College Conference Realignment

[themeparkman25]

The Pac-10 conference announced Thursday that the University of Colorado has agreed to leave the Big 12 to join its conference.

 

"This is an historic moment for the Conference, as the Pac-10 is poised for tremendous growth," commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement.

 

"The University of Colorado is a great fit for the Conference both academically and athletically and we are incredibly excited to welcome Colorado to the Pac-10.

 

Colorado's president said his school was a "perfect match" for the Pac-10 conference.

 

"The University of Colorado is a perfect match -- academically and athletically -- with the Pac-10," Colorado president Bruce D. Benson said in a statement.

 

A source with direct knowledge of the Pac-10's discussions about adding more Big 12 teams told ESPN's Joe Schad on Thursday that from the Pac-10's perspective, it's "simply a matter of who signs next."

 

Colorado's move might spell the end for the Big 12 Conference. Nebraska is also poised to announce its move from the conference to the Big Ten.

 

Texas and Texas A&M officials are scheduled to meet Thursday at an undisclosed location to discuss the future of their athletic programs and the Big 12 amid speculation the league could be raided by rival conferences and broken apart.

 

Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds has said he wants to keep the Big 12 together.

 

Baylor and Texas Tech officials have said that even if the Big 12 breaks apart, they want to remain with Texas and Texas A&M as members of the same conference.

 

A Big 12 football coach, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach on Wednesday night that if Nebraska left the Big 12 the conference would dissolve, according to his athletics director and university president. The coach said Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado would join the Pac-10, leaving Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri and Iowa State behind.

 

The coach said the Pac-10 favored Colorado over Baylor because of the Buffaloes' presence in the Denver TV market.

 

"Nebraska is the key," the coach said.

 

A source close to the Nebraska program told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that athletic director Tom Osborne informed some staff members within the past 24 hours the Cornhuskers were going to make the move to the Big Ten conference.

 

A source with knowledge of the Big Ten's plans confirmed to ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg that Nebraska will join the Big Ten by the end of the week or early next week. The source said the formal process of accepting a candidate either has started or would be under way shortly, as Nebraska must formally apply for admission to the Big Ten.

 

"It's going to happen, unless something crazy happens in the final hours," the source said. "I think by this weekend, it's going to be wrapped up."

 

Besides Nebraska, no other candidates are imminent for the Big Ten, which could stay put with 12 members, the source said.

 

Information from ESPN's Joe Schad and Chris Mortensen, ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach, Adam Rittenberg and The Associated Press was used in this report.

 

With the first domino tipping in Colorado heading to the PAC 10, and with Nebraska going to the Big 10 today or tomorrow, I would expect the rest of the conference to follow suit in the coming days and weeks.

 

Here is how I see the Big 12's mass exodus:

 

Texas-Pac 10

Texas A&M-Pac 10

Texas Tech-Pac 10

Oklahoma-Big 10

Oklahoma State-Big 10

Baylor-Mountain West

Nebraska-Big 10

Nebraska State-Mountain West

Missouri-Big 10

Kansas-Big 10

Kansas State-Mountain West

Iowa State-Mountain West

 

What are your thoughts on Colorado's change, but also the coming changes to the conference and the other affected conferences? Personally I am pretty excited about the change and see it bringing about some good changes for Colorado athletically. I also think the change will bring about a new atmosphere to the school, since it has gone somewhat dormant and stagnant over the past couple years.

 

The bigger question though remains, will the demise of the Big 12 and the generation of these "superconferences" force NCAA and the BCS into moving towards a playoff like system? Obviously some of the rules that are currently in place, like no more than 2 teams from the same conference can play in a bowl game, will have to be reworked to allow for the larger conferences.

 

In all, it should be very interesting to see how the conference realignments will play into the individual schools but also the BCS as a whole. RIP Big 12!

Edited June 12, 2010 by themeparkman25

[sugart]

If Texas goes to the Pac 10, then so will the other 2 state schools. Its an agreement they have with each other. Also where ever Texas lands so will Oklahoma. They do not want to break up that rivarly, and like the Texas schools, OK State goes where OK goes. Your gonna have 6 schools jumping to the Pac 10, seems strange I know, and then Nebraska and possibly Missouri going to the Big 10. The Big 10 really wants Notre Dame, which will happen, but not for a few years.

 

As for the Big 12, they probably merge with the Mountain West and possibly pull in some Conference USA teams. The real kicker here is that since the Big 12 is an automatic bid for the BCS, your probably gonna have some second tier school playing since all the top schools are now in the Pac 10.

[BeemerBoy]

Quite honestly, I'm getting a little tired of what college football wants to do with itself. It's so effed up at this point.

[larrygator]

 

Here is how I see the Big 12's mass exodus:

 

Texas-Pac 10

Texas A&M-Pac 10

Texas Tech-Pac 10

Oklahoma-Big 10

Oklahoma State-Big 10

Baylor-Mountain West

Nebraska-Big 10

Nebraska State-Mountain West

Missouri-Big 10

Kansas-Big 10

Kansas State-Mountain West

Iowa State-Mountain West

 

 

I'm not sure the Mountain West wants Nebraska State

 

I'm waiting for all the Big East schools and Basketballs schools in the ACC to get together and say screw you to the Football Conferences/Schools and create a mega conference where basketball rules. This would also allow Notre Dame to remain independent in football.

 

However, once conference re-alignment happens, if conference obligations (i.e.: more conference games) prevent teams from scheduling Notre Dame, that's when Notre Dame's hand will be forced.

Edited June 10, 2010 by larrygator

[Sir Clinksalot]

I dunno, I think the rivalry teams (Nebraska/Nebraska State - Kansas/Kansas St., etc) need to stay in the same conference.

[Josh Linn]

I have a feeling Kansas or Kansas State will get the shaft...there's rumors of them even going to the Mountain West.

[ParkTrips]

I'm waiting for all the Big East schools and Basketballs schools in the ACC to get together and say screw you to the Football Conferences/Schools and create a mega conference where basketball rules.

I doubt this will happen - the ACC still wants to be a football conference, that's where the money comes from.

edit: I see what you're saying, like UNC and Duke. Still, I think the Big East would have to slim down some first, since they already have something like 40 teams (ok so its 16)

 

oh, and how much longer are we going to let these people believe that Nebraska State 1. is in the Big XII, and 2. even exists..

 

Quite honestly, I'm getting a little tired of what college football wants to do with itself. It's so effed up at this point.

Will you be happy if the U goes to the SEC as a part of a 16 team mega conference?

[larrygator]

^I'm not saying the ACC will do it willingly, but if the SEC trys to steal a couple of schools like Virginia, Virginia Tech or Georgia Tech the ACC is going to have to find new schools with football programs.

 

University of Florida will never allow the University of Miami to join the SEC.

Edited June 11, 2010 by larrygator

[ParkTrips]

I just know Scott has said he wished Miami joined the SEC instead of the ACC.

 

The whole realignment buzz has been the main talk this off season down here. All kinds of fun speculation and discussion. Most everyone seems to think the SEC won't do anything unless the Pac 10 and Big Ten expand past 12, so I'm trying not to get excited about the prospect of going back to the SEC

 

I read a suggestion that when Nebraska and Colorado leave, the Big XII could jump on TCU and another school to maintain their 12... that could open space for Boise St in the MWC, and they could really use upgraded football competition (wasn't there a reason they won't go to the Pac 10?).

[larrygator]

But Boise State just committed to stay in the WAC a couple of days ago.

 

PAC 10 doesn't want Boise State due to low academic standards at Boise State.

[Josh Linn]

If Boise State were smart, they'd join the Mountain West, which would almost force the BCS to give them an automatic bid. I'd say the Pac 10, but they're not up to par as far as academic reputation goes.

[BeemerBoy]

Joe, I'm just really indifferent on the whole restructuring situation right now. "Mega conferences" still leave us with a mega mess come bowl season. Until these morons can figure out that Division II, and, oh, the rest of the entire sporting world has the post season done right, I just don't care where the U ends up playing.

 

My college football fan soul continues to die a little more each day.

[larrygator]

Boise State has jumped to the Mountain West

[themeparkman25]

Boise State to Mountain West Conference

 

BOISE, IDAHO (AP)

Boise State on Friday accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference as the two-time Fiesta Bowl winner seeks out a league that's a better launching pad into lucrative bowl games.

 

Boise State, now with the Western Athletic Conference, would become the Mountain West Conference's 10th member. The move would be effective July 1, 2011.

 

As Boise State aims to secure a clearer path to Bowl Championship Series games worth millions, Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson said his league is boosting its strength by adding a football program that's captured the nation's imagination, and prime-time television exposure. The league's main goal is to make a better case to become the seventh college football conference awarded an automatic BCS postseason berth.

 

"It's my No. 1 goal, and I think I share it with members," Thompson said during a conference call. "We are going to try to challenge, and try to position ourselves as the seventh automatic qualifying conference."

 

In its two BCS bowl appearances so far, Boise State beat TCU, a Mountain West member, in the Fiesta Bowl in January and it scored an 43-42 overtime upset over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

 

Boise State has also dominated the WAC, compiling a 49-4 record and winning three WAC titles in four years under Bronco coach Chris Petersen.

 

Thompson said Colorado's Pac-10 jump on Thursday was the catalyst for the Mountain West to move quickly to grab Boise State.

 

He added there's still discussion among Mountain West university presidents on whether the league should remain at 10 schools, or expand to 12 or even 16, to boost its BCS chances.

 

"This is a game of musical chairs," Thompson said. "People want to have a seat when the music stops."

 

Boise State must pay an entry fee to get into the conference; Thompson said the sum was "between BSU and ourselves." He expects to readjust his conference's television package with CBS Sports and Versus to reflect BSU's inclusion starting in 2011.

 

Boise State president Bob Kustra said the invitation, backed unanimously by Mountain West university presidents, shows Boise State has demonstrated academic and athletic success.

 

"This move is in the best interests of Boise State's future, and the university is excited to be part of one of the nation's most outstanding conferences," Kustra said.

 

An advantage for Boise State will be travel time. In the WAC, the team travels to Hawaii and Louisiana.

 

The Mountain West Conference is more concentrated. Boise State joins the Air Force Academy, Brigham Young, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, TCU, UNLV, Utah and Wyoming.

 

"Membership in the Mountain West Conference is a milestone moment for the entire Bronco sports program," said Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier. "The new alignment will help our student-athletes by minimizing distant travel and developing more intermountain competition."

 

Dan Hawkins, head coach at Boise State until jumping to Colorado in 2006, said he doesn't think the Mountain West is done adding teams as college football completes its current reshuffling.

 

"We'll see how that whole thing shakes out and what happens to other teams in the Big 12," Hawkins said. "There might be some other teams from...the Sun Belt, the Big 12, or somebody melded in there to complete the roster."

 

Thompson all but ruled out adding more teams from the WAC.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/Boise-State-to-join-Mountain-West-Conference-in-2011-061110

 

I think the most interesting aspect about this move, and the possible other moves, is that the Mountain West may possibly get a BCS bowl spot. It is an exciting time for the Mountain West, that is for sure, as all these realignments play out.

 

On an irrelevant note, I still don't like Dan Hawkins. Or Cody.

Edited June 12, 2010 by themeparkman25

[themeparkman25]

Nebraska to Big 10 Conference

 

LINCOLN, NEB. (AP)

So long, Big 12. Nebraska's membership in the Big Ten Conference is official.

 

The Big Ten's board of presidents and chancellors unanimously welcomed Nebraska to the club on Friday, just a few hours after the school formally disclosed its interest. It takes effect July 1, 2011.

 

Nebraska is the Big Ten's first addition since 1990, when Penn State joined, and it comes just six months after the league announced that it was looking at expansion.

 

The move is a potentially crippling blow to the Big 12 and the biggest move yet in an offseason overhaul that will leave college sports looking much different by this time next year.

 

"We've had a couple disappointing days with the departure of two valued members," Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said during a teleconference.

 

Beebe vowed to work to keep the 10 remaining members together but acknowledged that other Big 12 schools are mulling their options.

 

Perlman said he believed Nebraska is much more "aligned" with the Big Ten than the Big 12 when it comes to academics, culture and athletics.

 

The university issued a statement that said for more than 20 years, Nebraska has compared itself to a list of 10 peer institutions established by the regents. Five of the 10 are Big Ten members; four are former Big Eight schools that joined Nebraska in the Big 12 in 1996.

 

"The University of Nebraska would have new opportunities with membership in the Big Ten - and I believe the Big Ten would be a stronger conference as well," university president J.B. Milliken said.

 

Nebraska's move comes at the end of a crazy week in college athletics.

 

On Thursday, fellow Big 12 member Colorado announced it was leaving for the Pac-10. Texas and other schools in the Big 12 South - Perlman told the regents that the Pac-10 had been in touch with many schools in that division - could be the next to leave. Texas regents scheduled a meeting for Tuesday to discuss the Longhorns' future in the Big 12.

 

"One school leaving a conference does not destroy a conference," Perlman said. "Nebraska did not start this discussion. After the Big Ten announced it planned to consider expansion, we saw reports that Missouri would want to go to the Big Ten, including a statement by their governor, a member of board of curators and chancellor - comments that weren't clearly supportive of the Big 12."

 

Athletic director Tom Osborne, the longtime football coach, agreed.

 

"As we read the tea leaves and listened to the conversations, some of the schools that were urging us to stay, we found some of them had talked to not only one other conference or two but even three, and those were the same ones urging us to stay," he said.

 

To generations of Nebraska fans, going to the Big Ten at one time would have been unthinkable. The school's athletic tradition is built on more than a century of football games against the likes of Missouri and Kansas, dating to the days the team was known as the Bugeaters.

 

The Huskers, in fact, have been conference partners with Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Kansas State since 1928; with Colorado since 1948 and with Oklahoma State since 1960.

 

Now the Huskers are on the verge of taking their five national titles in football, three Heisman trophies and enthusiastic fans east. They will look to start building new traditions, like a border rivalry with the Iowa Hawkeyes and regular trips to Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.

 

Watching a football camp at Beaver Stadium, Penn State coach Joe Paterno declined comment Friday. Paterno in the past has advocated for enlarging the Big Ten from 11 schools to 14.

 

"It's just the tip of the iceberg right now," Penn State receivers coach Mike McQueary said of Nebraska. "Unbelievable tradition, the things they've done in that program; academically as well."

 

At Iowa State, a Big 12 school rarely mentioned in realignment discussions, officials sent an open letter to boosters expressing disappointment in the moves by Colorado and Nebraska.

 

"But as all of the discussions about conference realignment illustrate, the future of college athletics appears to be less about academics and competitive success and more about money, as measured by television viewership and the associated revenues," the letter said.

 

Fatter paychecks will be coming to Nebraska, eventually. Nebraska received about $10 million from the Big 12 in 2009, half the $20 million received by Big Ten members (thanks largely to bigger television contracts and the in-house Big Ten Network).

 

The Big Ten told Perlman that no current member would receive a reduced share of revenue from the conference because of the addition of a new member. Perlman said Nebraska has been assured it would not receive less than it did in the Big 12, however, if it joins the Big Ten.

 

"This is not a financial windfall," Osborne said.

 

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has said he wanted to add only members that would be considered "home runs." The Huskers' football team struggled in the early and mid 2000s but have returned to national prominence the past two seasons under coach Bo Pelini, an Ohio State alumnus.

 

As for the Big 12, it never was a comfortable fit for the Huskers.

 

When the league formed, Nebraska football was at its pinnacle, having won three national titles between 1994-97 and winning 60 of 63 games before Osborne retired as coach.

 

That success didn't translate to juice when it came to influencing league policies.

 

Nebraska and the old Big Eight members, all of whom went to the Big 12, believed they were helping out Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Baylor when the old Southwest Conference collapsed.

 

The perception in Nebraska was that the Big 12's balance of power was held by the South Division, particularly the University of Texas.

 

Nebraska from day one was against a championship game in football, for fear it could trip up a team bidding for a national title. But even issues ranging from academic admission standards to location of the league office (Dallas) chafed Nebraska.

 

When the league last week picked Cowboys Stadium to host the next three conference championship football games - after hosting the 2009 and 2010 games - Osborne complained that continual treks south are unfair to fans of the North representative.

 

And no one in Nebraska has forgotten the controversial outcome of last year's conference title game. It looked like the Huskers had beaten the Longhorns 12-10 when the clock ran out, but one second was put back on, allowing Texas to kick the winning field goal. Pelini yelled outside the locker room that Texas was given the extra second so it could go to the BCS championship game.

 

"This is not about any type of vindictiveness," Osborne said. "You don't make a decision of this size based on where you're going to play Big 12 championship games."

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/Nebraska-joins-Big-Ten-061110

[Jew]

I love it! No more "weak" PAC-10! And we are one step closer to the death of the BCS and the birth of a playoff system for college football.

[ParkTrips]

I think I'm hoping the Big Ten expands now more than ever after seeing VT and Miami both say they aren't interested in leaving the ACC - IF the SEC feels they need to expand to 16, that would pretty much leave GT and Clemson as the most likely candidates out of the ACC (with former Big XII teams also being options)

 

PLEASE!!!

[larrygator]

I'm pretty sure UGA is going to try to block GT, just like Florida will try to block FSU and Miami. I think the North Carolina and the Virgina schools are the more likely ACC targets, but the SEC is going to go after the Texas and Oklahoma schools hard.

[ParkTrips]

At the same time, that would mean their respective rivalry games are conference games, opening up a schedule spot for another game (which, for both UGA and UF, probably means an easy win at home)

 

We can speculate all day, which is all that's been going on down here, but in the end I'm not sure if the SEC will do anything.

[Jew]

The rest of the BIG-12 is staying in tact.

[themeparkman25]

This is quite shocking and literally changes everything that could have been. I for sure expected Texas to bail on the Big 12 and then see the collapse of the Big 12 shortly, but by them staying put, the conference should and likely will remain.

 

What does this mean for the Pac (11) and the Big (11) now, though?

 

Texas to stay in Big 12

AUSTIN, TEXAS (AP)

Staring at extinction, the Big 12 is once again in play.

 

The beleaguered conference made a rousing comeback Monday, when Texas declined an invitation to join the Pac-10 and decided to stay in the Big 12.

 

Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M quickly followed the Longhorns by recommitting to the conference after commissioner Dan Beebe convinced his members they would make more money in television and media deals in a 10-team Big 12 then in a 16-team Pac-10.

 

A person with direct knowledge of discussions among the Big 12's remaining members said Texas is clear to set up its own TV network and keep all proceeds in exchange for remaining in the Big 12. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because final details had not been worked out.

 

"Everybody is feeling much more confident the Big 12 is going to survive," the person said. "Everybody's going to be making more money."

 

All that talk about the Pac-16, the first super conference that would span from Seattle to the Lone Star state? Done.

 

"University of Texas president Bill Powers has informed us that the 10 remaining schools in the Big 12 Conference intend to stay together," Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement. "We are excited about the future of the Pac-10 Conference and we will continue to evaluate future expansion opportunities under the guidelines previously set forth by our presidents and chancellors."

 

Powers declined comment when asked by the AP about details of the deal that kept Big 12 together.

 

The conference, born in 1996 when the Big 8 merged with members of the Southwest Conference, seemed to be falling apart last week when Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-10) decided to leave over the next two years. Now the Big 12 its back, though there are still questions about how it will conduct its business.

 

Among those that still need to be answered by Beebe is how and why the Big 12 will be more lucrative now, especially when it cannot hold a conference title game with only 10 members.

 

Beebe did not return phone messages Monday, but plans to hold a conference call with reporters on Tuesday.

 

Last year, Big 12 schools divided between $7 million and $10 million each depending on how many appearances they made on regional and national TV.

 

The Big 12 has increased the financial reward for every one of its members since it began play in 1996. The Big 12 distributed $139 million to its members this past fiscal year, more than ever.

 

"We're excited about the Big 12 Conference and for its continued growth," Missouri athletic director Mike Alden said in a statement. "The University of Missouri has certainly prospered during its time in the Big 12, and we are looking forward to future opportunities in the years ahead."

 

The news about the Longhorns, Sooners and the rest of the Big 12 South powers staying put was especially good for Kansas, Kansas State, Baylor, Iowa State and Missouri - the five schools in danger of being left homeless if the conference dissolved.

 

Baylor football coach Art Briles, a Texas native who has spent his entire career in the Long Star state, put it this way: "I got resuscitated. You can take your hands off my chest. ... I'm extremely excited, it's like being given new life."

 

As for the Pac-10 and Scott, who was trying pull off a bold move that would have dramatically changed the landscape of college sports, they are left looking for at least one more member to get to 12 by 2012 when Colorado is set to join.

 

Scott's next target? Utah from the Mountain West Conference would seem a likely candidate.

 

Scott's plan was to add Texas (with Notre Dame the big prize in the conference expansion game) along with its main Big 12 South rivals - Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

 

Because Texas is the richest and most powerful of the Big 12 schools, the Longhorns were seen as the lynchpin to the deal. Wherever Texas decided to place its cash cow football program, the rest of the schools would seemingly fall in line.

 

But Texas A&M had represented a wild card, with school officials meeting with Pac-10 and SEC officials in recent days. If the Aggies were serious about leaving for the Southeastern Conference, no matter what Texas did, it was unclear whether that would have prompted the Longhorns, Sooners and the rest to decide the Big 12 was not worth saving with only nine members.

 

But that SEC flirtation turned out to be nothing more.

 

"Texas A&M is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference and will continue to be affiliated with the conference in the future," school president R. Bowen Loftin said in a statement.

 

Officials at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma issued similar statements, with OSU president Burns Hargis singling out Beebe for his "bold moves and intense efforts."

 

The news that the Big 12 survived spread quickly.

 

"That's great news," said Scott Drew, whose Baylor men's basketball team advanced to the South regional final in the NCAA tournament a few months ago. "Obviously, we're very excited and pleased about the 10 schools staying together. It will be great to continue the rivalries and traditions."

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/Texas-Longhorns-turn-down-Pac-10-invitation

[ParkTrips]

The Big Ten already had 11 teams, so Nebraska gives them 12. The Pac 10 can probably find someone else to join them out of the MWC - BYU or Utah perhaps?

 

Guess all the hype of realignment has fizzled out to be pretty mild.

[Jew]

Yeah, sounds like Texas used the PAC-10 to get the deal they wanted with the BIG-XII.

[Jew]

Now it is being reported that this massive TV deal that held the BIG-XII together was only "assurances from consultants."

 

This isn't over.

[Sir Clinksalot]

All this $$ that College sports is bringing in and were worried about players getting a few kick-backs and penalizing schools 6 years after the fact?

 

The fact is, no team is going to move to a different conference unless they are getting the $$ they want.