Around the Big Ten

[WM Wolverine]

re: divisions...

I'd want M in the East and no cross division rivals. M, MSU, OSU, PSU, Maryland, Rutgers & whatever other program that wants to play in the east. I don't see this as likely given the resistance the last time the B10 messed up the divisions for so-called competitive balance... Competitive balance be damned as its the rivalries that bring value to CFB, not competitive balance...

Long-term, I think competitive balance in conferences with divisions works itself out. Weak programs get propped up by playing in a weaker division and the tougher division beats themselves up.

[Hannibal]

Expansion is mostly about the B10 and its athletic departments getting richer.

No, it's about Jim Delaney and Fox getting richer. The athletic departments of Rutgers and Maryland will also get richer. The athletic deparments at OSU, PSU, and UM will not get richer. Any benefit is now divided by 14, and nothing that will move the needle for massive athletic departments that have a budget of over $100 MM.

I'm sick of hearing about all of this money that we are going to make. One of my primary job duties is to conceptualize and sell major projects to upper management. I would be laughed out of the room and out of a job if I sold ideas and projects with the flimsy justification that conference expansion has. I can't go into a room with a Power Point presentation that says "THIS WILL MAKE US SO MUCH MONEH!!!11!1!" without putting some really good evidence on that presentation as to where that money comes from, what risk factors are involved, and whether the payout is worth the risk.

And neither of these two new programs have hockey, which I expect to be a really nice new revenue stream in the coming years. Now when Michigan plays Wisconsin in hockey and it makes a bunch of money for the BTN, Maryland and Rutgers get a slice. Yayyyy!!!

[WM Wolverine]

"the BTN is available to satellite subscribers"

There is an enormous difference between the BTN being on the sports tier and basic cable; BTN carriage fees are around $1.20 but only about 15 cents on the sports tier. There is also a guge difference between the amount of people that receive the basic cable (everyone that has cable!) and who opt for the sports tier...

[Wild Hoss]

There is a difference...and that difference is product quality. There is no ACC Network in the same vein as there is a BTN because there is no market for it; what the BTN is saying is that they believe they can create a market, and create it built around two crappy members of the ACC. That is hubris, plain and simple.

It is unfathomable to me that we passed on Missou but seem willing to fast-track these two tomatoes. Missouri can suck a dick insofar as I am concerned, but they put near 60,000 in their stadium pretty consistently, and draw decent TV ratings. Their AD is fiscally sound with very good facilities, and are well-positioned geographically for the Big Ten. And, for the accounting nerds at BTN, it?s a state of 6 million people with only one FBS school. They would add actual, demonstrable value to the Big Ten.

Instead we get Maryland, and a program located in Newark. Genius.

[WM Wolverine]

You're forgetting PSU. Hypothetically these three compliment each other to give the B10 the east coast from NYC to DC.

[Wild Hoss]

Key key word there is "hypothetically".

If we want DC, you go after Virginia Tech.

If we want NYC, we have to get the Giants.

[WM Wolverine]

Maryland is official supposedly.

[WM Wolverine]

This move strengthens the B10, expands it's footprint and weakens one of it's major rivals (ACC). Most importantly, the B10 is likely to become the major college football conference in the north/northeast instead of being just a mid-western conference...

Financial windfall is only a maybe but Maryland (& Rutgers) should have no problem paying their way. I see this as a move that helps that B10 keep its place as a dominant conference than bringing in a huge payday, which will come in the next tv negotiation regardless.

[iam416]

Unanimous. And now comes Rutgers.

Bleh.

I assume the ACC, which has supposedly had desperation meetings, goes hard after UConn.

I assume the Big East aims for some more MAC/CUSA teams. Heh.

Oh well, at least Maryland has good basketball. Rutgers. Jesus.

[WM Wolverine]

B10 @13, ACC @13, Big XII @ 10... More movement will come, obvious one being UConn to ACC.

[iam416]

Well, so the ACC hopes. I guess it happens either way. If FSU and Clemson bolt for the B12, the ACC still takes UConn

[entropy]

If they bolt, Louisville is probably in the ACC

[WM Wolverine]

Unless the Big XII wants Louisville.

[entropy]

Don't think the 12 wants 12.... Or they would have offered already.

[entropy]

My prediction... #15 Texas. #16 GT