All of the changes in the NCAA are starting to become confusing, so I analyzed where we stand right now. This will, of course, look different in a week.
Big Ten
Gained Nebraska
Big 12
Lost Nebraska, Texas A&M, Missouri, Colorado
Gained TCU, WVU
Big East
Lost Pitt, Syracuse, WVU
Pac 10
Gained Utah, Colorado
ACC
Gained Pitt, Syracuse
SEC
Gained Texas A&M, Missouri
Winners
ACC - It seemed that only one of the two "lesser" BCS conferences would make it through this thing in good shape. They became that conference by stealing two strong basketball programs from the Big East. Pitt and Syracuse have been successful in football before, so they have the potential to gain success again.
Big Ten - One move to add a top tier program that made sense geographically and philosophically. Throughout the transitions, there has NEVER been any doubt that they would lose a team. Comes off as very prestigious by not overreacting and courting any team out there. Having the Big 10 Championship game on Fox will bring in a TON of money to a conference that has a printing press in the Big Ten Network.
TCU - Even if they suck vs. premier competition, they are going to earn much more money and attention for their school by being on TV every week.
Big 12 - They've lost more than any other conference to this point, but strong negotiations from their leadership kept the conference in tact and that seems pretty miraculous. Kept the top two programs, added two other Top 25 teams. Most importantly: they have the 10 teams they needed to keep the 13 year, $1.17 Billion tv contract they signed with Fox in April intact.
Fans That Want a Playoff - Realignment throws the "tradition" argument for keeping the bowls out of the window. If the Big East remains intact, there will be strong questions as to whether or not they should remain in the BCS by the other conferences. Kicking them out will be tough, so a playoff system is on the horizon.
Losers
Pac10 - The early leader out of the clubhouse ended up with two bottom feeders (Utah is 3-4 and Colorado is 1-7 this year. Both are a combined 0-8 in conference play). Courted Texas and lost. It was subtraction by addition.
SEC - The top conference in the nation didn't do much for its credibility by adding the number 4 & 8 teams from the Big 12.
WVU - Goes from the big kid on the block to the number 3 program in the league. Closest opponent is 870 miles away. Have fun with the expenses of sending your volleyball team to Ames, Iowa.
Big East - Has lost each of the founding members except for Rutgers. The biggest casualty of the transition is going to affect their basketball conference the most. Losing three of the top basketball programs means a lot of lost revenue (if they even remain intact). Does their prestigious Big East Tournament keep as valuable of a sponsorship? Do they get to continue to hold games at MSG? Not if their added teams are Boise St, Navy, Houston, Air Force....
2 comments:
Not sure how you can call the Big 12 a winner. A survivor would be more apt. I would much rather have the schools they lost than the schools they gained. But they definitely could have done worse than TCU and WVU. Why not go after Boise State, too?
Don't forget that the Pac 10 went after Oklahoma and lost as well. They thought OK would join no prob. Oops.
This is all football driven, obviously, but it breaks my heart as a college basketball fan. Losing Syracuse and Pitt out of the Big East and putting them with Duke and UNC? It just doesn't feel right. I feel for the Big East, I really do. It'll be interesting how that conference is perceived and how they bounce back.
Completely agree that the Big Ten comes off looking like a million bucks. They played this PERFECT. We are one conference that at least has all of its founding members.
I think the leadership of the Big 12 is commendable. That is where this whole mess started. When Texas signed the Longhorn Network deal with ESPN, they thumbed their noses at the rest of the Big 12. They weren't willing to share in the money, so Colorado and Nebraska jumped ship. A couple of months ago the Big 12 was dead to rights. Now they add TCU and WVU? They have regained much of the prestige lost with Nebraska. In my opinion, Texas A&M and Missouri bring little to the table. Colorado brought nothing.
Post a Comment