time.
B10 takes the following to get to 24:
ND
Stanford
UVA
UNC
Texas A&M
Miami
Basically, the B10 covers pretty much everywhere.
The SEC wants to replace Tex A&M, but they decide to go to 20 w/ the following:
FSU
Clem
VT
NC St.
Kansas
The B12 also goes with 20 (after losing Kansas) and adds:
Pitt
L'ville
GT
Duke
Syr
The one thing I question would be FSU and Clemson to the SEC. However, if the B10 is still trying to woo ND (and may have to take Stanford to get there) as well as get into the Mid-Atlantic, let Texas A&M get away from Texas while securing a spot in Texas, and finalizing with a school in FL, I just don't see room for them. However, if Tex A&M leaves, I feel the SEC may just go completely for rivalries and regional and take FSU/Clem along with a little expansion up the coast. I threw in Kansas for basketball and Mizzou rival. However, the SEC could grab GT only for rivalry instead. Then Syr would get left out of B12 and join the others. You could possibly swap UNC/UVA with VT/NC St, or you could swap UNC/UVA w/ FSU/Clem and take out Mia and put in GT (which would alter other things).
That would get the remaining 3 to 64 teams. I am not sure what Wake, BC, Cal, and SMU would do in this landscape. Maybe you get those 5 to combine with Oregon St, Wash St., a few of the AAC and MWC schools to come up with the best of the rest conference and still have at least one spot reserved for the play-off.
18 Replies
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obguthr
2y
from the P2. FSU,Clemson, and UNC probably have verbal invitations, through back channels, but that is it. BIG XII is still open for business, if a Mag 7 school becomes available, but that is a lateral move at best. These 20+ P2 conference expansion ideas never come from P2 sources, only fans making a case for their school to be P2.
(In response to this post by The_VT_Rock)
W
WarHog38
2y
However I can see the P2 going to 24 members. I could see that move eventually being instigated by the P2 breaking away from the NCAA. I do have doubts that any commissioner would ever be able to muster support within a conference to get that big. A 24 member conference would be an end all attempt to shore as much fan support as possible for a super conference in the P2.
I think the SEC would want FSU & Clemson to reach 18. I think UVA, UNC, VT & NCST would be #19, #20, #21 & #22. I think Oklahoma State would be #23. I have no idea on #24. I just hope it is not Kansas. Jayhawkers do not belong in a southern conference.
I see the B1G taking ND & Kansas to reach 20. I think Miami plus Pitt or Syracuse as #21 & #22. Stanford & Utah or Arizona would be #23 & #24.
That would be the end of expansion.
(In response to this post by obguthr)
2y
with 2 spots to fill. Given Mizzou has a rivalry with Kansas, Illinois, and Nebraska, the Big Ten would probably be a better fit for them. If Iowa State was able to join the Big Ten, then that would be a 4th rivalry for the Tigers.
(In response to this post by WarHog38)
W
WarHog38
2y
The B1G adding Kansas could entice Missouri. Kansas has refused to play Missouri since they went SEC. Oklahoma is also an old rival from the Big 8. I remember hearing when Texas A& M entered the SEC with Missouri that Missouri wanted badly to maintain access to Texas recruiting that had been developed while Missouri was in the Big 12. Missouri figured entering the SEC with the Aggies would maintain that Texas recruiting. The Longhorns entering cam only further help Missouri with that recruiting line of thinking.
Missouri & Texas A&M leaving the SEC would be a big coup for the B1G. Who would the SEC get to replace those two? No one currently in the Big 12 can. it would just give the B1G a permanent advantage in perception if not in performance.
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
2y
their own FBS Super League or division level within the NCAA, then there may need to be some horse trading to ensure every division is balanced. It would basically be similar to the Astros moving from the NL Central to AL West. By having 2 vacant spots to fill, it might make it easier to identify 2 candidates because the SEC can select a natural pairing (i.e. WVU-Pitt for example purposes only) instead of only 1 school. Plus, if the networks want things to play out a certain way, then the 2 conferences may have to work together whether they like it or not.
(In response to this post by WarHog38)
It sure feels that way the past few months...
The Big Ten didn't even seem thrilled in adding Oregon and Washington. The three ACC additions gave the ACC two new large TV markets but no excitement. Heck, SMU had to buy their way into the ACC. The 4 corner Pac-12 schools only joined the Big 12 because they didn't want to be left behind (same is true for the Bay area schools). Only USC, UCLA, Texas and Oklahoma were worthy conference add-ons. It seeems like the P-2 aren't ready for further expansion but FSU is putting pressure on both of them to accept them. Clemson wants out the ACC too but they don't seem as desperate. Notre Dame and maybe UNC are the only remaining real P-2 prizes and Notre Dame has no interest in P-2 football membership. UNC will most likely use this time (the ACC's demise talk) to become even a more powerful stakeholder in the ACC. I don't think either the SEC or Big 10 want to go beyond 20 members. It's just starting to feel like the ACC will survive and ESPN will make sure it remains #3 in the pecking order even if FSU and Clemson eventually leave. ESPN will likely replace them with two schools that bring the most value to them and the ACC. Most likely basketball-first schools like UConn or Memphis. Maybe even get 2 schools from the Big 12 to defect?
(In response to this post by obguthr)
2
2hhoop3
2y
as planned since A&M leaked UT/OU in their fit of anger. Since then there has been a variety of misdirection, misinformation and scrambling to the point at present where the phrase "things might not be what they seem" pops up regularly just like the latest ramblings this week. I have quit trying to keep score and will just watch how it plays out because I am not sure at present anybody really knows who they can trust and outside of most of the P2 everybody is looking for their best seat when the music stops. The problem with that is given the uncertainty surrounding all the litigation and possible changes yet to come they cannot really be sure the seat they are angling for will be the best even if they actually get it.
(In response to this post by Old Line Hokie)
When the B1G took UO and UW, that ended the last realistic chance to make
a third truly quality football conference. FSU, Clemson, Oregon and Washington would have made a solid foundation for a new national conference. The P2 and networks might regret not leaving enough behind for such a conference.
** Edited by Maroon Baboon at 7/12/2024, 4:24:18 PM
(In response to this post by Old Line Hokie)
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hokieZ71
2y
(In response to this post by mygreenbaypackers)
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VPI_1998
2y
changing conferences often, spending way too much on mediocre coaches, etc. They seem to have pissed away an obscene amount of money for nothing. They make Auburn look austere.
(In response to this post by hokieZ71)
2y
believe there is no real way this ends in a Power 2. A combination of Big12/ACC schools could easily lead to a Power 3.
(In response to this post by The_VT_Rock)
The “carving up the carcass” scenario
(In response to this post by The_VT_Rock)
2y
other athletic amenities, may be trying to put themselves in a position for a Big10 invite (they have been vetted by the Big 10). I don't think they would turn down an invite to the SEC if the money gap continues, but it would not be their first choice.
Keep in mind that KU is a basketball blue blood with football potential closer to Kentucky than Duke. If the B12 created value, and closed the money gap to something that is more manageable, I think they would prefer to stay in the B12 unless the Big 10 comes knocking on their door (money and academics). KU is not a fit in the SEC, but neither is Missouri - so who knows.
Missouri, like A&M, left the B12 because of Texas. They wanted to go to the Big 10 with Nebraska, but the Big 10 balked. Either way, they left because of Texas, not the current media and playoff money. They too are a flagship, and are way under rated with academics.
Also, Missouri is not known to be a football blue blood, but they stepped into the SEC and competed off the bat.
** Edited by Big12 guy at 7/12/2024, 9:07:23 AM
(In response to this post by The_VT_Rock)
2y
I think it was when Missouri and TX A&M went to SEC
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
2y
talking heads we have today, so even if I do not remember that KU was looking to leave the B12, I have no doubt it was mentioned somewhere. It just wasn't a thing back then for KU.
(In response to this post by DarylS)
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dayooper
2y
Was begging for a Big10 invite before they went to the SEC. They even had the governor talking publicly about it.
(In response to this post by DarylS)
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I85Hokie
2y
Maryland only went to the B10 because their chancellor was obsessed with it. And that way the B10 wouldn’t have had to split up Purdue and Indiana - just put Missouri in the West and those two in the East.
(In response to this post by dayooper)