If I were the Big-10, the two teams I would be looking at
Would probably be Miami and Virginia. They are AAU schools for one. And those two could be put in a 5-team pod along with Maryland, Penn State, and Rutgers. Culturally that’s definitely a better fit for Miami, which I’ve always viewed as a Northeastern school anyway.
33 Replies
7mo
(In response to this post by I85Hokie)
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Marooned
7mo
prospects for the first time since Md bolted?
Much has already been made about the expanded playoffs. If we’re now becoming “PSU 2.0”, what does that mean for league perception particularly with adding another conference game to the schedule? We have other schools aggressively moving to lock down their coaches as a sign to their intentions to get and stay competitive. We also brought in SMU with their deep pockets and they immediately made their presence known. At the same time, the B1G is melting down over the PE issue.
Without question the landscape continues to change. It’s just not as bad a view from the current perch as it used to be.
(In response to this post by I85Hokie)
7mo
The forecast of the ACC’s demise was based upon poaching from the P2. It also assumed that FSU and CU were significantly undervalued.
It is probable and maybe likely that the P2 does not expand and the changes made in the ACC payout formula keep everybody satisfied.
(In response to this post by Marooned)
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Marooned
7mo
having McChicken and USCw threaten in the media to go independent is not exactly the picture of stability.
(In response to this post by Pylons)
7mo
That was hardly a "threat" to go independent by the *university*.
What was I see having been formally put out by the chairman was: ""Importantly, we are committed to the Big Ten Conference and will continue to explore opportunities that address the pressing financial challenges facing Big Ten athletic departments."
The B1G is not even close to "unstable" from this PE thing. That one regent's statement just makes for good clickbait.
(In response to this post by Marooned)
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Marooned
7mo
The league office totally misplayed this. There are also programs hurting financially even with conference revenues. They will continue to drive this issue.
Link:
ESPN Article
(In response to this post by Pylons)
7mo
The PE thing is a big deal. I just disagree that the conference is "unstable" today due to "threats" about going independent.
Even in your linked article, while the Michigan board chair does talk about leaving the conference...he references that at the end of the GOR...in 2036, 10 years from now. That's hardly meltdown mode.
(In response to this post by Marooned)
8mo
(In response to this post by I85Hokie)
7mo
geographically coherent, big ass land grant universities with passionate fan bases etc. I live in the middle of Big 10 country and there's a lot of grumbling/befuddlement over the conference going national. The Athletic has an article up detailing how the SEC is dominating the Big 10 in ratings, perception is the SEC is more competitive, entertaining, balanced and that leads to eyeballs.
** Edited by mancunian at 12/5/2025, 8:55:39 AM
** Edited by mancunian at 12/5/2025, 8:56:27 AM
Link:
Athletic article
(In response to this post by Pylons)
7mo
There's a lot of variation in culture among geographically close schools. Who thinks UVa and VT are "cultural fits"? There can also be lots of culture similarity in geographically disparate schools. I would imagine that B1G grumbling has everything to do with geography, not culture.
SEC land grants:
Auburn
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
LSU
Miss St.
Missouri
Tennessee
aTm
B1G land grants
Illinois
Purdue
Maryland
Michigan St
Minnesota
Nebraska
Ohio St
Penn St
Rutgers
Wisconsin
So 10 in the SEC, 10 in the B1G. They're both conferences of big-ass land grants. They're also both full of schools with passionate fanbases. The SEC is no better than the B1G based on some general "culture" of the universities.
(In response to this post by mancunian)
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2hhoop3
7mo
as much as stability I believe. The B1G has at least 3, maybe more, universities that are financially unstable in Rutgers, Maryland and UCLA. The SEC has one, Mississippi State. Moreover, the top end of the B1G(Ohio State and others) are pushing for a bigger share of the pie which was the hiccup with the PE deal. The B1G despite their massive revenue deals have underlying issues and that is before UO and UW are even full share members.
(In response to this post by Pylons)
8mo
calling. That being said, I sense that everyone wants to settle down for a bit now that we've expanded the playoff. I think some programs are having buyer's remorse (e.g., USC, UCLA).
(In response to this post by I85Hokie)
8mo
If that is the case, the ACC could give the top 3 the auto bids and the 4th and 5th place teams play the elimination game.
(In response to this post by Maroon Baboon)
8mo
But if UNC chooses the SEC, I think UVa will follow them.
(In response to this post by Maroon Baboon)
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Stech
8mo
Then add Miami and GT to B10 later, and Clemson FSU to the SEC later. However, I am not as scared about staying in the ACC and having an easier path to the Conference Championship and the playoff. The paradigm has shifted and it's more about donor money paying unrestricted NIL money than media money that has to be spread across the Athletic Department IMHO.
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)
8mo
Neither conf wants to be perceived as getting the inferior of the two. UNC is flat out the number one team in NC, no other team is close in terms of attractiveness. Case can be made that VT and UVA are equals for different reasons. UNC and NCSU, not so much. NCSU brings nothing to the table other than possibly as a spoiler for UNC. If NCSU was a "spoiler", UNC wouldn't be going anywhere either.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Stech
8mo
and they have a decent history in basketball. They just have not had the right coach for a while, but if they spend money on the portal, they can change that, just like the SEC has done with basketball. I also think that now that ESPN and Fox are competing again, neither one wants to let the other own an important state like North Carolina. Only time will tell.
(In response to this post by CrystalCoveHokie)
8mo
Staying in the ACC is the most likely scenario.
(In response to this post by Stech)
7mo
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)
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Stech
8mo
from more than just a P2 these days. It hasn't happened yet, but Arizona State made a nice run last year and barely lost to Texas. I think that Texas Tech has a real shot this year too.
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)
8mo
And only if you can keep the conference together.
Question:
If VT was invited to the SEC, would you say Louisville should stay in the ACC?
Lose the top 4 in your conference, and i don't think any of the next 4 would stay.
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)
7mo
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
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Stech
8mo
but if there is some type of merger with the Big East, if enough ACC schools leave, they might want to stay. They from a basketball stand point and the cost of other sports traveling and missing time in school could easily stay in the ACC, even if the ACC loses a bunch of schools.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
7mo
Have stayed together if it was that easy.
Lose the top 4 football schools to the P2, and the next 4 bolt. Those left behind will be scrambling.
BC, Cuse, WF and others do not want to be left behind anymore than VT does.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Stech
7mo
and academic association is more important to a lot of these schools than football. It’s probably the biggest reason the conference has struggled in football. Heck Miami, FSU and Virginia Tech were in the top 10 in football for a long time, now all 3 are desperately trying to get back.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
8mo
Not many AAU schools left that actually move the needle for the B10 IMO. ND is obvious but they are not going anywhere.
Then really just Miami and UNC. If UNC goes SEC, the B10 will have to pick from GT, UVA, ASU, or Utah as a Miami partner (if they expand at all)
(In response to this post by I85Hokie)