The Rest of College Football

[Jamie H]

CATFIGHT!!!!

[Jeff Buchanan]

This may beat the embarrassment jim tressel and osu brought to CFB.

[lineygoblue]

I'll bet ya a nickel that Nebraska is glad they left when they did ...

[entropy]

liney... be careful, that limb you are on might break.

[JRB]

I'm not sure VT wants to go to the SEC or not, but they have a history of following Virginia around. Virginia got them into the ACC. I'm not sure VT could leave if they wanted to leave...

A lot of VT fans want an SEC invite, but the decision-makers at VT, for the most part, want to stay in a healthy ACC. The impending NCAA dooms at UNC and Miami have complicated the thinking on the matter, but VT still fits in the ACC better than it has or would anywhere else. Virginia wasn't the only school that helped VT get into the ACC(though their help was instrumental), and it would indeed be very difficult for VT to desert UVa and the ACC after everything that occurred in 2003. VT's been very specific in its public responses on this issue-- VT would only consider its options with respect to another league if the ACC is somehow no longer viable.

I don't blame Texas A&M for wanting to get away from Texas(at least as a league partner), but I really wish this process would slow down so that everyone has a clear picture of the consequences involved. If the super-conference era is at hand, then get all the conferences involved. Deal with every school in an above-board manner, develop a plan that allows for long-term change, and try to make a place at the table for as many schools as possible. This, of course, is not going to happen. It didn't happen in 2003, when the ACC expanded, and it's not happening now. Too much money and pride is at stake for anyone to do anything but look out for themselves. That attitude is hardly unique to college football, of course, and it isn't necessarily destructive. We may end up with a better sport once this realignment craze has ended. But realignment has costs involved, too, and some of them have been tough to take.

[Jamie H]

Being in the SEC means having to play like an SEC team. Which means you better be ready to play outside of the lines or you will never be able to compete. I'm not sure A&M really understands what they are getting into. I know the Big 12 has never been a paragon of virtue, but I bet the SEC is worse.

[iam416]

From a NW posters who claims to have inside info, but who has been generally wrong (heh) -- but this is interesting:

Earlier this evening, Notre Dame and Texas jointly presented the Big Ten Conference with their proposed terms of entry into the conference. These terms resulted from lengthy discussions among both schools and the Big Ten over the past several months.

The major items include:
1. The preservation of an eight game (plus championship) conference football schedule. Both ND and Texas wish to preserve rivalries with non-Big Ten universities on a regular basis. This would require the Big Ten to abandon its current plans of a 9 game conference schedule.
2. The staggering of the schedule to allow for mid-season scheduling with non-conference football opponents.
3. The preservation of the status quo conference makeup until approximately 2014, unless the Big XII fails to retain key (NOT including A&M) conference members. This will provide the member schools, acting in unison, with the greatest leverage negotiating ongoing television contracts, particularly with ESPN.
4. Should Texas depart the conference for the Big Ten before ND due to the further disintegration of the Big XII, ND will remain independent until approximately 2014
5. The Longhorn Network would remain independent until approximately 2014, at which point the network would become a part of an expanded Big Ten Network (specifically referred to as "BTN2"), likely either in partnership with Fox, NBC, or less likely ABC

The Big Ten just wrapped up a meeting to initially consider all of the terms presented by the schools, including the aforementioned.

Notably, there is a general discontent with the reporting of the situation by ESPN with specific regard to Texas. ESPN has, for self-serving purposes, drastically exaggerated the lean of Texas to the Pac12 conference in nearly all commentary. ESPN has essentially waged a propaganda campaign to drive support among the Texas stakeholders to the Pac12 conference. ESPN has gone so far as to attempt to accelerate the disintegration of the Big XII to pressure Texas into making an immediate conference change decision. Texas has steadfastly resisted change, and will do so until the appropriate time occurs for Texas to stand in a strong position to renegotiate television contracts, including with ESPN.

In reality, the preference expressed by Texas' relevant leadership is to depart the Big XII for the Big Ten at the time that gives Texas the greatest leverage in negotiating a new television rights deal. The Big Ten and Texas agreed that Texas should do what is best for Texas, which they also both agree is a move by Texas to join the Big Ten Conference. Delaney's top priority has been to create an environment for Texas and Notre Dame to join the conference on mutually benefical terms.

Notre Dame has an interest in preserving its traditional rivalries, three of which occur already in the Big Ten, and creating a new national rivalry with a traditional powerhouse. The Big Ten believes that ND prefers independence, but realizes that it will soon have no choice but to join a conference. The Big Ten also believes that ND is trying to position itself so that if it must join a conference, it does so on the most favorable terms possible. Hence the return to the 8 game schedule and a protected game with national power Texas. The Big Ten will attempt to create a mutually beneficial environment for ND that allows it to preserve a great deal of independence to retain all its traditional rivalries within the conference context.

The initial mood at the Big Ten to the terms provided by the two schools is "receptive."

[Tom W]

...I mean, really? This is considered awesome in Maryland?

After living in the People's Republic of Maryland for 10 years, I would have to say the only "awesome" thing in that state is their steamed crabs...

Crabs might make for a cool uniform. These outfits look like they were borrowed from the jousters at the Renaissance Faire.

[Wild Hoss]

The initial mood at the Big Ten to the terms provided by the two schools is "receptive."

Of course it is. It looks like a great deal....until Texas starts changing the terms halfway through. And they will, as they always have.

This is a mistake.

[entropy]

I don't see Texas in the BIG with the LHN. The LHN will have to be a complete failure Texas will have to join the conference with the same expectations/rules as everyone else. If these talks are true, then that means, in my mind, the LHN is going to fail.

Also, why would OSU and Michigan allow someone their own channel when they are sharing? seems odd

Hoss.. you are right. They are a cancer.

[iam416]

I would take UT and ND in a heartbeat. It's interesting -- Kyle Lamb has long been advocating the "long con" theory -- that UT couldn't come to the B10 until the B12 disintegrated and aTm went to the SEC. And when UT could come, ND would likely come to. I've always thought it remarkably fanciful. This is the first time I've seen anything corroborating it. Very interesting.

[Mike]

I don't see Texas in the BIG with the LHN. The LHN will have to be a complete failure Texas will have to join the conference with the same expectations/rules as everyone else.

Exactly. No special circumstances, especially for an outsider.

[iam416]

More from PBC:

ESPN attorneys have already contacted the Big Ten regarding the content of this post. Again, I am in no way affiliated with the Big Ten conference nor should anything I write be considered credible in any context.

However, ESPN has unfairly used its bully pulpit to influence Texas stakeholders to prefer the PAC. The Big Ten feels that if the current trend of reporting that Texas only has interest in the PAC 12 continues, this would merit a major legal action against ESPN.

This actually sounds credible. Well, maybe not the part about ESPN attorneys getting involved over a message board post. But ESPN trying manipulate the process sounds entirely credible. Likely, even.

[Hannibal]

For me to want Tejas in the Big Ten, the LHN has to go unconditionally. Or, they have to agree to never have a conference game on it.

[iam416]

The B10's ABC/ESPN contract expires in 2016, I believe. If UT and ND are part of the conference for that negotiation, it will blow every other conference out of the water. Whatever small price the B10 cedes to UT (or ND) on independent, third tier rights, they'll recoup several times over with that contract. From a purely financial perspective, it's a no-brainer.