The Rest of College Football

[Tony G]

First time I've heard Duke mentioned.

Perhaps but it would be inconceivable to not have that rivalry intact

[iam416]

NC, Duke, Virginia & GT all want to go to the same place (wherever that is) as a block and it'll only be together

Well, if that's true, then it's the B10. I don't think that's true. I do think UVa is all B10.

The B12 comes in as a landing spot for NCS. That was always the problem with the B10/SEC options for UNC -- the B10 will never take NCS (or VT), so the only way it works for all schools is if UNC and UVa go B10. The B12, apparently, has eased that concern.

I'm not sure where the B10 is with Duke. Uninterested, most likely, but if they need Duke to pull UNC, then maybe. That gets them to 18 (with GT) and then I'd guess BC and ND would get them to 20.

Any expansion that ends with UNC and ND is a grand slam. Any expansion that ends without either ND or UNC is a disaster.

[iam416]

The speculation is that ESPN sees that the B10 is all FOX and is really pushing to limit B10 expansion. To that end, they are now willing to renegotiate with the B12 if they expand and pay them gads more. If ESPN can freeze the B10 at 16 and keep them from getting any further south than Virginia, they'll be happy, I think.

At least that's the speculation. And mostly from the WV jabber jaw knuckleheads.

[Tony G]

The speculation is that ESPN sees that the B10 is all FOX

Isn't the B1G ABC (defacto espn)?

[hack]

My point exactly, Tony -- Duke/UNC isn't going to be split. too much at stake, and if the Big Ten thinks otherwise it's going to fail because it doesn't understand the position on the other side of teh negotiating table. Or it thinks it has enough leverage to ram the whole thing down UNC's throat. But if UNC's really the big prize the Big and SEC will fight over, then UNC has enough leverage.

I don't understand why the Big Ten wouldn't want to incorporate basketball's version of M/OSU into its conference. UNC/Duke should happen home-and-home twice a year and presumably there's plenty of money to be made from that, so what would be the opposition?

[*JD*]

Perhaps but it would be inconceivable to not have that rivalry intact

That's what I thought about Texas and Texas A & M. There might be more of a partnership between UNC and dook, though.

[WM Wolverine]

My source is a GT fan/alum, who've told us GT has been actively setting up this group of four ACC universities (NC, Duke, GT & Virginia) to move to either the SEC or B10. GT doesn't see a future in the SEC being in the same state as the University of Georgia and knows their best future is the B10.

[entropy]

Duke and NC don't hate each other the way the aggies hated texas.. Aggies really really hated Texas.

you guys dislike OSU, but you don't want to leave them.. .there is a difference.

[entropy]

My source is a GT fan/alum, who've told us GT has been actively setting up this group of four ACC universities (NC, Duke, GT & Virginia) to move to either the SEC or B10. GT doesn't see a future in the SEC being in the same state as the University of Georgia and knows their best future is the B10.

I would think the BIG has the advantage here.. Duke, UVA and GT would all probably prefer the BIG.

[entropy]

if ESPN is doing keeping the BIG from going south of UVA... then the BIG should grab Kansas with UVA..

[hack]

Given that there's little choice but to go to 20, that's an attractive package of schools to add. That's the cream of that conference.

What's the BC referred to above as ideal? Boston College?

[WM Wolverine]

Boston College doesn't add much imo and more importantly, doesn't take anything away from the ACC or SEC...

That is why the Maryland, Rutgers additions were important, they cut the ACC right in half. Pitt, Syracuse & Boston College are left in the northeast and none of those schools 'carry' that region like PSU does.

[hack]

They needed to poach from the ACC to get UNC, who they perceive as the prize. Once they're done with that, there's no need to continue picking memebers just to destablize the ACC. I don't know what Boston College adds or doesn't add, but once they've destroyed the ACC it's no longer a factor in picking schools 19 and 20.

[Tony G]

The picking apart the bones of a conference is both intriguing and quite unseemly.

I fully realize this will never happen but I'd like to see a unifying organization bring order amongst the conferences . The best way, speaking only as 1 fan, might be something like an NFL revenue sharing package for all D1 schools. Now realizing full well that Bowling green or Appy St don't have the drawing power of the titans, I would propose tiers with in the structure. 50% of the revenue is shared equally. the other 50 percent is shared within your grouping. Now that seems kind of boring so I'd add the wrinkle the soccer teams in europe have. A certain number of the bottom teams in the majors who do not win enough (formula to be determined) get demoted to the mid major group. The top mid majors get to go play with the big boys. This would clear the deck for legitimate playoffs. Like I said, never happen, but it would be interesting

[WM Wolverine]

The power conferences are doing that, just not as systematically as you propose. We've heard athletic directors and presidents talk about only 65-75 universities 'adding' to the pot.

The conference commissioners (helped by the major TV players) are picking apart the lesser conferences, which in turn will pick apart a lesser conference. When were done, I see the top four-to-five power conferences (B10, SEC, Pac 12+, Big XII, maybe ACC) separating themselves (in football) into a new division, leaving behind the Sun Belt, WAC (RIP), C-USA, Big East & MWC.